Dr. Suresh Kumar Mishra ‘Uratript’
Dr. Suresh Kumar Mishra, known for his wit and wisdom, is a prolific writer, renowned satirist, children’s literature author, and poet. He has undertaken the monumental task of writing, editing, and coordinating a total of 55 books for the Telangana government at the primary school, college, and university levels. His editorial endeavors also include online editions of works by Acharya Ramchandra Shukla.
As a celebrated satirist, Dr. Suresh Kumar Mishra has carved a niche for himself, with over eight million viewers, readers, and listeners tuning in to his literary musings on the demise of a teacher on the Sahitya AajTak channel. His contributions have earned him prestigious accolades such as the Telangana Hindi Academy’s Shreshtha Navyuva Rachnakaar Samman in 2021, presented by the honorable Chief Minister of Telangana, Mr. Chandrashekhar Rao. He has also been honored with the Vyangya Yatra Ravindranath Tyagi Stairway Award and the Sahitya Srijan Samman, alongside recognition from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and various other esteemed institutions.
Dr. Suresh Kumar Mishra’s journey is not merely one of literary accomplishments but also a testament to his unwavering dedication, creativity, and profound impact on society. His story inspires us to strive for excellence, to use our talents for the betterment of others, and to leave an indelible mark on the world. Today we present his Satire The Cost of Not Insuring!.
☆ Witful Warmth # 18 ☆
☆ Satire ☆ The Cost of Not Insuring ☆ Dr. Suresh Kumar Mishra ‘Uratript’ ☆
In a small town nestled in the heart of India, there was a man named Hari who had never understood the allure of insurance. He believed that life was a gamble, and he preferred to play it without any safety nets. His friends, however, often warned him about the dangers of such recklessness. “You should get insurance,” they would say. “It’s essential.”
Hari would scoff at their advice. “Insurance is just a scam to make people pay for something they’ll never use,” he would retort. His skepticism was as thick as the fog that rolled over the town every morning.
One day, Hari was traveling by train, an experience he loathed as much as he disliked insurance. The creaky old coach was filled with the typical assortment of travelers, each lost in their own world. Hari, trying to make the best of it, found a spot by the window and settled in, his grumbling about the inefficiencies of the railway system creating a minor distraction.
As the train rattled along, Hari’s attention was drawn to a young man in a sharply pressed suit, who appeared to be selling insurance policies to the passengers. The young man was relentless, his pitch a well-oiled machine of promises and reassurances.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” he began, with a flourish. “Are you prepared for the unexpected? Do you have insurance? If not, you might want to reconsider!”
Hari rolled his eyes. “Another insurance peddler,” he muttered. But the young man’s enthusiasm was unrelenting. “Take it from me,” he continued, “insurance is like a safety net. It’s there when you need it the most. Ever heard of the phrase, ‘Prevention is better than cure’? Well, insurance is prevention!”
Hari, irritated by the intrusion, snapped back, “I’m perfectly fine without insurance. I’m more worried about this train breaking down than my life.”
The young man, undeterred, leaned in and said, “Ah, but imagine if this train were to break down and you didn’t have insurance. The trouble, the heartache! Isn’t it better to be prepared?”
Just then, the train lurched violently. Hari’s face turned ashen as he glanced out the window and saw the tracks leading into a dense forest. The train screeched to a halt. The young man’s face lit up with a knowing smile. “Looks like we’ve had a bit of a hiccup. But don’t worry, this is exactly why you need insurance. It’s the safety net you don’t realize you need until it’s too late.”
As panic spread through the carriage, Hari’s unease grew. The young man’s words seemed to take on a new, ominous weight. “You see,” the young man continued, “insurance is like a guardian angel. It’s there, silently protecting you.”
Suddenly, two men in masks burst into the compartment. They brandished knives, demanding everyone’s valuables. The entire train car erupted in chaos. Hari, caught between disbelief and terror, found himself paralyzed. The masked men moved swiftly, collecting wallets and purses.
The young insurance salesman, unfazed, continued his pitch even in the midst of the heist. “And this, my friends, is why insurance is essential. If you had it, you’d be protected even from situations like these!”
Hari, his hands trembling, pulled out his meager savings—a few coins and a train ticket—and handed them over. The robbers, clearly unimpressed, scoffed and moved on. Hari’s heart raced as he tried to make sense of the situation. The young salesman, still grinning, added, “Well, at least you didn’t lose everything. Remember, insurance is there to cushion the blow.”
As the robbers left and the train resumed its journey, Hari was left in a daze. The young man approached him with a pat on the back. “See? It’s all about being prepared. You should really consider getting insurance for the future. It might just save you from more than you think.”
Hari, too shaken to respond, simply nodded. The train arrived at the next station, and Hari quickly exited, desperate to escape the bizarre ordeal. The young salesman’s voice followed him, “Don’t forget to insure your loved ones, chacha! They’ll need it too!”
Hari walked away, the weight of the encounter heavy on his shoulders. He realized that he had survived the ordeal, but at what cost? The irony of the situation was not lost on him. He had been saved from the immediate threat but was left with an unsettling feeling about the insurance salesman’s relentless pitch.
A few weeks later, Hari’s life took a tragic turn. A severe accident left him with mounting medical bills, and his savings were quickly depleted. He found himself in a desperate situation, without the safety net he had so long dismissed. The irony was cruel; the insurance salesman’s words echoed in his mind as he struggled to cope with the harsh reality of his circumstances.
Hari’s story became a cautionary tale in the town, a reminder of the unpredictable nature of life and the role that preparedness—or the lack thereof—plays in our lives. As Harishankar Parsai once said, “Life is a series of unfortunate events, and the best we can do is laugh at the absurdity of it all.” Hari’s laughter had long since faded, leaving him to ponder the lessons learned too late.
The tragedy of Hari’s life was not merely in the loss he faced but in the realization that the simple wisdom he had once dismissed had become his harsh reality. The irony of the insurance salesman’s final words haunted him as he faced the bitter end of his journey, a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of being prepared for its uncertainties.
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© Dr. Suresh Kumar Mishra ‘Uratript’
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≈ Blog Editor – Shri Hemant Bawankar/Editor (English) – Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi, NM ≈
