620. Saturn's Early Exit!

"I have lost my job. So I have to make efforts to earn money. I can't be sitting at home idle" said Velu.

"You need to do something, alright. But in your attempts to establish a business, you have been squandering our savings. How are we going to make a living after our entire savings are lost in your business ventures? Our family has to end up being on the streets" said his wife Selvi.

"Listen to me, Velu. The planet Saturn is not favourable to you now. It is traversing a seven and a half year destructive phase, in your horoscope. That was the reason you lost your job. Whatever efforts you make during the present adverse period, they will end up in failure. Our astrologer has cautioned me that you should refrain from launching any venture, before the adverse phase of Saturn comes to an end" said Velu's mother Krishnaveni.

Unable to comprehend what the elders were talking about, Velu's three year old daughter Rajashree kept looking at the faces of the three of them, one after the other.

"If I were to sit idle for the next seven years, waiting for the adverse phase of Saturn to end, I may not be around, when the good phase begins!" quipped Velu, laughing.

He then looked at his wife and said, "I understand your concerns, Selvi. I have not pledged or sold any of your jewels or my mother's jewels, to raise money for my ventures. I have been taking out small amounts from my savings. This is something I have to do. In the beginning, I tried to take up some agencies, without investing any money. But I could not earn sufficient income from such ventures. I realized that I would be able to do good business and earn well, only if I take an agency with a reputed company. But, taking up an agency with a big company requires some investment on my part. Thus, to earn a good income, I need to invest some money. That is what I have been doing."

He then turned to his mother and said, "Mom! I don't want to discredit Astrology. Even assuming that what the astrologer told you is correct, is it not logical that when the times are bad, one should intensify one's efforts to overcome the adverse forces? If the astrologer goes through a seven and a half year adverse phase of Saturn, will he stop practicing Astrology for seven and a half years, acting on the conviction that he won't be able to earn during that phase?"

Velu closed his eyes for a minute, reflecting. He then told both of them, "Please give me six months. Don't question my decisions or actions during this period. I will take care of the family's needs. If at the end of six months, my efforts have not succeeded, we three can sit together and decide what I should do."

Eight months had passed.

One day, Selvi asked Velu, "I observe that for the past few days, you have been dull. You come home late, appearing worn out. You don't eat well, or sleep well. You have always been thinking about some thing. A few days back, you prematurely canceled a fixed deposit for one lakh rupees. I am worried. Did you incur a huge loss in your business venture? The six months' period you had asked for is over already!"

Velu was silent for a few seconds and then said, "I thought of telling you this after a couple of days. Now that you have asked me about the situation, I will tell you about the developments. After taking up an agency with a big company, I struggled for about three months. After that, the business picked up. In the beginning, I was selling the company's products on commission basis. Impressed by my good performance, the company has offered to make me a stockist. The company will supply me the goods, without asking for any advance payment or deposit from me. I can pay for the goods after selling them. The profit margin will be higher under this arrangement. But I need a godown for stocking the goods. For the past several days, I was searching for a suitable place. I was looking for a place with a reasonable rent and a low rental deposit. After hectic efforts, I found a place at a reasonable rent. The owner of the building asked for a rental deposit of two lakh rupees. I had one lakh rupees with me, which I had saved from my earnings during the last eight months. This is after using part of the earnings for our family expenses. Since I needed one lakh rupees more, I had to prematurely close a fixed deposit. I will receive the stocks from the company in two days. After that, my business will go up. I will also be able to earn profits steadily."

Velu looked at Selvi with excitement and pride. 

"This is incredible. I was worried that something adverse could have happened, but, you have given me a pleasant surprise" said Selvi, elated.

"You should share this good news with your mother. She was worried a lot" she added.

"Yes. She can go to the astrologer to find an explanation for this favourable development. He may, after reexamining my horoscope, say that Saturn had some urgent business to attend to and hence made an early exit from my horoscope, giving up his plan to stay there for seven and a half years!" said Velu and laughed.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 62
Perseverance

Verse 620 (in Tamil):
Uzhaiyum uppakkam kANbar ulaivu inRith
thAzhAdhu ugnaRRubavar.

