It was around 11:00 in the morning. At an old but busy bank branch in the city, customers were standing in their queues. The AC was running inside. But there was irritation and haste in the atmosphere. It’s like everyone came here under compulsion. At that moment, an elderly man entered through the door. Age about 72 years. The old dhoti on the body was half white and half soaked in dust. A loose lightly torn shirt on top, an old satchel in his hand and worn glasses over his eyes. He was walking with a slight blink. It’s like fighting with yourself at every step. He asked softly as he entered. Where is the beta account section? The
girl sitting at the reception looked him up and down and said without a smile. You stand in line. Right over there in the corner. The elderly walked slowly along the wall to the desk where three employees were sitting. Sitting on chairs in the mobile. He bent down and folded his hands and said, “Son, there has been a mess in the bus account.” Last month’s pension did not come. Take a look. A clerk said without raising his head. Hey Baba, fill out the form first. Then bring the token. You have come just like that. The old man said, pulling out a paper with trembling hands. Here is the pension slip. I was lost. It’s not mobile.

My son is out. No help now irritated the other clerk. Look, Baba, we don’t have a helpline. Everyone is in a hurry. We hear these excuses every day. If you need help, go outside. Some customers standing nearby were watching. But no one said anything. The third employee said mockingly. Gentlemen are weird, too. They come to collect their pensions as if crores of rupees have been transacted. The old man’s face began to turn pale. Without saying a word, he put the paper back in his pocket and turned slowly. But then a security guard who was watching all this spoke to get them out of the way.
Baba, it’s too late now. Let’s not crowd outside. One employee laughed and said, “Even beggar-type people now come to the bank and do a show.” It was as if someone had slapped an old man in the face. His throat went dry. Tears welled up in his eyes. But he did not respond. Some faces bowed among the crowd, some laughed and others silently watched the spectacle. The old man walked slowly out of the bank. His trembling hands were no longer clasping. He stopped near an old PCO booth in front. Yellow walls, broken boards, but inside was still an old phone. Elderly 

He took out a small diary page from his pocket. I saw a number written on it and slowly picked up the phone. Yes, I am talking. Yes, I saw today’s behavior from the same branch. I don’t want anything. Just need an inspection right away. Then he hung up the phone. After leaving the PCO, the elderly again came in front of the same bank and sat on the pavement. His eyes were now closed, as if he was thinking about something inside. You are missing something. The same atmosphere was going on inside the bank. Long lines at the counter sat the employees squatting in their seats. The guard was busy on mobile. But about 40 minutes later, a black car
stopped in front of the branch. Behind him was another SUV and within seconds, four men entered the bank with brisk steps. He had a shining batch on the court. Central Regulatory on Government of India. The bank guard could say something. Before that, one of them said, “Call the branch manager.” The staff inside was stunned. Why all this suddenly? For what? “This branch has been taken under surveillance today under a special complaint,” an official said, opening the file. He paused for a moment and then said, “Mr. Devdutt Prasad, Retired Senior Accounts Officer, Ministry of Finance and the only primary founder of this bank
, a shareholder. The entire bank froze in silence. The same Devdutt Prasad who was thrown out shortly before being called a beggar. The same ones who were now sitting quietly on the side of the road. The same ones who shook the whole system in just one phone call without anger, without indignation. The branch manager came running in. Sweating. Sir, if there is any mistake, the officer cut the matter and said that all the CCTV footage should be removed, especially who said what with that elderly person of the last two hours, we have to see everything and whoever touched or insulted
him will be suspended from duty immediately. Here on the road, a junior officer came running and sat next to the old man. Sir, I have been sent to bring you in. I’m sorry. We didn’t know. Devdutt looked at him slowly. I don’t want revenge on anyone, son. Just had to remind that sometimes an ordinary-looking man is extraordinary. There was silence at every table inside the bank. The same employees who were turning the form upside down until a while ago. Now he had forgotten to look at the computer screen. The CCTV footage was played. It was running on the big screen. That embarrassing clip shows Devdutt Prasad bowing down trembling and a worker pointing a finger in front of
him. The other was screaming them for tokens. The third laughed and called them beggar type. There was a guard standing next to him who was tiring them out. The senior auditor paused the camera recording. Name these four. The branch manager’s voice had dried up. Sir, this is Pradeep Naresh and Vikas and guard Ratan Lal Effective All for Suspended Pending Enquiry The rest of the staff standing inside could no longer make eye contact. After a while, the same old man Devdutt Prasad Ji walked slowly in. Now
his gait was already steady. But the face is as calm as ever. The whole bank held its breath. The branch manager came to them. He bowed his head. Sir, we are very embarrassed. We didn’t know. That is all Devdutt ji said. That’s it, son. There should be humanity even if there is no identity. He entered the branch and started looking for the same chair where he was forbidden to sit. He sat down and said, “I just had to see if I had the patience to listen to the plight of a common man. The auditor asked him, “Sir, if you wanted, you could have sealed this entire branch.” “Why did you wait? Devdutt ji said
with a slight smile, “In the society you want to reform, change comes not by shouting, but by teaching, and sometimes a slap is deeper than words.” But my slap was just the truth. Next dayNeither was the headline on many major news channels of the country. The elderly man was removed from the bank. Then it turns out he is the founding shareholder of the bank. Devdutt Prasad’s silence held up a mirror to the entire system. Go on social media and Respect Elders started trending. People were saying maybe this is the real retirement. Where a man speaks not by position, but by experience.