Deception

“Oh, what unbearable heat! It feels as if the sun is standing right over my head,” Nawab Sahib muttered to himself as he walked along carrying a bag of vegetables. Suddenly, he collided with a young man—or perhaps the young man collided with him. The potatoes fell and scattered on the road.

“Hey! Why are you walking around like a blind man? Walk properly on the road!” Nawab Sahib scolded him angrily.

“I’m sorry, Uncle! I was in a hurry. I’m getting late for work,” the young man apologized politely and quickly picked up the fallen potatoes, handing them back to Nawab Sahib.

The young man appeared rushed. In those few moments, Nawab Sahib had already assessed him. He was wearing a shirt and trousers and seemed to come from a respectable family.

“Alright, go now—but be careful next time,” Nawab Sahib said.

Before hearing the full advice, the young man had already disappeared.

“Toba! Children these days don’t listen to anyone. Always in a rush,” Nawab Sahib grumbled as he headed home. He was a simple-hearted man. Though he got angry quickly, his anger faded just as fast.

Upon reaching home, Nawab Sahib discovered that someone had very skillfully pickpocketed him. Instantly, the image of that young man flashed in his mind. He felt furious, but there was nothing he could do now. The young man had already accomplished his task.

A few days later, Nawab Sahib was buying groceries at the market when he glanced at the man standing next to him. He felt he had seen him somewhere before. Suddenly, it struck him—the man was the same pickpocket!

As the young man finished his shopping and started to leave, Nawab Sahib rushed forward and grabbed his arm. “Hey, pickpocket! Where are you going now? Off to rob someone else?”

The young man panicked upon seeing Nawab Sahib. He tried to escape, but Nawab Sahib tightened his grip.

“Uncle, you’re the same person…” the young man stammered.

“Yes, the same person whose pocket you stole,” Nawab Sahib interrupted sharply.

“Well… Uncle… I don’t know how to explain,” the young man suddenly adopted an innocent tone. “My children hadn’t eaten for three days. There was no food at home. I was helpless, so I did this.”

He looked so pitiful that Nawab Sahib forgot his own loss and felt sympathy for him. Taking out some money, he handed it to the young man and said, “Buy some fruit for your children. They’ll be happy.”

“Thank you so much, Uncle,” the young man said, wiping imaginary tears and hugging Nawab Sahib. “I promise I’ll never do such a thing again.”

“Good, son. Repent and never commit such a sin again,” Nawab Sahib advised kindly.

The young man bowed his head in apparent shame and walked away. Nawab Sahib then reached into his pocket to pay the shopkeeper—only to realize he had been robbed again.

“Oh no! I’ve been robbed again!” Nawab Sahib cried out helplessly. Turning to the shopkeeper, he said, “Khalid Sahib, I can’t pay you right now.”

“Sir, this is not an age for kindness,” Khalid Sahib said sympathetically. “You were unnecessarily generous. Take the groceries—you can pay later.”

Nawab Sahib carried the groceries home with his usual innocence.

The weather was pleasant that morning. A cool breeze was blowing. Nawab Sahib was in a good mood, so he went out on his scooter. Seeing a park, he decided to take a short walk. As soon as he got off the scooter, he was startled and suddenly grabbed a man walking beside him

“Hey young man! Stop right there! Where are you going? Come meet me this fine morning!”

The man he had caught was none other than the same pickpocket.

“Today, I’ll treat you to breakfast—and that too at the police station!” Nawab Sahib shouted.

“Uncle, please listen to me for two minutes!” the young man pleaded.

“So we should let you go again so you can fool us with another story?” Nawab Sahib retorted.

“No, Uncle! I want to give something back to you,” the young man said.

As soon as Nawab Sahib loosened his grip, the young man pulled out some money and handed it to him. “Here, Uncle. I was actually looking for you to return this and apologize again. I deceived you, but believe me, I’m not a bad person. I regret what I did. Please forgive me. Count the money—it may not be complete, but I’ll return the rest later.”

They had reached the park by then. Nawab Sahib said, “Alright, you’re forgiven. But stand a little away—we still don’t trust you. And yes, we will count the money.”

Nawab Sahib became deeply absorbed in counting the cash. He regained awareness only when a scooter passed very close by. Riding it was the same young man, waving mockingly as he sped away—because for him, trading a few rupees for a scooter was a profitable deal indeed.