The villagers are illiterate, and I often use shells to explain their liabilities. It is the business of a moneylender to maintain accounts. I’m the richest person in the village, and would like to maintain status quo.
I have seen lifecycles of local residents from birth to debt to death, from prosperity to poverty, from self-reliance to dependence – all in the span of a single lifetime. The lifecycles are as fragile as the shells, whose positions I so often change and the debtors believe the beauty of the collection and the lender’s integrity. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
(100 words)
Creative Experiments and More 
Deep commentary on the morals of those who wield power
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Thanks so much!
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A layered story, rich in the evil calculation of maintaining power; also the innocence and trust of the villagers. No one seems to challenge the money lender.
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THAT lies at the root of all evil – not being challenged.
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Such Machiavellian self-awareness in the narrator! I like the way she or he inserts her own trade and its results as a natural step in the progression of life. And the progression, for those indebted to her/him, seems to have a downward trajectory. From self-reliance to dependence…chilling.
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All evil is chilling … yet it ends up ruling the world – in a whole person, or in bits and parts of the psyche.
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Character reeked of evil. Felt bad for the villagers
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Thanks!
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Great story, Reena. Thank goodness for the adult literacy programme, especially for improving women’s lives.
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Even Braille needs a recognition of alphabet. Pictures can be an aid, but not the whole truth of words and numbers. Literacy is non-negotiable. Thanks, Penny!
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Nice story of using shells to position debtors. By a slight change of position, a debtor may land into a deep mess. More so because they are illiterate.
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Thanks!
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Ouch – sounds like you know a lot about the business world (and human behavior)
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Spent a lifetime in it 🙂 Thanks!
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Makes sense –
😊🙏
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The fragility of the shells emphasizes the attitude of the smug moneylender.
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That is a value-adding imagery. Thanks!
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I liked “birth to debt”
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Thanks!
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I would never trust a moneylender.
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Nobody should, unless you are competent to challenge him legally.
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There was so much packed into this piece. Like a mini-commentary of an entire situation. A really great job!
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Thanks so much, Lisa!
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