Short story
BY JOSEPH SOBOKA
Once there were two people living in one neighborhood in a big city but were of different antagonistic views of life. They never agreed on anything especially issues regarding the interests of the people. The polarity of their tendencies or principles always intrigued the people in area. While one of them is least concerned about the interest anybody, the other more prioritizes the interests of others’ than his own.
Apparently, at this point, avarice and selflessness seem to be at loggerheads and each pulling to opposite directions in the process of presenting their irreconcilable ideas – vices and virtues positively and negatively reacting on the wellbeing of the people.
Ambachew and Atlabachew have opposite meanings which were inseparably hooked to each other manifesting the good and the bad sides of human nature.
The intriguing case of these two persons is that they are always seen together engaged in hot discussion that looked like argument. The movements of their hands, arms or heads to accompany their speech, clearly depict their strong emotional state in the process.
After a long while, Ambachew politely said, “Good morning Atlabachew.”
“Good morning Ambachew,” replied Atlabachew.
Having observed his friend’s face, “It looks as thou you are not in a good mood today. What’s the matter?” enquired Atlabachew.
“Well, nothing is as such pleasing when it comes to the cost of living these days,” replied Ambachew.
“What about it? What is so bothering about it?”
“Of course it may not be an issue of much concern to you although I do not understand why?” intensely reacted Ambachew.
Puzzled by the way Ambachew remarked, “Am I different from the rest of the people, especially you? You are confusing me.”
“I did not say that. But who knows how people react to situations of this sort? Each person has his own perspectives,” said Ambachew scratching his head. When he thinks that things are not working and are not in the right direction, that’s what he usually does involuntarily, though.
Atlabachew was a person who does things secretly without showing his true motive. Whatever he says seems true but in actual sense, it is packed with deceits that cannot be easily detected. Seldom was he seen angry; his broad smile was captivating and people easily fell prey to his malign influence unaware. His shrewdness was demonstrated by his skilled deception. He is clever at attaining one’s ends by indirect and often deceptive means. With such schemes he darkened the life of many people.
On the contrary, Ambachew was a sort of sensitive person who tenaciously hangs on his truth. He does not let go of what he believes is true and right. As predictable as he was people easily knew his deportment. His principles, apart his personal interest, were honesty – a facet of moral character that connotes positive and virtuous attributes such as integrity, truthfulness, straightforwardness and the like.
Atlabachew, as a businessman, daily pursues means of amassing a lot profit without paying heed to the universally accepted business principles. He is a kind of person who makes exorbitant profit with little input.
One day, Ambachew happened to be at his shop watching how things were going. Despite the high charges he demands, Atlabachew had no respect for his customers whatsoever. Humanity had no place with him. Self-seeking greed had weakened his mental power.
After watching enough, “Why do you treat your customers like that?” asked Ambachew unable to restrain his feeling.
Atlabachew without much attention, “What have I done?”
“I don’t have to tell you that; you know it very well,” replied Ambachew.
Swiftly handing the items to the buyers, “I don’t really understand what you trying to tell me.”
“Apparently, you know that I have been here at least for half an hour. I have noticed all your customers leave the shop grumbling. Some loudly complain or protest in a bad tempered way while others filled with disgust without uttering a word.”
With little respect for his friend, Atlabachew snapped, “So what?”
Ambachew, lowering his voice said, “You should have at least showed them the curtsy of listening to them.”
“I’m sorry my friend, I don’t have time to do that. I don’t allow anything to jeopardize my business,” said Atlabachew.
“Is that all the sentiment you have for your customers?”
Taken aback by the insistence of Ambachew, he asked, “Why are so much serious for something that does not concern you? Don’t you have other things of your own to do?”
This remark did not deter Ambachew from pursuing his purpose. He kept digging further down into the issue. “As to your question, your business transaction, I take it as my concern since I do not like to see people mishandled. Haven’t you heard that customers are kings?”
“To me, customers are customer, none other than that; they pay and I give them what they need. All the rest is mumbo jumbo. It is as simple as that,” strongly asserted Atlabachew.
“I don’t think you have the slightest clue of what I am trying to tell you,” said Ambachew.
“What are you saying, Mr. Know-it-all?” shouted Atlabachew sarcastically.
“When it comes to knowing how you run your business activities, it does not require doctoral research.”
“What do you mean by that?” said Atlabachew eager to know what Ambachew meant by business activities.
“My friend Atlabachew, I mean nothing other than how you sell your commodities and how you unfairly charge and of all how badly treat your customers.”
So much irritated, “Tell me how else I should treat them,” demanded Atlabachew.
“It is a bit too late. You should have known these things before going into business. One should act proactively to avoid eventual regret. It takes rationality- ability to reason out, or to use mental power to identify what is right and wrong while dealing with people and situations,” sternly explained Ambachew.
After brief contemplation but emotionally agitated, he said, “Regarding the charge, I am not over exploiting my customers. I am not different from the rest of business communities in our town.”
“No wonder, after all, you are all the same. In principle, business people should compete to win customers politely and with dignity.”
“How can we compete? Prices are fixed allover. I cannot make a new law to attract customers. If they like, they can buy with price set by the business man,” angrily reacted Atlabachew. His eyes blood shot, his face contorted and his voice was a bit coarse instantly. He almost lost control of what he was doing; customers were vying to win his attention from here and there as he could not concentrate on one thing.
A bystander having observed the situation of Atlabachew said, “I have been listening to your discussion and I have not found anything wrong that can upset Atlabachew. The management of business with most sellers including Atlabachew is unlawful and irrational. They are all only concerned with the profit they make without taking the interests of their customers into consideration. Desire for accumulating the undeserving wealth has wrecked their conscience.”
“Thank you my friend, this is the whole issue that I am trying to make Atlabachew understand,” said Ambachew.
His hands were shaky due to emotional imbalance, “What do you want me to understand?”
Ambachew, now confident, said, “It’s good you raised tis question. To begin with, you are overcharge your customers. In business priciple, sellers are allowed to make about 25% or a bit higher profit. But you and your friends aspire to make about 100% to 150% or even more profit from each commodity you sell. Yet, you don’t admit this grave mistake. Whether it old stock or new, you keep raising the price shamelessly. This is what is known as blood sucking.”
“God bless you my friend; one of the reasons for the impoverishment of the people is the business man,” said the bystander.
“Unless they revers their hell word bound journey, I can assure you their greed will isolate them to face the grave consequence at the end of the day,” said Ambachew and left the area followed by the bystander. Their hay day was coming to an end. The blaze of the midday sun was getting more and more scorching. “Woe to them all! They are no less treasonous elements to the country,” said Ambachew.
The Ethiopian Herald April 24/2021
