the terrible taxman

 

The terrible taxman....

Those were the days when the country was divided into many kingdoms each with some separate ruler or king.

And each such kingdom was divided from others through check posts..

Moreover, as is the usual wont, the check posts were occupied with Customs guards and inspectors, who charged duties and cess on products that, entered the kingdom.

An elderly person who was very poor was eking out his daily livelihood by collecting some materials for trade after crossing the border, carting them to his place and selling them for some meagre profit.

The trade yielded him very low returns and payment to the customs either people as cess or otherwise was too heavy a burden for him.

It was beyond his capacity, by any standards.

So the man used to collect his merchandize from outside terrain, and bringing them in to his place through forestlands skirting the customs post.

The route was devious, but usually he managed.

One day, when the old man was negotiating the forest path, he came face to face with a man-eating bloodthirsty Ogre.

It was ready to pounce on him and make a lunch out of his elderly body.

Though shivering inside, the old man put on a brave face and asked what the ogre wanted.

The ogre replied that it just wanted to eat the old man

The old man asked. "Are you a customs man?"

The ogre did not know about the customs man.

Therefore, it asked the old man to clarify.

The old man said. ‘I am not afraid of even the Customs man. So why should I be afraid of you..?’

The worst thing you can do is to eat me just now and here.

That will put an end to all my problems.

However, the customs man is very terrible.

He catches hold of people and eats them in parts, periodically. People will never die nor will they live peacefully.

You are not capable of doing that”

The ogre was curious. He wanted to see a customs man. He sought the help of the old man.

The old man agreed to help.

He warned. ‘But the customs man is terrible.. Once he sees you, he will start torturing you slowly and steadily. Therefore, I would suggest that you accompany me to the check post sitting inside a gunny bag, which I would stich from outside. And you have to promise me that you will not make any noise nor should you move whatever happens in the presence of the Customs man."

The ogre occupied a gunny bag and the old man carried the bag in his cart to the check post.

The Customs officer was ready there, in all eagerness to extort the toll.

The customs man inspected the cart and found the gunny bag. He queried about the contents, and the old man said that it was just some provisions and vegetables inside the bag.

The customs man poked various parts of the bag with his sharp stick and the ogre inside was getting bleeding bruises.

But true to its promise it kept quiet.. It was really terrified of the customs man, after that experience..

The ogre had a real first-hand experience as to how terrible a taxman could be.

Finally, after a lot of negotiation and haggling, the customs officer settled the issue by levy of one rupee as duty, and let the cart pass.

When they reached safety, the old man opened the gunny bag and the ogre sprang out all bruised and bleeding.

It was a nightmarish experience for the ogre.

The ogre thanked the old man for showing him the customs man.

The ogre was very old fashioned and so grateful too.

He had watched the old man paying one rupee as customs duty for the passage of the gunny bag, which hid him

He wanted to show his gratitude." You have spent one rupee on my behalf, and also given me an experience that would be remembered for a lifetime.. In return, you please dig under the tree in the forest, where we met.. You will find adequate compensation."

The ogre went away saying good-bye to the old man.

When the old man dug under the tree mentioned by the ogre, the senior citizen could get a bag of gold coins. Therefore, his problems in life, including the customs officer was all over.