OLD man Takur was a brilliant cabinet maker. In fact, he was the only one in the village with that essential skill. He loved his trade and built furniture to perfection. He only sold perfectly crafted woodwork. He was in heavy demand, not only in Bramble Walk but in all the nearby communities.
One day as he worked, he got a brilliant idea: he could be a coffin maker. He immediately began creating magnificent caskets. People came from near and far to buy his masterpiece. The trade was turning out to be more lucrative than he could ever imagine.
Late one evening he was visited by a very rich old man. By the man’s clothing and attitude Takur realised he was well off.

“I want to order your best casket. I will pay any price,” the man said.
“Very well,” Takur responded.
The craftsman went to work pouring all his skill and energy into his new creation. Each evening the visitor arrived to check on Takur’s progress. The gentleman glowed in approval. The project was going better than he had expected.
On day, a family arrived from another village and ordered a tomb for their loved one.
One look at the young man and Takur could clearly see his resemblance to the rich old gentleman.

“I think your father has already ordered a casket,” Takur said.
He showed them his finished masterpiece.
“He specifically ordered blue interior, said it was his favourite colour. He has already paid half in advance. You only have to pay the remainder,” Takur said.
The young man and his mother were in a state of shock. This new development worried Takur. He enquired of them what the problem was. The woman sat down heavily. With tears in her eyes, she pulled a family album from her handbag. Flipping through the pages she found the one she was looking for.
“Is this the man who made the order?” she asked in a voice that held an obvious tremor,
“Yes! Definitely!” Takur said.

Takur looked at the photograph of the old man and smiled. The man had been an elegant but pleasant client.
“But that’s impossible!” were the words that rushed from the lips of the shocked woman.
“Why. Something wrong?”
Takur was getting more and more worried.
“Yes! He’s dead,” the woman said.
Takur could not believe his ears.
“How long ago did he order this casket?’
This question came from the son.
“Five days ago. He came that evening,” Takur explained.
The mother and son looked at each other in alarm.
“What’s the matter?” enquired a shocked Takur.
“You see, five days ago he was involved in a horrific accident. The doctors fought to save his life. He slipped into a coma. We were given the option of pulling the plug because he was just a vegetable. We unplugged the apparatus four hours ago,” the woman said.
Takur took a week off after that incident.
When he re-opened his doors the sign over the door had been changed. It read: “Joiner/Cabinet Maker. Only household furniture made.”
I couldn’t blame the man.