Do the Poor Really Cry ? part 2.

Richie broke the silence that seemed to be building gradually.
  They agreed to meet in Richie's house the next day, a Saturday. As RIchie drove away in his metallic grey Lincoln Navigator, Ben stood still wondering what in the world Richie had gotten into. He quickly assured himself. Whatever it was, he was in.

  Next day, as he trudged his way to Richie's house, he was still deep sunken into the pit of introspection. He pumped on the gate of Richie's palatial mansion in Alvin Crescent. He was ushered into the house by a boy who obviously looked like Richie. Ben was overwhelmed by the affluence exhibited lavishly in various masterpieces and appliances.

  The breeze oozing noiselessly from the split unit air conditioner blew his ear cold as he crouched under the haven of his thick shirt. Ben watches with envy as Richie descended the rungs of the rugged stairs.
 
  They spoke at length, for the greater part of the time, reminiscing their mutual experience as undergrads and colleagues at Leventis. For Ben, it was a long and tortuous session. He couldn't wait to get to the heart of the matter, which they eventually did.

  "So my friend, what exactly did you do that has set us apart in just a few years?"
Richie took a deep breath and slightly readjusted in order to achieve a projectile position.
  "Ben, let me start by telling you what I did not do" Richie eventually found a convenient way to say "I never spend everything I get" Ben's phantom hope started melting as Richie started. The cheery look on his face dissolved into melancholy.

He finally garnered some courage to say
  "So what has that got to do with making money"
  "That my friend is the first step to becoming rich. Never spend all you get", Richie submitted courteously but quite frankly.
  "But I thought becoming rich was all about making money and spending money".
  "No, Ben, you become rich by saving and investing money."

Ben knew as a matter of fact that Richie always saved money while they worked together, not big but atleast ten percent of his salary. He did it with such consistency that others laughed at him and called him names. Unlike others, Richie wasn't into extravagant shopping.

Cynically, Ben reopened enquiry
  " Richie , you aren't trying to tell me that your meager saving of those years is what amassed this stupendous wealth. You don't want to hand me that , do you?

By now, Richie had realised how difficult it would be to help his friend break the backbone of poverty. If there's no transformation in attitude, there is no light at the end of the tunnel.  Ben left

                  Disappointed...