THYLOS
Thylos is a country whose inhabitants are little beings referred to as Thylosians. They share similar characteristics with humans safe for the facts that they don't grow beyond the height of a mouse and they survive mainly on water and air.
Water is luxury in Thylos owing to the fact that the country is situated in a desert. Based on the scarcity of water, it became the instrument used in the payment of goods and services as well as the settlement of debts. The wealth of a Thylosian is therefore determined by the amount of water he or she has in store. Centi-litre cups are used to measure the amount of water to be used for the payment of goods and services. Citizens carry small rubber bottles to serve as purse.
In this country there lived three friends whose names were Zybro, Viga and Banisha. Zybro wished to live a comfortable life. Not too rich but not poor. He desired to perform services for any of the rich in the society and earn an honest living out of it.
Viga wanted more freedom. To work when he want to and play when he want to.
"Several wells" said Banisha "That's what I want."
“How unrealistic are you two.” Said Zybro. “A well in the desert is a difficult task”.
“But not impossible”. Replied Banisha. “At least, we know of those who have made wells here in Thylos”.
“The few which we all know are the rich and powerful”. Added Viga.
“Remember Moriki”. Said Zybro. “How he tried to make a well, but when he discovered how impossible it was, he stopped. We all know the rich. They have secrets deep rooted in ills and crookedness”.
“All we need is the right information”. Banisha said. “Mystery is only mysterious until understood”.
“If wells have been dug in the desert then, more wells can be dug”. Said Viga.
Digging a well in Thylos is very rigorous. More tedious than digging for gold. They experience low rainfall. And the rain, when it falls, isn’t good for drinking. It only helps to soften the soil. Therefore, digging a well is easier during the rainy season. The ultra rich in Thylos are those who have dug several wells.
After the three friends ended their discussion or argument as one may call it, they all parted. It was in a park they met.
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“Let’s dig a well together”. Said Banisha to Viga. “Digging one alone can be a very hard task”.
“Hard but not impossible”. Viga said. “I’ll dig mine alone”.
“How do you plan to pay the workers”. Asked Banisha. “Do you intend to dig it all by yourself ?”
"I am going to find for myself an employment, I'll pay the workers with the income I'll earn. Slowly and gradually, I shall dig my first well. I expect it to be completed in ten years"
"That's a brilliant idea". The both remain silent for a moment until Banisha spoke again. "Then I'll need to find some other partners"
"Yea, you do"
"Let me take my leave now"
"Okay, thanks for coming to my place"
They both shake hands and Banisha leaves.
"Lazy Banisha". Viga said laughing. "He thinks I am foolish to embark on the project with him. I've always known him to be lazy, he can't even work to have his own well alone".
Zybro their friend was employed by Muji, a very wealthy man in Thylos. Third in ranking by the number of wells he had. His story was Banisha's greatest inspiration. He started with just a well which he co-founded with friends. With the income from that well, he dug another well solely owned by him. From then, he has been digging wells until he he became the third in ranking of the wealthiest people in Thylos. Banisha told Zybro this story on hearing that he had become an employee of Muji. But Zybro responded in his usual manner.
"That's what they will say, they won't tell you the evil sides".
"If there were any evil sides". Banisha said. "I think those friends with whom he co-founded his first well should be aware of them too. But although they are all rich, his friends are no where near him in the ranking of the wealthiest people in Thylos. Or are there worst sides that only Banisha discovered?".
Zybro remained silent so Banisha continued.
"I think it's all a matter of principles my dear friend. Muji discovered them, applied them, and today, he is as successful as he is".
To Zybro, nothing can make him believe what Banisha is saying. What he believes is that Muji has a secret he won't let known. A secret deep rooted in ills and crookedness.
"I am looking for partners to join me in digging my first well". Banisha said. "I'll love it if you join me"
"You know I can't, I have bills to pay". Replied Zybro.
After a short time trying to persuade Zybro to partner with him and getting nothing but rejection, Banisha left Zybro's house.
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Zybro tried digging a well after he was employed by Muji. After two months of digging, he abandoned the project. Viga, also employed, didn't even attempt digging a well. In an attempt to earn more money inoder to meet his expenses and still continue with his project, Viga got two jobs for himself. Thereby, working both by day and at night. He later decided to quit one inorder to relieve himself of the stress.
For Banisha it was a different story. No one wanted to invest in the project. So he tried to convince five friends to invest their time. Everyday, seven days a week, they dug the ground and the hole was getting deeper. After a time, about a year, water appeared. But the water that came out wasn't good for drinking so, they fetched it all out and continued digging. A full month nearly passed away when they met the hardest part of the soil. An assurance that their labour will soon be rewarded. It was at this point that Viga came and offered to be a partner.
"Oh no, it's too late." Banisha said in reply to Viga's request.
"It might take you guys a very long time to get to clean water." Viga said. "Moreover, you need more hands."
"Maybe in some other project please." Banisha said. "I think we are almost done with this one. Even if I will want you to join us the other partners won't."
When the work was completed, Banisha bought drums and filled them with water. In less than five months, Banisha began his first solo project. Zybro, now desperate to get rich, met Miji, his employer, and asked him to mentor him to riches.
"If you want to get rich then you have to get ready to get done that which ought to be done." Muji told Zybro.
"I am determined to do whatever it takes." Zybro said.
"Then dig a well. Yes it's hard but, that's what ought to be done. There exist three types of people in this world; the Wealthy, the rich and the financially free ones. A wealthy person is one who has much of anything. And the truth is, everyone is wealthy in Thylos. Our wealth is our land, everyone has access to it.
"The rich ones are those who have transformed their wealth into its financial counterpart. Although everyone has access to land here in Thylos, for someone to be rich, that person has to be able to dig a well from the land.
"Lastly, once your earning start growing, your expenses grows as well. You have always craved to live the good life, but now, with the money in your hands, you will easily become extravagant if not checked, and your expenses might rise to even grow beyond your earnings, therefore your earnings need to increase.
"In order to attain financial freedom, you need to grow your earnings above your expenses. Therefore, you need to dig more wells."
At this, Zybro thanked Muji and left his presence. His looks after leaving Muji's presence will give a layman the impression that the words didn't find a place to stay in his heart. But he thanked him and left.
THE END
Written by Kanu Ekpezu
© 2018 Laureates'™ Media
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