By Frank Lucasale 
In a small village named Sonpur, there lived a young man named Raj. Raj was known for his cunning nature. He had a sharp mind, but instead of using it for good, he often used it to take advantage of others. He would deceive people, make false promises, and take whatever he wanted without a second thought. To Raj, it was all about winning—about getting what he desired, no matter who got hurt in the process.
Raj owned a small grocery shop in the village. It was the only one in the area, which meant that people had no choice but to buy their essentials from him. He overcharged for basic necessities and gave less than what was paid for. If someone complained, he would shrug them off, saying, “If you don’t like it, go somewhere else!” But everyone knew there was nowhere else to go.
Raj’s Deceitful Ways
One day, an elderly woman named Sita came into Raj’s shop. She was frail and could barely walk, but she was kind and always spoke softly. She wanted to buy some rice and vegetables. She counted her coins carefully, but she was a little short. “Raj,” she said, “I only have this much. Could you please give me a little rice? I promise I’ll pay the rest later.”
Raj smirked. “No money, no rice,” he said coldly. He knew Sita was poor, and he had no intention of showing any mercy. Sita pleaded with him, her eyes filled with tears. But Raj was unmoved. He shooed her away, leaving her with nothing.
Sita left the shop, her heart heavy. She muttered a quiet prayer, “May you learn the value of kindness, Raj. May life teach you a lesson that you will never forget.” Raj laughed it off, thinking nothing of her words.
The Turning Point
A few weeks later, a wealthy trader named Ravi came to the village. He was looking for someone to supply him with groceries for his new store in the neighboring town. He heard about Raj’s shop and decided to pay him a visit.
Ravi offered Raj a lucrative deal—one that could make Raj a lot of money. Raj, excited by the opportunity, quickly agreed. But his greedy nature took over, and he decided to cheat Ravi. He mixed low-quality grains with the good ones and packed them up, thinking that Ravi wouldn’t notice. He was sure he could make a quick profit without any repercussions.
Ravi, however, was no fool. When he received the goods and found out that they were of poor quality, he was furious. He returned to Sonpur, confronted Raj, and canceled the deal. Not only that, but he spread the word about Raj’s deceit to other traders in the region. Soon, no one wanted to do business with Raj.
The Fall of Raj
Raj’s reputation began to crumble. The villagers, who had already been upset with his unfair prices and dishonest practices, started avoiding his shop. They preferred to travel to the next village, even if it meant a long journey, rather than buy from Raj. His sales dropped, and he began to lose money.
One day, a terrible storm hit Sonpur. Raj’s shop was damaged, and he lost most of his stock. With no income and no way to repair his shop, Raj found himself in a desperate situation. He went to the people he had once cheated and mistreated, asking for help. But they all turned him away. “You never helped us when we needed it, Raj. Now it’s your turn to face the consequences,” they said.
A Lesson in Humility
Raj was left with no choice but to leave the village in search of work. He traveled to the nearby town, hoping to find a job to make ends meet. After days of searching, he found work as a laborer in a rice mill. The work was hard, the pay was low, and Raj had to endure the same kind of mistreatment he had once inflicted on others. His employer was harsh and unkind, much like Raj had been to the villagers.
One day, as Raj was carrying a heavy sack of rice, he saw an old woman struggling to lift a small bag. She looked frail and weak, much like Sita, the elderly woman he had once refused to help. In that moment, something shifted in Raj. He put down his sack and went over to help her. The old woman thanked him with a warm smile, and Raj felt a sense of peace that he hadn’t felt in a long time.
Raj’s Redemption
Raj realized that the misery he was facing was the result of his own actions. His greed, deceit, and lack of empathy had brought him to this point. He understood, finally, what Sita had meant when she said that life would teach him a lesson. Karma had indeed followed him, and now he was paying the price.
Determined to change his ways, Raj decided to return to Sonpur. He used the little money he had saved from his work at the rice mill to repair his shop. But this time, things were different. Raj was no longer the greedy, deceitful man he once was. He treated his customers with respect, offered fair prices, and even gave free groceries to those who couldn’t afford them.
Slowly but surely, the villagers began to trust Raj again. They saw the change in him and decided to give him another chance. His business began to grow, not because of cunning tricks or deceit, but because of the honesty and kindness he now showed to everyone.
The Moral of the Story
Raj’s story is a powerful reminder that our actions have consequences. The way we treat others will eventually come back to us, whether for good or ill. Raj learned the hard way that karma never forgets. When he was selfish and dishonest, life brought him suffering and loss. But when he chose to change and act with kindness and integrity, his fortunes began to improve.
The lesson here is simple: treat others as you would like to be treated. If you sow kindness, you will reap kindness. But if you sow deceit and cruelty, that is what will come back to you. Karma is like a mirror—it reflects back whatever we put out into the world.