Greed Poem by Ratnakar Rout

While passing through the street
Lined with enormous mansions
I used to look at the massive structure
Of a colossal monumental building
Which catches my sight impulsively?
Who would be the proud owner of the building?
I usually pondered. One day I had an
Opportunity seeing a portly figure
Making rounds in the courtyard
Accidentally, I met the man in a friends’ house
After a brief introduction I came to know
That he was a civil engineer by profession
And after retirement has started a firm
For rendering services on consultation
A few minutes I got to spend with him that day,
He only talked during that brief discussion on acquisition of land
Building and property available here and there in the city
My friend later on told, he has property worth
Many billions, but he is not contented.
He is always after more and more accumulation
Though he is seventy plus. We had not met since then
When I curiously enquired about the man last week
My friend narrated the painful incident
Which had occurred with the man and devastated him
Hardly a year after our meeting
The man fell sick when the elder son was out of the town.
The younger one conniving with some miscreants got
The transfer deeds of the land and building signed
From the ailing father clandestinely
To the utter surprise of every one
For exercising the ownership over the land and building entirely
When the elder son knew the conspiracy
He had no option but to run after
Pillar to post to protect his position
The dispute over the possession of the
Building took an ugly turn. At the sick bed,
The man was subjected to severe torture and humiliation.
Neither two son nor their spouses look after the ailing father.
Every one started blaming him
For his indecisive behaviour
He was lamenting for the unprecedented development
And wailing on his traumatic condition
He cursed none other than himself for all such happening
And started repenting on his past deeds
But it was already delayed
Day by day his health condition deteriorated
At last the man precariously succumbed to his illness
The mansion is standing as it is there proudly
In the posh locality adjacent to the street I see
When pass by regularly during my morning round of walk
But the man is not seen there now a day
And he would never be seen there again