The Building That Rewarded Common Sense

a Talesmith short by Rajesh Muthuraj

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In the bustling heart of the city stood Shanti Towers, a proud glass-fronted building with two automatic doors that weren’t automatic at all.

One was clearly labeled “PULL”, the other “PUSH.”
Yet, every day, hundreds of intelligent, degree-holding, LinkedIn-updating professionals confidently did the opposite.

The Door Dilemma

The receptionist, Rina, had seen it all.

“Good morning, sir!” she’d chirp.

WHAM!

A man in a suit would walk straight into the glass, pretending it was all part of a routine.

Then came the next victim, a woman who yanked the “PUSH” door five times before whispering, “It’s stuck.”

Rina would sip her coffee and sigh.
“Every day,” she muttered, “the doors separate the intelligent from those without common sense.”

The Secret Reward

One fine Monday, the building’s owner, Mr. Murthy, a retired engineer with a wicked sense of humor, decided to do something about it.

He installed a hidden camera above the entrance and told Rina:
“Reward anyone who reads and follows the sign correctly. Small gift, big impact.”

And so it began.

Those who pushed when it said PUSH and pulled when it said PULL found an envelope at the desk with a note:

“Congratulations! You can read and think! Free coffee for you at the canteen!”

The rest?
They got nothing but embarrassment.

The Confusion Epidemic

Within a week, rumors spread.

“Bro, the building gives you gifts if you open the door correctly!”

“What?! No way! You mean… the door actually listens?”

Suddenly, people began approaching the doors like they were bomb-defusal experts.
They squinted, analyzed, even debated.

“Wait, does PULL mean I should…?”
“Yes, Rahul. It means you pull it toward yourself.”
“Oh. Okay. But what if it’s a trick?”

Meanwhile, the security guard kept a mental score:
Push/Pull Champions: 12
Door Defeats: 143

The Motivational Madness

Corporate trainers began citing Shanti Towers in their leadership lectures.

“Success in life is just like the doors at Shanti Towers; read before you act!”

Influencers made reels:
“How I earned free coffee by simply pushing correctly 💪☕ #DoorGoals #ReadTheSign”

One guy even tried both doors just to “maximize his fortune.”
He broke the handle.

The Revelation

Months later, a journalist interviewed Mr. Murthy, who was chuckling into his tea.

“Sir, what inspired you to reward people for… basic door etiquette?”

Murthy smiled.
“My dear, the building doesn’t reward people for opening doors. It rewards people for reading signs before taking action.”

He leaned forward.
“You’d be shocked how many people crash through life like those doors; pushing when life says pull and pulling when it clearly says push.”

The journalist nodded sagely, then walked straight into the glass on his way out.

Epilogue: The Moral

And so, the legend of Shanti Towers continued.

Every morning, the city’s best and brightest still faced their biggest test: two simple glass doors.

Those who read before acting got coffee.
Those who didn’t got comedy.

Moral:
In life, the signs are often clear. But some people need to bump into them before they believe they exist.
Always read the sign; it might just open doors (and get you free coffee).

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