Me: “Hello Conscience, Are you there?”
Me: “Sorry, I’m late. Had problems logging in. Was unable to connect with you. The systems here are severely corrupt and virus ridden these days.”
C: “I can see that.”
Me: “It’s frustrating. Why don’t you do something about it, so that I can reach out to you more often? My doubts and fears are growing like weeds in a vacant field.”
C: “Do you think I created the viruses and allowed them a freehand to sabotage your system? They are of your own devising. You are letting them ruin your network with the unscrupulous use of data that I diligently supplied you with.”
Me: “I know that my system is laden with junk that will take more than a lifetime to clean. But there is so much out there in the world to download and devour. The inducements are too many, and with newer technologies, it has become easier than ever to possess them. I just can’t seem to have enough of anything. Do you think I am greedy, my conscience?”
C: “I don’t think so. I am certain about it.”
Me: “Don’t be so harsh. Help me. I need deliverance from this ceaseless craving for unnecessary apps, features and programs in my life. What do you think makes me want more than what my system duly needs? Speak to me about it.”
C: “Foolishness, greed — that’s what it is. I can only laugh at the man who believes he can earn through devious means and still be happy. I can only shrug at the man who is abundantly provided for, yet strives to add to his over flowing resources just to fulfill his whims. I can only pity the man who lives in the fallacy that there is bliss around the corner and chases the mirage of ‘just a little more’.”
Me: “Is money then sin, and craving, a crime?”
C: “I don’t contend that money is sin. I have reservations only with the bizarre ways in which you try to make and multiply it.”
Me: “But life is getting tougher by the day. How will we face the future if we don’t add and horde?”
C: “Point taken, but not all your moves are for securing your future. You have found it convenient to label your greed as need. You have lost sight of the difference between the use and misuse of money. You have overstepped the boundaries of fair and unfair means.”
Me: “You are complicating things. Keep it simple for my understanding.”
C: “Is that a smart phone? Haven’t seen that before.”
Me: “You see it? Swell, eh?”
C: “Did the old one conk off?”
Me: “No. I changed it for a fad.”
C: “And that watch..seems new too..Rolex?”
Me: “Not there yet. Some day, perhaps.”
C: “Ever fancied a Ferrari?”
Me: “Ferrari? Me? You must be kidding.”
C: “Why, if you try hard enough, you can have it, some day. Mark my words.”
Me: “Yeah…? That’s swanky thought! Wish it were true. But, hang on. This is absurd. Why on earth do you think I need a Ferrari?”
C: “For the same reason that you need the latest smart phone or a Rolex or a fifteenth pair of shoes or seventh pair of goggles or fourth apartment or thirty percent returns on investments. You will ask for it when your aspiration becomes ambition, and ambition becomes avarice. The greed bug can push you to extreme acts of deceit, power and possession.”
Me: “I had no inkling about this greed thing. You never said this to me before. Thank you for the red flag. You truly are an Anti-virus Guard. Will you stay with me always and protect my system from crashing?”
C: “Reach out any time, child. I’m online twenty four by seven, for all those who seek me.”
Nandini Mithun
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