Meaning:

Those who persevere resolutely without respite will defeat fate and drive it away.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'viraivil vilagiya sani' by the same author.) 

Verse 621 (soon)
Verse 619

619. An Unexpected Opportunity

Bhupathy, along with five of his friends, started a music troupe called 'Live with Music' 

After starting the group, the friends approached a number of music forums and clubs that claimed to be dedicated to the cause of music, requesting for an opportunity to perform in the music events organized by them. But, no one came forward to provide an opportunity to them.

Though the friends who started the troupe with a lot of excitement, were discouraged by their failure to get a chance to perform in any event, they decided to pursue their activity, adopting another course. 

They book concert halls for an evening and conducted music programs, that could be watched people free of cost. 

They also invited people running music clubs, music critics, film music artists and the media, for these programs. But, there was not much of a response to those invitations. 

Though the programs were offered free of cost to the public, they didn't attract a sizeable audience, since the troupe could not spend much for advertising the programs.

Bhupathy and his friends did experience some proud moments, when people who attended a program applauded their performance, with some people even coming to the stage, after the program was over and conveying their appreciation to the troupe. But these appreciations did not translate into any gain to the troupe.

Once, a review about one of their programs was published in an obscure journal. Its circulation being limited, not many people could have read that review. The review was profusely appreciative of the program. 

Bhupathy himself came to know about the review, only after the reviewer called him up and told him about it. Bhupathy procured a copy of the journal which was not sold in popular newsstands, with great difficulty and read the review. 

That review didn't create any tangible impact, since it did not come to the notice of a large number of people.

The energy and the enthusiasm the friends had had, when they started the troupe five years back, were fading gradually.

It was at a time Bhupathy and others were thinking about winding up that activity and focusing on something else, that an unexpected opportunity came their way.

Bhupathy received a phone call from the secretary of 'Deva Gana Sabha*,' one of the leading music forums of the city.

The secretary said that he had attended one of their programs recently and that impressed by the quality of their output, he wanted to give them a chance to perform in his Sabha. He proposed a date for the concert, which Bhupathy readily accepted.

The very next day, Bhupathy received a confirmation email from the Sabha, giving details of the date of the program, the remuneration that would be paid to them and other terms.

The friends were awestruck when they looked at the figure mentioned as remuneration. They never expected to receive such a large sum as remuneration for a two hour performance.

"After so many years, we have received such a wonderful opportunity. If we make the best use of this, we can expect to get more such opportunities" said Bhupathy.

"Our program being held in the prestigious Deva Gana Sabha is a good publicity, by itself. We will become known to a wide circle of people" said Bhaskar, one of the other five members of the troupe.

"We have two months' time. We should do a vigorous rehearsal and present a stunning performance" said Bhupathy.

The very next day, they started the rehearsal.

A week before the program was scheduled, Bhupathy received an email from Deva Gana Sabha. It carried a terse message:

'Due to unexpected reasons, your program scheduled to take place on xx-xx-xxxx has been cancelled.'

Upset by the email, Bhupathy immediately went to the office of Deva Gana Sabha, taking Bhaskar with him. 

A number of people were waiting outside the president's room to meet him.

The secretary was not in his room. Bhupathy presumed that the secretary could be sitting with the president, in the latter's room.

One by one, the visitors went into the president's room and came back after a few minutes. The face expression of the people who came out of the president's room was gloomy.

Bhupathy and Bhaskar went into the president's room, when their turn came.

"The person who was holding the office of the secretary of this Sabha has committed some financial irregularities. He is now under suspension. The programs fixed by him have all been cancelled, pending a detailed enquiry into the fraud committed by him. We have given a complaint to the police. Only after the police enquiry is completed, will we be able to resume our activities. We don't know how many months it will take. I am sorry for the inconvenience" said the president.

"Sir! You can't trivialize this as an inconvenience! You confirmed our program through email. Only after getting your confirmation, we started our rehearsal. We have worked very hard during the last two months. For every rehearsal, we have paid rent for the place and remuneration to the instrument players. We also had to pay for transporting the instruments from the players' homes to the place where rehearsals were held and back. Apart from spending a considerable amount of money, we have also invested our time and toiled hard. How can you go back on your commitment and just say sorry?" asked Bhupathy, indignantly

The president smiled and said, "There is a sentence in the email stating that the program can be cancelled any time without assigning any reason and that no compensation will be paid in the event of cancellation. Did you not read it? We are acting as per the advice of our lawyer. I won't be able to help you."

