A different buyer

A different buyer

By 

Kotra Siva Rama Krishna

      Vilochan sat in the verandah before his house while thinking deeply in himself. There was a tape recorder in his hands. He was looking for a buyer who has to come there to buy it. For the last one month or so they were selling one after one all the articles in their home. This was the last valuable article left to sell. After selling this also, they did not know which thing to put on sale.

      Everything was alright in their home until his only son died six months back in a road accident. He used to work in a motor cycle spare parts’ manufacturing factory and his salary was comfortable to them to lead his family which consists his son-Kalyan, daughter in law- Annapurna, their only son-Swaroop and himself. But everything has become upside down after his son’s death in that road accident. Their income completely stopped.

      His daughter in law Annapurna was not educated much and he was trying to get her a job in the same factory on compassionate grounds but he could not get any success. There were amounts that have to be paid by the factory but nothing has been paid yet. Vilochan was putting all his efforts to get the amounts but he could not get even a rupee from the factory till then.

      Even he crossed sixty five years of age, Vilochan was trying to get a job for himself to run the family. But he also not educated much and having not much useful experience to do a job. Neither could he get a job for himself nor to his daughter in law anywhere till then. Looking after the necessities of the family was becoming increasingly difficult. They did not pay two months’ rent and the house owner warned them that they have to vacate the house if they don’t pay the rent along with dues from then on. They could not buy the necessary books, clothes, etc. for his grandson Swaroop and he too was struggling a lot.

      While his son was doing the job, he bought several useful items for the home. They had to sell one after one all those items to run the family. They kept this tape recorder till the end. Because, all the family members used to enjoy it a lot and they did not want to part with it. He still could remember how he enjoyed listening the songs along with his family from this tape recorder. He did not know but his eyes became moist.

      “Should we sell this tape recorder? Is there no other way at all?” he did not know when his daughter in law Annapurna came there, she asked him.

      He looked into her eyes and said “You, know the situation. Why you are still asking?”

      Yes, she knew the situation better than him. They had to pay the house rent, clear the dues to the grocery shop and take groceries again, buy books and clothes to his grandson, it was a must to sell this tape recorder to clear atleast some of those. But what next after disposing with this tape recorder also, he could not understand.

      He said about his intention to sell this tape recorder to the pan shop owner Ramana and he promised to spread the word. Ramana’s pan shop was just opposite to his house. Vilochan and Ramana were known to each other for a long time and they were good friends also. In the evening of the previous day, he said that some buyer was coming to their home to see the tape recorder on this day by 9 a.m.. Vilochan was waiting for him. He has to come by this time but he has not come yet.

      Then he saw someone going near to the Ramana’s pan shop. Vilochan became curious. He might be the purchaser, Vilochan was thinking. He was very much wishing that the tape recorder should be sold at a suitable price. His son bought it for three thousand rupees just three or so months before his death. He was still having the purchase bill and the tape recorder was under warranty.

      It seems that person was involved in talking with Ramana. What they both were talking he could not guess. Vilochan was becoming impatient and irritant. As he was struggling in himself that person slowly came to his home. Vilochan invited him inside.

      “This is the tape recorder you are going to sell I think” he said while looking at the tape recorder in the hands of Vilochan.

      “Yes it is.” Propping it towards him Vilochan said.

      That person started observing it carefully. The way of his behavior creating doubts in Vilochan.

      “This is a new one. I am still having the purchase bill. This tape recorder is still under warranty.” Looking hopefully into the eyes of that person, Vilochan said.

      “I want to test this.” he said as if he did not hear what Vilochan said.

      “Sure, you can. Here is the electric socket. There is a cassette in the tape recorder itself.”

      That person put the plug in the socket, put on the electric switch and the tape recorder and started testing it. It was working very much good.

      “It is in perfect condition. You need not worry.” Vilochan said. “We are having many tape recorder cassettes with us. We do give all those to you if you buy it. We do have no use of them after selling this thing to you.”

      Once again Vilochan’s heart became heavier. His son bought all those cassettes. He was very much interested in listening songs. He was indeed a very enthusiastic person.

      After testing the tape recorder to his satisfaction, he unplugged it. “Now, tell me. How much you are expecting for this?” still looking at it carefully that person said.

      The way of his talking was creating pain in Vilochan. He was appearing like a perfect business man. “My son bought it for rupees three thousand. I am ready to sell it for rupees two thousand five hundred.” In fact Vilochan was ready to sell it even for fifteen hundred. But unless he priced it at rupees two thousand five hundred he could not get the price he wanted to get.

      “What!” immediately frowns gathered on the forehead of that person. “Rupees two thousand five hundred! What are you thinking of it? Made of gold!”

      “Then tell me how much you are ready to give for this thing.” Vilochan became too much irritated on seeing the reaction of that person so.

