An old man lived in a small alley in Mumbai and had grown tired of the noise from a group of boys who played cricket outside his house every night. One evening, fed up with the racket, he decided to speak to them.

He explained, “I am a pensioner, and there’s nothing that makes me happier than watching or hearing kids play cricket. If you promise to play here every night, I will give you 25 rupees each week.”

The boys were overjoyed and agreed immediately. They were getting paid to play the game they loved!

At the end of the first week, they knocked on his door to collect their 25 rupees. True to his word, the old man handed them the money.

The second week, the boys returned, and the old man, with a troubled look on his face, handed them only 15 rupees.

The third week, the man gave them just 10 rupees, claiming he had not received his pension yet.

The boys were disappointed, but still, there was no choice but to accept what was offered.

By the fourth week, the man told them he could no longer afford the 25 rupees and would now give them only 5 rupees each week.

The boys, frustrated by the small amount, shouted, “You want us to play cricket every day for just 5 rupees? Forget it! Go to blazes!”

They walked away, and from then on, they no longer played cricket outside the old man’s house.