August 2021
Michael Dell was a good guy, but luck wasn't with him. Unlike his famous namesake, the owner of Dell Computer Corporation, he wasn't rich. His English degree from California State University in Los Angeles didn't help him to find gainful employment, and working in construction wasn't anything pleasant. Then came the 2008 financial crisis, there was no more construction, and Michael lost his job. He became homeless.
To be homeless in LA is something to be avoided at all costs. It took Michael only a few days to come to that conclusion. Therefore, he went to an Internet café and searched for a country with a low cost of living where he could communicate in English. After long search, he found a small town in India, close to New Delhi, with a cheap hotel. Then, after getting an Indian tourist visa, he withdrew all his money, bought a ticket to New Delhi, and after two days of hard travelling, he found himself in the only hotel in that town. Michael was exhausted, he just wanted to go to bed, but the owner of the hotel was talkative. “Hello sir, my name is Aarav. Welcome to my hotel, I hope you will find it comfortable. I am sure you will like our town, ….,” and he kept talking. Michael couldn’t wait to get the key to his room.
Aarav was bored. He had nothing to do, so he looked carefully at the copy of Michael's passport. The name Dell looked familiar, and then he remembered. It was the name written on the computer at his desk. That was interesting. He searched "Michael Dell" on Google and was shocked. It was the name of one of the richest people in the US. The city on Michael's passport, Los Angeles, was also the same. “It must be him!” Aarav cried. “He will bring glory and riches to my hotel!”, and Aarav couldn't wait to tell the good news to his wife. "Kashvi," he said. "I have a great news. The guy who is staying in our hotel is one of the richest people in the US. He will bring fame and riches to our hotel, but don't tell it to anybody. It is a secret." Kashvi promised to be silent as a tomb, and the very next time when she saw her best friend Prisha, she told her: "Prisha, the guy who stays in our hotel is very rich. But it is a secret, don’t tell it to anybody!" Prisha promised to be silent as a tomb, and within two days the whole town knew there was a rich American staying in Aarav's hotel, and he will bring fame and riches to everybody.
The good news also reached Shivay and his gang. They liked the idea of fame and riches, but they preferred to get rich quick. "How about we kidnap the guy. He is rich, and Americans will surely pay the ransom," Shivay suggested to his friends. They all agreed it was a good idea, so the next morning when Michael left the hotel, they grabbed him, pushed him into an old rusty car and drove him to the old shack on the outskirts of the town.
"Sir, we know who you are," said Shivay.
"And who do you think I am?"
"You are Michael Dell, one of the richest persons in America."
Michael, despite the tense situation, had to laugh.
"You are only half right. I am Michael Dell, but not the rich one. I am an unemployed, homeless American who came here because it is cheap." Shivay didn’t believe him, but when he checked their birth dates, he realized the big mistake they made. Now what?
It was the young son of Shivay, Advik, who came up with the solution.
"You said you came because it is cheap here."
"Yes."
"But you have only a tourist visa, and it is valid for three months."
"I was hoping to extend it."
"Maybe we can extend it for you. Do you have any education?"
Michael told him about his English degree, and Advik looked satisfied.
"OK. You forget about the kidnapping, and we help you to extend your visa. With your degree in english, I presume you can write well. The town wants to increase tourism and for that, we need the help from various aid agencies. You will find them and get us some subsidies. In return, we tell the police you need more time to stay. What do you say?”
“I say it is a great idea."
All went according to the plan. Michael contacted the agencies, wrote applications and the town got subsidies. Michael became popular with the locals, married Shivay’s daughter and was elected as a mayor of the town.