"This is a bog blow to us. We have never rehearsed so vigorously for any of our programs in the past. It is depressing that all our efforts have become wasted" said Bhaskar, unable to stomach the disappointment.

"What can we do? This is the way our luck works. Or, call it fate, if you want. It appears that none of us have been blessed with good luck!" said Bhupathy.

Bhupathy's mobile phone rang.

"Yes...Please tell me. Oh, really? Which date?... No, that is not a problem. We can make it. Thanks a lot."

"Who was on the phone? Is Deva Gana Sabha offering to have our program on a different date?" asked Bhaskar. mockingly.

"Not exactly. But something similar to that! The person who called me is the secretary of the Youth Literary Association. It seems he has seen us when we were in Deva Gana Sabha. He had booked the Sabha's hall for a program and his booking has been cancelled. He has now booked another hall for his program. He asked me whether we can present an one hour music program at the end of his association's program. He said that he would be able to offer us only a small amount as remuneration. I think it would cover the expenses we have incurred for our rehearsal. But, there will be a large audience for their program. So, that will give us good publicity, which may help us in future. I have accepted his offer" said Bhupathy, beaming.

"Oh, what a relief! Though we may not get any profit from this program, we will at least be able to recover the amount spent by us. Though our efforts have not been rewarded, they have not been wasted. And, as you say, our performance in front of a large audience may bring us popularity and recognition, which in turn may bring us more opportunities in future" said Bhaskar, sharing the enthusiasm of his friend.

*Sabha - a concert hall

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 62
Perseverance

Verse 619 (in Tamil):
deyvaththAn AgAdhu eninum muyaRchi than
mey varuththak kUli tharum.

Meaning:

Even if efforts don't bring in the expected results because of God's will, perseverance will pay the wages for one’s efforts.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'thAnAga vandha vAyppu' by the same author.) 

Verse 620
Verse 618

143. The Proprietor's Wife

"You are thirty. Why do you still remain a bachelor?"

"Ask him why he has not yet married? How do you know that he is a bachelor?"

"Shsh.. The boss may hear us!"

Ganapathy, referred to as 'boss,' did hear the conversation between his employees. 

Ganapathy was aware that the message implied in the conversation that one may be unmarried, but may not be a bachelor applied to him as well. Perhaps one of the employees realized this and hence asked his colleague to shut up, lest it should be heard by Ganapathy.

Over the last several years, many people had been asking Ganapathy why he had not married. Ganapahy had been just laughing off the question, or giving an evasive reply to the question .

About twenty five years back, when Ganapathy was a young man of twenty years, he joined a textile shop in Madurai as a sales assistant. Through sheer hard work, sincerity and dedication, he earned the confidence and affection of Paramasivam, the proprietor of the shop and went up fast in the ladder of hierarchy of the shop. 

In five years, Ganapathy rose to the position of he manager of the shop.

Ganapathy was overwhelmed by the respect and recognition he received from every one, by virtue of being in a position next only to the proprietor. Other employees both admired and envied his feat in reaching a high position within a short time.

Ganapathy virtually worshipped his proprietor, who elevated him to the high position. To Ganapathy, his proprietor Paramasivam was Lord Paramasivam* himself..

Paramasivam, who was fifteen years older than Ganapathy, had lost his wife, within a couple of months after getting married. After that, he didn't marry again and devoted himself entirely to his business.

At the age of forty five, Paramasivam married a young woman of twenty five years.

Ganapathy, who, had been visiting Paamasivam's house quite often, avoided visiting his house, after Paramasivam got married. On the few occasions he had to go to the proprietor's house, Ganapathy would stand outside the house, talk to Paramasivam and leave.

Usually, Paramasivam, would take the cash home, after closing the shop at 9 pm. 

One day, Paramasivam left the shop in the afternoon, as he had to go to a a nearby town on an urgent business matter. Before leaving, he told Ganapathy, "I will be returning only late at night. I won't come back to the shop. You can close the shop at 9, take the cash and hand it over to my wife."

