Was It Betrayal?

Ramlal and Vijay Gupta were both merchants belonging to Vishnupur. Suddenly, they met at Kantipur. Both were there for trade, but Ramlal had come by his big boat, whereas Vijay Gupta had traveled by land. “Why not accompany me by sea?” proposed Ramlal. Gupta agreed, and he, along with his three assistants, boarded Ramlal’s boat.

Inside his cabin, Ramlal showed two diamonds to Vijay Gupta. “These are the most precious items I have obtained. What should we do if we are confronted by pirates?” he asked.

“Keep them tied to your waist,” advised Gupta. Following his advice, Ramlal secured the diamonds to his waist.

The very next day, they were ambushed by pirates. The raiders plundered the boat but did not find much of value. The pirate chief brandished a dagger before Ramlal and Gupta and declared, “Now I must search your persons to see if you are hiding anything.”

Gupta looked at Ramlal and said, “My brother, our safety is more important than our wealth. Better surrender those diamonds you are hiding under your clothes!”

With tears in his eyes, Ramlal reluctantly handed over his two diamonds. As soon as the pirates departed, he turned to Gupta and demanded, “How could you betray me?”

Gupta did not respond immediately. Instead, he pulled out a small pouch tied to his own waist and opened it. Inside were twenty diamonds. “My brother, had I not disclosed your diamonds, the pirate would have searched both of us and taken away all of this. These are costlier diamonds than the two you lost. Now, please pick any four for yourself,” said Vijay Gupta.