Ethics of a Roadside Key-Maker

Some of my observation and incidents help me to fetch some of the best things out our society.

Few days back, I have lost my cupboard keys. Unfortunately, I did not have duplicate key for that cupboard. So, I went to the Key maker’s shop which is at the end of my street. Hundreds of keys and locks were hanging in his small shop’s front door and the guy was engrossed in his special art of making keys. He has noticed me that I was standing in front of his shop. I asked “Can you help me in making of my Cupboard key? I don’t have duplicate key for that.”

Wiping the sweat of his forehead on his shoulder, he showed affirmation for help. Then, he put on his shirt on his sweat t-shirt which he was wearing, took all necessary equipment in a small cloth bag, put on his thin slippers and asked me “Where do you stay, sir?”
I told him, “nearby, just five minutes’ walk.”

We came to our home and I showed him the locked Cupboard. He took out some blank key from (Blank key – without any cuts or notches). He put that blank key in the cupboard lock and started to understand the lock’s movement by putting his ears very close to cupboard lock. After that he took out the key and started making cuts and notches (bitting) on the blade of a key. After doing some cuts or notches, again he tried to open lock and try to understand the next movement of lock. Again he took out the key and started making cuts and notches on the key. This procedure continued for almost half an hour, until he opened the cupboard with that new key.

Seeing this procedure and his skills, I was surprised and really happy too. I thanked him for all his efforts and paid him the amount that we negotiated at his shop.

Later, when he was leaving, one question struck to my mind. If he can open cupboard in such a short notice, he can open any damn lock in considerable timeframe whenever he wants. With the curious face, I asked that guy, “You have such a great skill, is that happened any time that you have to use your skill for the wrong purpose?”

The guy answered it very well. He said that when my father taught me this skill, he told “if you use this skill for the right purpose, someday you may have to sleep with empty stomach, but when you use it for wrong purpose, there is a definite chance that you don’t get sleep even if your stomach is full”

“What level of ethics and honesty this guy has” I whispered internally...!!