Ganapathy went to the proprietor's house some time past 9 pm, taking the cash with him.

The proprietor's wife, who opened the door, said "Come in."

"I came here to hand over the cash. Please count and check it" said Ganapathy, handing over the cash bag to her, without stepping into the house.  

"Handing over the cash to me, standing outside the door of our house is not proper. Moreover, it is night. We have to be cautious" she said.

Ganapathy entered the house reluctantly. 

What happened after he stepped into the house was something he could never reconcile to. 

When Ganapathy left the house after about half an hour, the proprietor's wife told him, with a smile, "Visit me quite often,"

When Ganapathy saw his proprietor the next day at the shop, he found it difficult to look straight at his face.

'What a perfidious act have I committed, betraying the confidence of a person who elevated me, a helper in his shop, to the position of the manager! How can I face him every day?' he reflected, cursing himself for his indiscrete act.

He could not continue to work there for long.  

After a week, he sought and got leave of absence for a few days, for visiting an ailing relative at Trichy. 

He didn't have many possessions. He packed his belongings in a suitcase and left. He didn't tell his landlord that he was vacating his room. Since he had paid three months' advance rent to the landlord, there won't be any rent due from him. 

Having worked for ten years, Ganapathy had saved some money. 

He went to Trichy, and stayed in a small lodge for two days. He sent a letter by post to Paramasivam, stating that with his relative having passed away, he was required to stay with the relative's family and help them. He politely conveyed the message that he won't be able to come back to Madurai and continue in his job. He ended the letter conveying his gratefulness to the proprietor for giving him a good position and for reposing his trust in him. 

He then left Trichy.

Since there was a possibility of Paramasivam coming to Trichy, locating him and persuading him to come back, Ganapathy chose a small town near Cuddalore and started a textile shop in a small way, using his savings as investment.

Fifteen years had passed. His business had grown and his shop become one of the most prominent ones in that region. 

During these fifteen years, Ganapathy received many proposals for marriage from parents of prospective brides. But he politely declined them. them.

The very thought of marriage, brought along with it, the memory of his immoral union on that day, with the proprietor's wife. 

People known to him kept asking him, "How long are you going to stay alone?"

He had no answer to this question. 'Perhaps, for my entire life' he thought. 

*Paramasivam - one of the names of Siva, a Hindu God. 

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 14
Possession of Propriety 

Verse 143 (In Tamil)

viLindhArin vERu allar manRa theLindhAril
thImai purindhu ozhuguvAr.

Meaning:

One who had an immoral relationship with the wife of a person who trusted him is equivalent to a dead person. 

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'nadandhadhai ninaitthu' by the same author)

Verse 144 (Soon)
Verse 142

142. At the Doorstep of Disgrace

When Guru saw Jayanthi for the first time, the thought that instantly arose in his mind was, 'how I wish that she were my wife!'

Jatanthi was married to Jagadeeswaran, Guru's colleague in the office.

After Jagadeeswaran brought Jayanthi to his house, after the marriage, Jagadeeswaran's friends in the office went to his house to wish the newly wed couple. It was at that time that such a thought occurred to Guru.

Though a counter thought also surfaced in his mind questioning whether he should entertain such a thought about his friend's wife, Guru realized that that thought tickled his mind and made him feel excited.

When Jayanthi brought a tray containing cups of coffee and offered the cups to the visitors, going to them one after another and inviting them through her smile to pick up a cup, Guru felt like touching her hand, adorned by bangles that were clinging as she moved.

After that occasion, Guru made it a point to visit Jagadeeswaran's house a few times, in the guise of visiting his friend. Though he was aware that his crush towards Jayanthi, even if it was suppressed in his mind, was inappropriate, he could not quell the attraction he had been feeling for her.

Jagadeeswaran had to go out of station for a few days, on official work.

"You are leaving your newly-wed wife alone and going for an official tour!" Guru asked Jagadeeswaran.

"Yes. But we are living in an apartment block. If my wife needs anything, she can take the help of our neighbours. Moreover, Jayanthi is a brave woman, by nature. So, she can manage things" said Jagadeeswaran.  

