148. 'The Best Man!'

Anyone listening to a conversation in the office, between Accounts Manager Aravind and Senior Accounts Officer Rekha in the would think that Rekha was Aravind's superior officer.

In addition to Rekha being two years older than Aravind, there was another reason for Rekha appearing to have authority over Aravind.

When Rekha joined the company about one year back, Aravind made a pass at her, when the two were alone, despite knowing that Rekha was married. Rekha's reaction to Aravind's inappropriate behaviour was so ferocious that Aravind apologized to her immediately.

Rekha accepted Aravind's apology and moved with him normally. But, as if punishing him for his misdemeanour, she had been speaking to him, as if he was her subordinate.

Fearing that Rekha could publicize his inappropriate behaviour towards her, Aravind accepted her treatment of him and acted as if he was giving her respect, considering that she was older than him.

He often joked with her, treating her like a friend, in an effort to make her feel that he had no inappropriate feelings towards her.

"What, Mrs. Rekha? Who, do you think, will win the contest?" Aravind asked Rekha.

"Which contest?"

"Have you forgotten? In our company's anniversary celebration tomorrow, the female employees are going to select one male employee as the 'best man.'

"Oh, that? You are not going to be the winner, for sure!" said Rekha.

"What madam! Everyone in our office has been saying that I am going to be the winner."

"Some male employees might have told you so. How do men know on what basis women will vote?'

"Okay. Whom are you going to vote for?"

"To the person, who is going to win!"

"Does it mean that you are not going to vote for me?"

"What a sharp brain you have, Aravind! That is why they have made you a manager!" said Rekha, sarcastically. 

The anniversary function was celebrated on Saturday.

When Aravind came to the office on Monday, he greeted Rekha saying "Hello"

"Hello, best man!" said Rekha.

"Don't add insult to injury. Every one in the office is surprised that the female employees have chosen Murali 'the best man.'"

"You mean all the men in the office are surprised. Did I not tell you that men couldn't guess whom the women would select?"  

"That may be true. But the question remains on what basis did the women choose Murali. He is an introvert. He doesn't even talk to most of the people."

"Let me ask you a question, Aravind. If the male employees in our office were asked to choose one female employee 'the best woman,'  whom would you people have chosen?

"Not you, for sure!" said Aravind, laughing.

"Tit for tat! You are using the same words I used against you. It is fine. I know pretty well that you people won't choose me. I can also guess whom you will choose!"

"How can you? If men cannot know the mind of women, women cannot know the mind of men, either!"

"Women know. That is the fact. If men are asked to select 'the best woman,' they will choose the woman, who is the most beautiful. But if women are asked to choose 'the best man,' they will choose the one who has the best character!"

"Is there no one in the office who is better than Murali in character? I am also a person of good character."

"When I say character, I mean treating women with dignity and moving with them with genuine goodwill, not with a desire to win over them. Women will consider only such men as men of character. Most of the men working in our office have a tendency to look at a woman as a sexual object. They will try to win over her love, without even considering that she is married. Many men think that they are smart and that women will fall for their appearance and talk. What can be surprising about women voting for Murali, who treats women, especially married women, with dignity?" said Rekha. 

Realizing that she could have hurt Aravind inadvertently, she added, "I am sorry. I was not referring to you. I have forgiven and forgotten your past behaviour. What I said was in general. Since you have been moving with other men in our office, you can gauge to what extent my statement is true."

"I will try to improve myself and win the votes of women employees during the contest next year. I should get at least your vote" said Aravind.

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 14
Possession of Propriety 

Verse 148 (In Tamil)

piRan manai nOkkAdha pErANmai sAnROrkku
aRan onRO AnRa ozhukku.

Meaning:

The manliness of not looking at the face of another man's wife is not only a virtue to be followed by great men, but also a moral code.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'thEdhal mudivu' by the same author)

Verse 149 (Soon)
Verse 147