The Niggardly Husband And Philanthropist Wife

A befitting move. 

- Dr Chaganti Nagaraja Rao

Mahesh was so niggardly that he would not delay even for a day to deposit his and his wife’s salary in the bank after receiving it to avoid loss of interest even for a single day.

It was the pay day. Mahesh was waiting for his wife Rita’s return from office. As the time passed minute by minute he was bursting with impatience. Rita came home late after the closure of banking hours. Mahesh took her to task.

“Inspection staff has come from Delhi for conducting annual inspection of our office. That is why I could not reach home before the closure of the bank,” pleaded Rita, placing her monthly salary in his hands.

“Nonsense! You should have taken permission to leave office early on some pretext. Now, the bank is closed. We have lost interest for a day,” Mahesh rebuked her repeatedly until his anger subsided. Rita, as an obedient wife, brooked his anger patiently.

It was seven o’clock in the night. Rita went into the kitchen to prepare food for dinner. Mahesh suddenly entered the kitchen and scolded her.

“Don’t prepare food for today. Let’s have a piece of bread and a cup of black tea. Otherwise how could we compensate for the loss of interest on our deposit for the day?” said Mahesh angrily.

Rita obeyed his orders. After having a piece of bread and a cup of black tea they retired to the bedroom.