The evening after Jagadeeswaran had left on a tour, Guru felt restless. He felt an urge to visit Jagadeeswaran's home and see Jayanthi.

'What is wrong in visiting her and saying hello to her? If I become friendly with her, she may be attracted by me!' thought Guru.

Unable to control the urge to visit her when she was alone, Guru left for Jagadeeswaran's house.

When Guru pressed the calling bell, Jayanti opened the door. The black color sari worn by her and her dark unplaited hair that was flowing like waves on either side of her face stirred up a feeling of mild fear in him.

Seeing Guru, she asked, "oh, you!" standing near the door, which she had opened partially. She didn't attempt to open the door fully and ask him to come in.

"Yes" said Guru, bringing a smile on his face, with some difficulty. "Jagad has left, hasn't he?"

"Yes. He left in the afternoon" said Jayanthi, standing in the same position.

Guru was not sure what Jayanthi was thinking about his visiting her. Has she taken it as normal or has she begun to doubt his intentions?.

Seeing that Guru was silent, Jayanthi asked him, "Is anything the matter?"

As Guru began to think how he was going to answer her question, he suddenly felt a chill running through him.

'What am I doing! Driven by the attraction I felt for another man's wife, I have come to her house and am standing at her doorstep. What a degrading behaviour!

'If Jagadeeswaran were to become aware of the attraction I have felt for his wife, what will he think about me?

'If Jayanthi becomes suspicious of my intentions, what will she do? Will she yell and make her neighbours come here? If some of her neighbours rush here, responding to her cries, what will I tell them?

'If people come to a conclusion that I came here with a bad intention and I suffer humiliation, what will happen to my life?

'Even if it doesn't happen, but if Jayanthi thinks that I have come here with an ignoble intention, can I visit this house again? Will I be able to continue my friendship with Jagadeeswaran?

'What a foolish blunder I was about to commit!'

Guru stepped back a little and told Jayanthi, "Since you are alone, with Jagad being away, I just wanted to check whether everything was alright here, whether you were safe and whether you needed any thing." 

"I have no problem here. Everything is fine. I am grateful to you, for your concern for my welfare and having taken the trouble to come here to check everything is fine" said Jayanthi, with a smile.

Seeing her smile, Guru heaved a sigh of relief, thinking, 'how narrowly I pulled myself, at the last minute, from falling into a pit of disgrace.

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 15
Not Desiring Another Man's Wife

Verse 142 (In Tamil)

aRan kadai ninRAruL ellAm piRan kadai 
nnRArin pEdhaiyAr il. 

Meaning:

Of all those who have been beyond the boundaries of morality, there are no greater imbeciles than those who go after another’s wife.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'manam pOna pOkkilE' by the same author.)

Verse 143
Verse 141

618. Blaming the Fate!

"Hey, Kannan! How are you?" Prakash greeted his friend, who visited his room.

"Not good. It has been two years since I completed my education. I have still not got a job. I am feeling frustrated. I thought if I met you and talked to you, I could feel better. Hope you free today" replied Kannan.

"When it comes to spending time with friends like you, I am always free. I have a practice of visiting my uncle once in a few months. I thought of visiting him today. But, no problem. I can schedule it for next week."

"I don't want you to change your program because of me. I can come next week."

"It is fine. My visiting my uncle is only for the sake of courtesy. I can visit him next week. Let us go out somewhere" said Prakash.

The two friends went to a restaurant and had their lunch. They then went to a movie and returned to Prakash's room in the evening.

They chatted for a while on various topics. 

"Are you applying for all the jobs you are eligible to apply?" asked Prakash. 

"My experience has been that there is a lot of competition for jobs in big companies. About one thousand people attend an interview for fifty posts. So, I have stopped applying for jobs in big companies. I apply only for other kinds of jobs" said Kannan.

"I think it is a wrong approach. You could be one of the fifty people selected for the post. If you stop applying to big companies, just because you were not selected by some big companies after being interviewed, won't it amount to restricting the opportunities available to you?"

"I think I don't have the good fortune of getting a job in a good company. When fate is against me, my attempts at fighting against my destiny will be futile."

