A June afternoon in a village near Rajshahi. Over the wall beside Sakib's house leaned a branch of Karim Chacha's mango tree, heavy with ripe Langra mangoes.
His friends said: 'Come on, let's pick two — Chacha will never know.' Sakib's hand reached out. Then he stopped — his father had said that taking someone's things without permission is stealing, however small.
Sakib went round through the gate and asked: 'Chacha, may I take two mangoes from your tree?' Chacha laughed. 'Why two? Come, all of you, take a basketful.'
His friends were amazed. Stealing would have brought two mangoes and a heap of fear; asking brought a basketful and an old man's affection.