The Clever Ones Ask for Advice

- Jivram Joshi

- "Munim beta, your clever chickpeas have turned to dust!’’ 

- A wise person is someone who asks others for advice, Who stops and seeks guidance when the road ahead is unknown.

O ne day, in Khambhat-a famous port city where ships from many countries came-merchants bought and sold goods worth lakhs of rupees. Among these wealthy traders was one called Motisha Seth.

Motisha trusted his accountant, the Munim, completely. The Munim was not only sharp in business but also very honest. Seth never made a decision without asking him first.

In the same city lived a woman known as Gangli Doshini. She was so clever that people forgot her real name and only called her "Gangli the Sharp One." She was famous for solving people's problems. In Ujjain, long ago, another Gangli Doshini had been so wise that even King Vikramaditya sometimes asked her advice!

Whenever Khambhat's Gangli passed Motisha's office, she would stop at the door and tease,

"Munimji, do you need my wisdom today?"

The Munim would laugh and reply,

"Not today, Foiba!"

And she would smile slyly,

"Remember, my boy, intelligence is needed everywhere-whether in business or in theft. Without wisdom, no work succeeds. If you ever need advice, just ask me. I can even turn your chickpeas into gold!"

The Munim would laugh her words away.

The Great Deal of Chickpeas

One day, a foreign merchant arrived at Khambhat port with a hundred ships, all loaded with chickpeas.

The local traders asked about the price.

The merchant said, "I will not sell in small parts. Whoever can buy all hundred ships' worth together, only he can have them."

Only Motisha Seth had that kind of wealth.

So the merchant went to him. At first, Seth hesitated.

"What will I do with so many chickpeas? Where will I even store them?"

The merchant offered a discount. Seth turned to his Munim.

The Munim bargained smartly:

"Give us 7% cheaper, and we'll take them."

The merchant agreed.

The Munim then said, "Don't worry about storage. We'll pile them right at the dock in heaps and sell them directly to traders. If someone buys 100 maunds, give 1% discount. For 200 maunds, 2% discount. For 500 maunds, 5% discount. They'll rush to buy!"

Seth trusted his Munim's cleverness and agreed.

The chickpeas were unloaded into huge heaps at the port. The money was paid.

The Storm

But that very night, dark clouds covered the sky. Thunder roared. Soon, heavy rain poured down.

The chickpeas got wet, soaked, and swollen. People in the city laughed,

"See! The Munim thought he was so smart, but who buys so much without thinking? Now the chickpeas will sprout, rot, and stink. A total loss!"

Even Seth and the Munim were silent and worried.

Gangli Doshini Returns That night, as the Munim sat glum in the office, he suddenly heard a laugh at the door.

It was Gangli Doshini, tapping her stick on the steps. She laughed and mocked:

"Munim beta, your clever chickpeas have turned to dust! By tomorrow morning, sprouts will grow out of them. Without wisdom, your tricks are useless. But if you need real advice, come to me-I'll turn them into golden chickpeas!"

Her words stung like bee stings. Yet the promise of "golden chickpeas" rang in his ears.

Unable to sleep, the Munim finally went to her house.

Gangli smiled:

"Ah, my son! A truly clever man is the one who seeks help when he cannot find a way himself. Yes, the chickpeas are wet. They will sprout and cannot be eaten as they are. But if you do as I say, your loss will turn into double profit!" She whispered her plan. The Munim's face, once dull like a deflated balloon, lit up with joy. Her idea worked. Instead of losing lakhs, they earned twice as much.

Jingle Jingle, Cutie Champs… can you guess the plan? What could they have done with sprouted chickpeas? Think about it-you'll find the 

answer!