Fair Play

It had been 3 weeks since Ali had been buying these lottery tickets everyday. It had infact become a worry for his family since he was spending all his savings on it...

One fine day as usual Ali picked up the playwin lotto slip and was going to select the numbers,

when someone kept a hand on his shoulders and said "Select 5, 24, 65, 72. I leave the 5th number to you. Lets see what luck you've got.."

Ali shrugged off his shoulders and said " kaun ho bhai aap. Apne kaam se kaam rakhiyega. Fokat ke ye pravachan apne ghar pe sunaaiye"

"Teri marzi..." grumbled the guy and walked away...

 

That Sunday, Ali went to the lottery shoop to find out what were the numbers...

"3 numbers bhi sahi aagye toh 1000 rupye toh ban jayenge" he thought to himself.

He was flabbergasted when the numbers came out as 5, 24, 65, 72, 91.

"How could this happen. was that guy some babaji or what" he wondered..

A thousand thoughts flooded his mind, when the same guy came out of nowhere.

"So Ali, ready to make a deal. Its quite simple. I help u win the lottery while u give me 5 lakhs. Not a rupee more, not a rupee less." The guy spoke with a serious voice.

Ali hung his head down and agreed reluctantly. "But why did u choose me." Ali asked.

"You'll See" smirked the guy while they walled back towards Ali's bungalow.

Ali had no money or asset except the house which was his ancestral wealth. Also how could he trust a guy who came out of nowhere only on verbal deal.

He decided to ask Nasser, his friend and the only educated fellow in the village. Only he could give him a sane solution, he thought.

Nasser, son of the zamindar (landlord), was simple and straight forward with his question. "Do you want to take such a risk? If Yes, I will arrange the funds."
This lightened up Ali. he immediately nodded his consent.

"Look Ali, I'll need your house as a mortgage against the money I give you.My father wont lend a single paisa without a security, you know that well." Ali nodded again in agreement.

Nasser drew the papers while his accountant gave the money to Ali.

"Ali, dont give the entire money to him. Give half the amount now and the balance after the work is over. And at any point you feel cheated in the deal, just back out. At any cost I want my money back on time. I dont care what you do with it" Nasser said. 

The next day the guy arrived at his place with an envelope...
"Ready? You got the money?" He asked
Ali nodded..

The guy put his hand forward. Ali hesitant handed half the money.

"What the heck is this, half money is not what we spoke. Give me the full amount now. And the next time, decide what you want to do for yourself. Dont go to your friends and leak the plans. You have No idea what you are up against."

"Now the full money or this" the guy removed a gun from his back and stuck it in his head.

Ali immediately raised both his hands and agreed to give the money.

Once he received the money, the guy gave Ali an envelope and said that the numbers were inside.
"Dont worry, I dont make shitty deals" the guy said and walked away

Ali went to the lottery center and picked up those numbers, and waited patiently for a week..
With each passing day he became more and more stressed and it was taking a toll on him.

Finally the day arrived and he went to the lottery center to claim his bounty.

He was awestruck when he saw the numbers on the grid. It matched exactly with the numbers he had chosen.

Thanking a thousand gods he went to the lottery center guy and gave his ticket and to claim he money

The lottery center fellow immediately was taken aback and called up someone from his telephone and confirmed the ticket number. 

"Oh, okok sirjee. That's a great news. Bye" saying he put down the phone

Ali was told yo come the next day and claim his money. Likewise he went to the store and waited with mixed feelings. He was relieved when the storekeeper called him in and handed him a suitcase. Ali was ecstatic. He could not believe his luck.

He collected the money and without even counting it, left the place and headed straight to Nasser's home.

Nasser was happy when he heard the News.

"10 lakhs you've won eh!!! Ab toh tu badaa aadmi ho gaya" smirked Nasser.

Finally after all the pleasantries were exchanged, Ali opened the suitcase to take out the 5 lakh rupees and give it to Nasser.

And then something happened which made the world around Ali crumble....

The case only had 1 lakh rupees...

"No, No this must be a mistake.. This can't be right. There is only 1 lakh in here" Ali exclaimed. He was literally in tears.

"Go asap and check with the Lottery fellow. Go now. I'llI'll try doing something from my end as well" remarked Nasser.

Ali ran all the way to the lottery shop. He was running with his life on his sleeve.

Eventually when he reached, he found that the store was closed and the shutter was downed. He was so mad with rage now that he went and opened the shutter up himself only to find the shop was vacant.

How could this be possible. I met him just today morning he retorted to himself, While Nasser arrived at the spot along with a few policemen.

Nasser could only pat the crying fellow and ask him yo calm down. What else could he do.

The shop fellow had run away and going to the police was ineffective.

Nasser took Ali home and handed him a packet of 1 more lakh.

"This is for our friendship sake. Now take these 2 lakhs and go find some work in a city.

I have to tell you to vacate your house immediately, for I have to recover my 5 lakhs asap. If my father comes to know that I helped you, I'll be killed".

Ali was dumbfounded. There was no way to go for him. He eventually decided to go to the city and find some work while living on rent in a small shanty. 

He called up Nasser to thank him for his help.

"Are its nothing Ali. U stay safe. That's enough" saying this, Nasser kept the phone down.

He picked up the receiver to make another call.

"You received the full amount from Ali that day??"

"Yes Sir" said a person on the other side.

"Cool.Enjoy. also keep a tab on that lottery shop fellow. He needs to stay away from the village as far as possible"

"Will be done sir" 

Nasser again disconnected and called another number...

"Shaikh sahib. Deal pakka samjho. Bungalow khaali kar diya aur mere naam karwaa liya".

"Are price is negotiable. You tell me what price do you want it for?"

"3 crores!!!! Deal. Main abhi papers banwaa deta hun"

Nasser hung up. He knew he was the real winner in this deal...

-Shravii