Ajay was born and raised in Mumbai. He was accustomed to comfort and convenience, viewing life only in terms of money and prestige. When he married, his wife – Radha – was a sweet, simple girl from a small village in Maharashtra. His friends would joke that he had “brought home a village girl.” But Radha was beautiful, hardworking, and loved Ajay wholeheartedly, so Ajay married her.

On the wedding day, Radha’s father, Mr. Madhav, a thin, sun-wrinkled farmer, came from the village and spent all his savings on his daughter’s wedding. But Ajay considered him only “a poor, backward man.”

After the wedding, Radha would sometimes suggest they visit her father in the village, but Ajay would always make excuses:
“What fun is there there? Just fields, dust, and nothing to talk about.”

Radha would be sad, but would say nothing.

One day, Mr. Madhav suddenly came to the city. He traveled by an old bus and brought some potatoes and oranges from his farm. As soon as Radha saw him, her eyes lit up:
“Papa! When did you arrive? Why didn’t you tell us so we could pick you up at the station?”

Mr. Madhav smiled:
“Daughter, I didn’t want to disturb you. I brought some things from my farm to remind you of home.”

Radha became emotional, tears welling up.

But Ajay’s reaction was different. He was busy with his mobile phone; when he saw his father-in-law arrive wearing simple clothes and old slippers, his forehead wrinkled, he coldly greeted, and turned away.

During the meal, Mr. Madhav tried to make conversation:
“Ajay, how is your work going? Is it very tiring?”

Ajay quickly took his food and replied briefly:
“It’s fine.”

The atmosphere grew tense. Mr. Madhav still smiled and began talking about the crops and life in the village. Ajay was barely listening, occasionally nodding his head. He thought to himself: “What could a poor farmer know about modern city life?”

Radha, seeing her husband’s coldness, was silently saddened.

That evening, Ajay had an important meeting with a major industrialist, with whom he wanted to save his struggling business. He quickly got ready and left his father-in-law alone in the backyard.

A short while later, the doorbell rang. A luxury car pulled up in front of the house. A middle-aged man, dressed in fine clothes, stepped out of the car. Ajay ran happily and said:
—”Sir! Welcome, please come in.”

But as soon as the man entered, Ajay was frozen. The man walked straight towards Mr. Madhav, who was sitting quietly, and said with utmost respect:
—”Hello, Mr. Madhav. I am Amit Shah, director of ABC Company. I have come regarding the agreement we had with you.”

Ajay was taken aback. The “director,” with whom he had dreamed of partnering, was addressing his father-in-law, a poor farmer, with utmost respect.

Mr. Madhav smiled and calmly explained:
“I never wanted to show off, but years ago, I invested some of my savings and those of some acquaintances in this company. Amit is a director here. Today, I came not only to meet my daughter, but also to talk about opening a new branch in the city. I thought I’d introduce you to him, perhaps we could collaborate…”

Ajay’s insides collapsed. He regretted his contempt, his harsh response, and his attitude. Only deep shame and regret remained. He stammered:
“Sorry, Mr. Madhav… I didn’t know…”

The father-in-law said softly:
“I don’t need respect for money. I just want you to love my daughter and respect the family. But today I saw clearly what’s most in your heart.”

He got up, took his old bag, and started to leave. Radha wept and tried to stop her father. Ajay stood pale, remorseful. A golden opportunity had been missed because of his arrogance and contempt.

That night, the house grew quiet. Ajay understood that true wealth lies not in fancy clothes, full purses, or luxury cars, but in the well-being and dignity of people. And he realized that he had lost not just a business opportunity, but also his wife’s trust and his father-in-law’s respect—the same poor farmer who was actually the main partner in the company he had always dreamed of working with.