Auction

`A story….a story….a story….’ Auctioneer kept on announcing rather shouting the object, seemingly a printed script, came for the bidding but garnered no interest. Even at the base price of only Rs.501.
Ganesh idol of Lalbagh, Mumbai, fondly known as King of Lalbagh is a darling God for entire Mumbai.
People offer various and valuable gifts to Bappa, out of their love and gratitude towards him.
One kg gold crown, 5 kg silver Modak, golden leaf petals garland, diamond studded bracelet, anklets, costly watches, I-phones, various denominations gold & silver coins, bundles of various currencies….
Among all these precious things, people also offer some creative belongings; part of their land papers, sons MBBS degree, kitchen appliances, cricket bats etc.
People go crazy to acquire the offerings as they consider it a direct blessing from Bappa. The necklace of 2 lakh worth goes at 5 lakh or so.
In a first of its kind, auctioneer announces a unique offering. A story!
A writer has donated his story to Bappa. The auctioneer got little confused as how to go for the auction of such item, what would be the base price, how to entice the bidders.
With confusion, he started off with the introductory note written by the writer himself, which goes like- `Every writer considers his story as invaluable, so is mine. I am offering this story to Bappa and hope you put a great price for it. This story has the potential to be made into a big budget film, a mammoth play or a novel of international standards. I am sharing a brief outline of the story and if you like it, you can acquire it as Bappa’s blessing.….’.
Auctioneer read the brief story which was in few lines. The story had emotions, appeal, novelty and engaging elements. The bidders seemingly could feel the story and find a connect with it. Hesitatingly, the base price was fixed at Rs.501/- only.
Auctioneer tried his best to cheer and invite the best bid for the story…. `unique offering of Bappa…. shoot a film…. stage a captivating play…. fetch an international award for a novel…new & engaging….a story, a story, a story….’.
Seconds turn into minutes but nobody came forward even to offer Rs.501.
After a while, a man emerges from the crowd and sheepishly offer Rs.501 for the story. Auctioneer didn’t waste a single second to close the bid: `501- one, 501- two and 501- three….’ And heaves a big sigh of relief. After all, how can any offering from Bappa go unauctioned!
Auction process again switched to normal valuables.
The man who bided for the story came to the accounts desk to pay the money and get the story. The accountant checked the person’s name to write it in the receipt. He then casually checked the name of the writer and title of the story. He was shocked and literally froze for the moment.
The writer of the story himself bought the story through the bidding.
Ironically, auctioneer didn’t announce the title of the story, which was- Death of a Writer.