      “Just three hundred. Three hundred rupees only. If that price is agreeable to you, I do buy it.”

      “Please give my tape recorder back. You need not buy it at all.” Vilochan started seething in anger after hearing that. He did not expect at all that person would quote such a lower price for his valuable tape recorder.

      Without saying anything that person gave back the tape recorder to Vilochan and went out from that house.

      “What a buyer! Do you know how much he valued my tape recorder? Just three hundred rupees! My son bought it for three thousand rupees.” On the evening of that day, Vilochan angrily said to Ramana.

      “Forget about that person. I am sorry that it turned out like that.” Ramana paused for a moment before saying again. “Anyhow I want to buy your tape recorder for rupees two thousand five hundred. But you have to give all the cassettes you are having to me along with the original purchase bill. I think you said that it is still under warranty.”

      “Yes. It is. But….” Vilochan’s face beamed with joy. 

      “Don’t say anything. I want to buy it like that. Nothing more nothing less.” While keeping his face expressionless Ramana said. “I am ready with the money if you are ready to part with the tape recorder now.”

      “Yes, now itself. I feel very happy to sell it to you. Now itself I do give that thing to you along with purchase bill and cassettes.”

      Then the exchange of the tape recorder along with purchase bill and cassettes for money has taken place so fast. Vilochan became emotionally upset while giving it to Ramana. Vilochan saw that tears were flowing down on the cheeks of his daughter-in-law also. But it was a must.

      After that incident, indeed miracles happened in Vilochan’s family. The factory paid all the amounts they have to pay for his son’s employment in their factory. They gave a suitable employment to Vilochan’s daughter in law in the factory on compassionate grounds. Vilochan collected comfortable amount from the insurance company of the crime vehicle which caused his son’s death. Now, once again, Vilochan’s family placed itself financially in a very comfortable position.

      On that day evening Vilochan once again met Ramana at his pan shop. As usual they indulged themselves in talking several things. While they were talking like that Vilochan remembered the person who came to their home to buy the tape recorder.

      “What a buyer! I still I cannot understand how he asked my tape recorder for just three hundred rupees! Where from he has come?” Vilochan asked him.

      “I too don’t know. He did not tell me about his name etc. to me. When I was saying about your tape recorder to someone I know, he overheard the same and expressed interest in seeing it.”

      “Certainly he had no intention to buy it. If he had, he would not have asked it for such a lower price.”

      “Its alright. Forget about him. Why do we unnecessarily think about such a stingy person?”

      There was some silence. Then Vilochan said suddenly. “Ramana if I ask you something, would you mind?”

      “We both are very good friends. I never do mind whatever you ask.” Ramana said. “Don’t hesitate. Just ask.”

      “I should not ask you like this in fact.”

      “I said to you just ask. If you have no doubts on our friendship, just ask.” Ramana encouraged him.

      “In fact you helped our family a lot on that day by buying that tape recorder for such an amount. It helped us a lot. But…..” Vilochan paused for a moment before saying. “You know my son bought that tape recorder. It is one of the things my son loved a lot. We all used to enjoy it a lot together. We are all sentimentally attached to it. If you don’t mind, will you sell it back to me? I will give your two thousand rupees back. Please.”

      Ramana’s face clouded with worry.

      “What happened? Did you sell it to someone else? But I don’t think you buy it to sell it to anyone.”

      “I did not sell it to anyone. But….” Ramana was hesitating.

      “Why you are hesitating? Tell me if you don’t want to sell it. I don’t think otherwise.” Irritating in himself, Vilochan said.

      “I gave him the word. I did not think a situation like this come.” Ramana said with a small voice.

      “What the word? What the situation? I cannot understand at all.” Vilochan was completely in confusion.

      “I sure tell you Vilochan. Not just to let you know the truth but I don’t like you think mean of him.”

      “First tell me the truth. Don’t put me into more and more confusion.” Vilochan said while his confusion and irritation becoming more.

      “That someone to whom I told about your intention to sell the tape recorder knows about you. At that time we both have discussed and worried about your family’s situation. This person was standing nearby and overheard everything, I think. He came near to me and said that he wanted to buy the tape recorder.

      He knew if he agreed to the price you mentioned immediately, you think he knew about your family situation so he was buying it out of sympathy. He did not want to embarrass you Vilochan. I don’t know why but he decided to help you. He gave me all that money and made me buy the tape recorder from you. That tape recorder along with purchase bill and cassettes is with him. I don’t know either his name or where he is residing.”

      Tears were flowing down on the cheeks of Vilochan. He just did not want to wipe them out.

      “If you really want that tape recorder that much back, I try to know where he is now. But……”

      “No.” Vilochan nodded his head in negation. “I like that tape recorder to be with him. I like that to be with him than anyone else.”

      Then Vilochan turned back to go into his home.