Deal Is A Deal

When you make a deal, better honor it because a deal is after all a deal and must be honored. Never back away. Stick to your commitments or else you may have to face undesirable consequences. The following story elucidates the point all the more:

In a certain village, there were too many rats. These rats were causing nuisance in each and every house. The people were miserable. They tried several ways to get rid of them but failed. The matter was discussed in the village Panchayat and finally it was declared that whosoever helps the villagers to get rid of the rats will be handsomely rewarded.

One day a man came and said to the villagers that he can help them to get rid of the nuisance of rats. He demanded a huge sum. The villagers looked at the man but they could not believe that he will be able to save them from the nuisance of the rats. So in a lighter vein they said alright first you do the job and then we will accept your demand. He was a magician. Immediately he took out a flute and started playing it. The melodious sound of the flute attracted the rats and they started coming towards him in large numbers. He continued playing on the flute and simultaneously started moving outwards. All the rats came out of their hidings and started following him. He moved and moved and finally reached the river bank in the outskirt of the village. He then entered the river. The rats also followed him and were soon drowned or taken away with the current of the flowing waters. The magician came out of the river and demanded his reward from the villagers.

The villagers tried to gave a nominal sum but not the amount he had demanded. They said actually you have done nothing. The rats have gone on their own. Still we are giving you enough rather much more than you deserve. The magician said that it is not fair, you are backing away from your own commitment and he left.

The next day morning, the magician again came and started playing on the flute. This time all the children of the village came out of their houses and started following the magician. The effect of the music was such that the children could not resist and continued following him. Before the other people in the village could know about it, he took them far away and hid them in a cave and covered he cave with his magic spell.

The villagers were badly upset. They had come to know that their children had followed the magician. So when the magician returned they asked him about their children. The magician said, don’t worry they are quite safe. The villagers insisted, no no we want them back. Where are they? The magiacian said that first you settle my reward money, then only you would get them back. They villagers were left with no choice. They had to pay him the demanded amount. They could have bargained at the first instance, but at this stage they could do nothing.

The magician released their children. But the villagers had learnt a good lesson by now for betraying the deal.