Mr. Menon from flat 4B had a plan. He would sell his auto rickshaw, put everything into a coin called ShibaMoon Prime and retire by December. The coin, he said, had a dog on it, which in his experience was a sign of loyalty.
His neighbour Farah, a chartered accountant, asked three questions over chai: how much of his savings was this, what happens if the coin falls 80 percent, and who would drive the rickshaw while he waited for December.
Mr. Menon said the answers were all of it, then he would be sad, and nobody. Farah gently suggested that investing could include crypto, but not in the form of a rickshaw with wheels removed.
They agreed on a compromise: keep the rickshaw, set aside a small amount he could afford to lose, and never put in money he needed for rent, food or the rickshaw’s insurance.
Months later the coin went down sharply. Mr. Menon, who had invested only ₹5,000, took it with calm. He sent Farah a thank-you message with a photo of the rickshaw, and one more sentence: “The dog on the coin was not loyal, but the rickshaw is.”