Deciding not to talk further on the topic, Prakash changed the topic, by talking about their mutual friends.

When the topic turned to Gurumurthy, one of their close friends, Kannan asked, derisively "How is he? Has he started another business now?" 

"Like you, he also says that his fate is not good. But he keeps trying to do something or the other" said Prakash.

"He became an insurance agent. When he could not make much headway in that line, he got into network marketing. He failed in that venture also. What business is he engaged in now?" asked Kannan, in a mocking tone.

"Kannan! It is not fair to make fun of him. Like you, he also has not got a job till now. But he keeps thinking, 'if I can't get a job, what else can I do?' He explored self employment or business opportunities he could take up without much investment. That's how he ended up pursuing insurance and network marketing activities. Well, he didn't succeed in his efforts. But, he won't give up. He will try something else!" said Prakash.

It appeared to Kannan that Prakash's words carried a hidden message, 'While you have been blaming the fate and not even making use of all the opportunities that come your way, Gurumurthy keeps trying something new, even after repeated failures. You have no moral authority to find fault with his ways.' 

"I take leave of you. As advised by you, I will apply for jobs in big companies also" kannan told Prakash, while taking leave of him.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 62
Perseverance

Verse 618 (in Tamil):
poRiyinmai yArkkum pazhi anRu aRivu aRindhu
ALvinai inmai pazhi.

Meaning:

Misfortune is not disgrace; not gaining requisite knowledge, and not persisting, is disgraceful.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'vidhiyin pizhai' by the same author.) 

Verse 619
Verse 617

1139. The Man on Horseback

When Damayanthi went to the market with her mother Kalyani, she watched her mother buy some vegetables.

"Are you not buying bitter gourd?" asked Damayanthi.

Kalyani looked at her daughter with surprise and said, "You want me to buy bitter gourd! But, you don't like bitter gourd." 

"He likes bitter gourd. So, I thought I will also get used to like it."

"He? Whom are you referring to?" asked Kalyani.

Damayanthi checked herself and said, "I was talking about daddy."

"But your father also doesn't like bitter gourd. It is because you both don't like bitter gourd, I have stopped buying it" said Kalyani, still perplexed by her daughter's words.

Another day, When Damayanthi was walking on the streets with her friends, she saw a soldier riding a horse.

Damyanthi told her friends, "This is his horse. But someone else is riding it."

"His horse? Whom are you talking about?" one of her friends asked Damayanthi.

"Don't you remember? When we were bathing in the tank, a man came there riding a horse. He let the horse drink water in the tank and stood at a distance, lest we should feel uncomfortable bathing in the tank, in the presence of a man. He was such a gentleman! It was when I met him for the first time. After that, I met him in the temple, when I had been there along with you people" said Damayanthi.  

Damayanthi's friends exchanged puzzled looks among themselves.

"What you say doesn't make any sense to us, Damayanthi. No such incident happened, when we were bathing together in the tank" said, one friend.

"Oh! In that case, it might have happened, when I was bathing with some of my other friends" said Damayanthi.

"But, you don't have other friends!" pointed out another friend.

"Perhaps, it took place when I was bathing with my mother" said Damayanthi, even as she was wondering why she had been contradicting herself.

"It is obvious that something has happened to her. We will suggest to her mother to get her married soon!" said another friend, evoking a laughter in others.

"One more thing. All horses look alike. So, even if you had met a man riding a horse, this horse may not be the one you saw him riding. So, don't keep dwelling on this" another friend advised Damayanthi.

Later, when Damayanthi met her lover in private, she told him, "I didn't tell anyone about my love. But my love for you, which I have locked up in my mind, keeps popping out now and then by breaking the lock open, exposing me and embarrassing me in the process. So, I suggest that you meet my parents soon and arrange to have our marriage performed soon."

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 114
Shedding Shyness

Verse 1139 (in Tamil):
aRigilAr ellArum enRE en kAmam
maRugin maRugum maruNdu.

Meaning:

Believing that none knows its secret, my love reels confused in the streets (of this town).

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'kudhirai vIran' by the same author.)

Verse 1140 (Soon)
Verse 1138

617. The Goddess of Wealth

"Grandpa, who are Sridevi and Moodevi?" Nitish asked his grandfather Ekambaram.

