The Strange Necklace

I started looking around.

'Might as well take something. I'll pay for it, if its price is not extravagant.'

There were a lot of interesting things in the shop. An ancient looking dagger which was not at all sharp, a lion head trophy, a clock which had 48-hour dial and many other weird things.

'Who in their right mind would buy anything from here?' I thought.

I was just about to leave, as I didn't want to take anything expensive and useless, when a necklace came into my vision.

It was an ordinary looking necklace with a lightning mark on it, I had no idea if it was a crack or an intentional style but still it looked cool to me.

So I picked it up and showed it to the old man.

"Here, how much does this cost?"

The old man opened his eyes slightly and looked at my hand. There was a slight shock on his face.

'What happened now? Is this his family heirloom or something like that,' I thought after seeing his shocked expression.

"You can take it as a gift as I already said so, "

he said in a sighing tone.

"Nope, I don't take things for free, just tell me the price."

My mother used to tell me to never take things for free from anyone as even if you are not giving them anything, you will still be in their debt.

And I don't like to be in debt.

The old shopkeeper had a surprised expression now.

"Okay, then it will be 150," he said.

He sure changed quite quickly.

I took out my wallet and saw there was only one note of 100 rupees left.

"Make it 100 this necklace is not that interesting anyways," I said to him.

He was now utterly stupified.

If I could hear his thoughts they would surely be something like this:

'Ridiculous, when I was giving it to you for free, you didn't take it and now you are bargaining for it.'

The old man said in a furious tone, "Fine, 100 it is."

Now I was shocked as he conceded too soon. But nevermind as long as it's beneficial to me.

"Here," I gave him the last note in my wallet. and went away as didn't want anything to change my mind.

As I vanished into the crowd, the old man came at the door.

"Who would have thought he would end up choosing 'his' necklace? Ha, it must be fate," he mumbled softly and went inside to doze of again.