Easy Money

At the end of their trip to village granny had made them take along a teenage boy, Birju to their home in Kanpur. The kids, Beena and Raju welcomed granny’s suggestion as it would have meant a new play companion for them. But their parents were not so sure and argued that Birju may not feel so comfortable in the restricted life style of city.

Granny’s word however being of the utmost significance, Birju accompanied Beena and Raju on their return trip to Kanpur on the condition that initially he would live in the house and if he still feels comfortable after some time he may also get enrolled in a city school for bright educational prospects.

In the beginning Birju would simply move around in the house, and now and then even offered to help the family members which everybody welcomed. Within few weeks, he began escorting Beena and Raju to their school. He would help them get ready and reach school in time and also made sure to reach their school at their home time and would then accompany them back to home.

One day, on their way to school, children witnessed a group of roadside children engaged in gambling. Watching kids throwing coins then laughing and clapping Raju expressed his desire to know more about the game. “Oh, it is called gambling, a game for making easy money”, Birju explained. “Do you know how this game is played? ”, asked Raju who was obviously intrigued at the prospect of making easy money.

“I know just a bit. I have only watched others at play but have never played it myself”, said Birju uninterestingly. Hence allured, Raju requested Birju to teach him the game of gambling.

Now everyday on their way back from school the three of them- Raju, Birju and Beena would stop in a park to practice gambling. Raju, who rarely used to ask for pocket money, had now begun bothering his mother for more and more of it.

Birju later proved to be a master at gambling and Raju like a good pupil did everything he could to appease him. In the beginning, Birju encouraged Raju by letting him win small amounts but whenever he saw Raju having more than Rs 10/- he would talk Raju into putting all of his money at stake in the game. Once in a while Raju would see the money doubling up into Rs 20/- or more but most of the time it was Birju who would win.

If ever Raju despaired at his losses Birju would cheer him up by suggesting that if Raju could win while putting small amount of money at stake then he could win with larger amounts too, only if he could be more careful during the game.

One month when children’s father was out of station, mother gave the school fees to Raju for depositing it in the school. As Raju had deposited the school fees a number of times in past also, he took the packet from mother and put it securely in his bag.

Next morning on their way to school finally unable to control himself Birju said, “Today you are having very big amount” “Yes, but it is our school fees”, said Raju avoiding any eye contact with Birju.

“Won’t it be nice if we could double this big amount? ”, Birju could do anything to entice Raju at the moment. “Of course, but it would be much worse if we loose”, Raju was still trying to reason. “You give the money to me I do not make any silly mistakes like you”, a persistent Birju demanded. At last Raju agreed to give some amount from the school fee to Birju which he took hurriedly and walked briskly towards the street urchins who were already at the game.

Watching from distance in anticipation Raju observed Birju play while interacting daftly with the street children. In first few rounds Birju won and successfully earned hundred rupees for each fifty rupee he had invested in the game. Hence encouraged and also motivated by the hurry for they were getting late to school, Birju staked all the amount he had with him in the next round. As it happened, he lost it all to the street boys.

Mad with fury Raju ran to hit Birju with his school bag but apparently frightened Birju took to flight. Raju shouted after him calling him bad words then sat wearily on the roadside and began crying. Beena who was also feeling sad for Raju asked him to go back home. Afraid of their parents’ rage both the children returned home in a fear ridden state.

Their mother, Veena, was more shocked than angry on hearing the account of all happenings. She immediately called up their uncle who was an inspector at the local police station.
 Roughly about an hour later the two children accompanied their uncle, inspector Harish, and mother to the site where the same roadside urchins were still engaged in play. After Raju identified those children, Harish uncle did not require any further interrogation with them as driven by fear their leader himself produced the money he had cheated of Birju in the morning. Mother thanked Harish uncle for his timely help. “I am always at your service should you ever find yourself in trouble, but before I return you the money, I want a firm promise from both Beena and Raju that they would never indulge in such an unhealthy game again”, uncle said. Now standing with their heads hanging low in shame both the kids promised their uncle to keep off any foul game for life. As it was past their school time, so they returned home after bidding a thankful good-bye to Harish uncle.

On reaching home, they found Birju sitting by the locked door of the house. Unaware of the recovery of the lost money Birju moved forward to beg pardon of the mother. Watching tears of penance rolling down his cheeks mother told him of the recovery of the money and asked him not to cry.

When the three children had changed and were sitting together, mother called them for she wanted to know what drove them to indulge with roadside children and in such an unhealthy game.

“Mother, blame me because it was me who allured Raju to learn the game for making easy money”, said Birju with a sorry note in his voice.

“Birju there is nothing like easy money in this world. Whatever money we earn by indulging in means such as gambling is nothing but foul money and such a money can bring no good to anybody. While even a small amount of money earned with earnest labour can bring you both respect as well as happiness”, mother said as she sought assent from Beena, Raju and Birju. With tears in their eyes the kids promised never to engage themselves in such game or company ever again in their lives.

Filled with contentment on sensing the genuine feeling of guilt glistening in the tears of the kids, mother embraced them to express her belief in their words.