The wealth creator, part 2

 He used to follow clients around but had his own office. He moved to a better one so as to be near his clients. He was proud of the internal decor of the office, particularly its small conference room. I was invited there many a time and I visited once.

Then there was news of moving to another office. I had retired by now and he made sure that my lump sum retirement benefits went to him for investment.

Then there was silence. Corona struck and for over a year, there was an absolute lull in business. Online work of the son continued. Corona helped ensure that digital work had an upper hand from now on.

Taxation law changed and dividend on equity started getting taxed in the hands of the holder also. I had to change my investments from dividend to reinvestment option. I called him. He said he would soon help me with the shift but he never called. I realized that I had ceased to be further interest to him. I had to send a copy of short story collection to persuade him to take the necessary steps.

Another year was over. I tend to forget past lessons and so I am doomed to repeat mistakes.

I decided to visit him recently at his place. He had invited me and I had ignored the invitation. I thought I would meet him at his place as a relative. However, he took matters out of my hand and diverted me to his new office. A posh office and a very good address. He was to soon move into the same building, top storey flat to stay. His present flat would be soon up for redevelopment, he informed me. He had thought of selling it to buy the new office and house but it was not necessary.

So he had definitely moved up. There were signs of wealth everywhere. The contacts he spoke of were also very well-placed. He seemed content and happy. He was creating fabulous wealth.

I came back clearly dismayed. There was no personal touch; it was all business from now on. I would not even be his client now, the son implied. They had to entertain me as an old client but clearly I was of no use to them.

Does material progress always demand the price of human relationships and contacts?

The wealth creator

 He was very quiet to start with. Some investment by my father brought him over. Then he sensed that I could be his client.

There was no small talk. The few things he said could all be called shop-talk. We had known him when we were young. He used to cultivate sarcasm then. Now it was a bland face he showed us.

However, he was very humble in spite of his well- off background. He would go to visit clients at their homes and he was very punctual. He remained focused throughout the conversation and never forgot any promises he made. He would systematically follow them through. That and his punctuality were impressive. We used to meet in restaurants and he would never forget to get my signature on the dotted line. He brought gifts too: diaries, coffee packets. It was a mixture of family linkage with business.

He helped me fructify my idea of an add-on course for students on his line of work. I made contact with his contacts; he helped me with the course syllabus and suggested guest speakers. The course was a success. He took personal interest in the course and looked upon the students as his potential clients. The course was off to a great start.

His son joined him in business and he was relieved. Succession was not a problem now. It is the bane of nary a small business.

The son naturally had different ideas. He persuaded his father to open an office and expected clients to visit them in it. Going to clients soon became a privilege for older, wealthier clients. The new generation is quite rude in talking to clients, he told me once. He bought an SUV for the son.

One of the faculty members at our add-on course told the students never to make clients of relatives as it invariably led to souring of relations."I beg to differ" he said but did not elaborate. He had approached only relatives in the beginning. The clients start wondering if the advisor actually has, always, their best interests in mind or does the advisor shuffle the portfolio unnecessarily to earn more income. "If you do not trust us, there is no point in continuing." the son would loftily inform the clients.

Shocking incident

 I am used to hearing other teachers talking about their students and how well they have done in life etc.

My experience today is just the opposite. Maharashtra Times of 3 November 2021 has reported that a student of mine with her husband was apprehended by the police at Delhi international airport; they were trying to fly to Sri Lanka to escape. The couple was absconding ever since investors had lodged complaints against their investment company. The amount mentioned is Rs. 3.37 crore rupees.

The amount is not much by today's standards. I have become uneasy because of my student's involvement. She was a bubbly girl, full of beans. She resembled the actress Tanuja and had the same carefree manner. The junior college did not come up to her expectations but in the senior college, she had a nice group and things clicked. She could take part in all extracurricular activities and was popular. While doing M.Com. she did a business on the side of selling her notes to other students.

Then she married her friend since childhood. The hitch was that he was from a different religion and though her mother relented, her father did not. So she eloped but looked happy. Then I lost contact with her but I would see her photos occasionally on page 3. She looked glamorous and different. I had a feeling that she had become different.

And now this!

I am disturbed because a charming student of mine has ruined her life.