THE GOLD FRAME
R.K. Laxman
Datta was the owner of a small shop called The Modern Frame Works. He used to put pictures into frames. One day a customer comes to Datta’s shop with a faded picture of an elderly person. He demands that the best frame be used and chooses an imported German frame with an oval cut mount.
Later, however, Datta accidentally drops a tin of enamel paint over the photo. The photo is completely damaged. Datta is panic-stricken. He does not know what to do. As he looks around in dismay, an idea takes shape in Datta’s mind. He plans to substitute the damaged photo with another photo, which is somewhat similar. He finds a suitable photo for this purpose and puts it in a dazzling gold frame.
The customer arrives and asks if the work has been completed. Datta slowly removes the cover and hands over the photo. The customer looks at it. He shouts in anger, “What have you done?” Datta fears the worst. He thinks that his deception has been noticed. The customer continues shouting that while he had asked for an oval frame, Datta had used a square one!
Datta realizes then that the customer had not noticed that the photo itself was different. He had merely objected to the frame. He is relieved, as he knows that, at the most, he might have to change the frame.
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