Nitish's father Kumar, who was sitting on the sofa watching the TV, lowered the volume of the TV so that he could listen to his father's answer to Nitish's question.

"Sridevi is Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth. Moodevi, her elder sister is the Goddess of Adversity or Misfortune" said Ekambaram. 

"Is Moodevi a bad person?"

"No. We can't say she is bad. We expect God to be a benefactor, a power that will help us. We worship Lakshmi, expecting that She will bestow riches on us. It is believed that Moodevi will stop good things from happening to us."

Oh! That's why we don't worship Moodevi!"

"Yes."

"Are Sridevi and Moodevi real?"

"We go to the temple and pray to God. Is it not because we believe that there is God? The perception about the existence of Sridevi and Moodevi is also based on belief."

"If some student in my class doesn't study well, my class teacher will call him 'Moodevi,' Moodevi is a feminine name. But I find my my class teacher calling a boy by this feminine name, amusing."

"It is not only your class teacher who does so. Many people have the practice of calling men, 'Moodevi,' while criticizing them. It is because, the name Moodevi is not used to depict a person. Though as per Hindu mythology, Moodevi is the elder sister of Lakshmi, in practice, Moodevi is associated with anything despicable. The term is used to refer to undesirable habits and practices, varying from physical factors like lack of cleanliness and hygiene to mindsets and attitudes like laziness, not making efforts, sitting idle etc."

"We need only Lakshmi. We should keep away from Moodevi. Shouldn't we, grandpa?"

"Yes. Lakshmi is auspicious. She represents good things. She will give us riches, fortune, health  and happiness. But, how can we get good things? Can we get them, if we are sitting idle?" asked Ekambaram.

Nitish nodded his head, signaling his agreement with his grandfather's words.

"Grandpa! It is me who is asking you the questions. But, you keep looking at daddy, while answering my questions. Don't you see that daddy is watching the TV?" asked Nitish. 

"Yes. But your father is also listening to our conversation. That is why I am looking at him also, while talking to you" said Ekambram, looking at both his son and his grandson and smiling.

Nitish turned to Kumar and asked him, "Dad! Don't you know these things? Didn't grandpa tell you about these, when you were a boy?"

Even before Kumar could reply to his son, Ekambaram said, "I have told your father many times about these concepts. But, he might have forgotten. It is better that he hears them again so that these will be deeply impressed on his mind." 

He looked at Kumar with a smirky expression on his face and continued talking to his grandson. 

"So, where were we? Yes...Lakshmi will do good to us. But, if we sit idle, good things won't come to us on their own. Hard work, efforts, enthusiasm, energy, interest, involvement, concentration, dedication cleanliness, good intentions - these attributes represent Lakshmi. If we have these attributes, good things will happen to us. We will experience success. Even fortune will favoour us. Dirt, garbage, laziness, slumber, passivity, lack of motivation, diffidence - these attributes represent Moodevi. If someone has these attributes, he won't see good things happening to him. Thus, when we say Laksmi, we mean being healthy, active and energetic, both physically and mentally. When we say Moodevi, we mean the opposite state. Do you understand?"

Nitish nodded his head enthusiastically, indicating that he understood his grandfather's message.

Kumar also understood the message indirectly conveyed to him by his father: 'I have worked hard, earned money and created some assets. But, you are sitting idle, without going for any job, banking on the confidence that you can manage to live on the wealth created by me!'

Ekambaram turned to his son and smiled. Kumar turned his face away, in anger.

"Dad! You have told me many times straight over my face that I am lazy and that I am living my life on the wealth created by you. Now, you are trying to convey the same message to me indirectly, in the guise of answering the questions posed to you by your grandson!' thought Kumar.

"The messages directly conveyed to you several times by me have not had an impact on you. Is this indirect message going to bring about a change in your attitude?' thought Eakambaram.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 62
Perseverance

Verse 617 (in Tamil):
madi uLAL mAmugadi enba madi ilAn
thaL uLAn thAmaraiyinAL.

Meaning:

They say that the dark angel Moodevi (the Goddess of Adversity) dwells with laziness, and the Lakshmi (the Goddess of Prosperity) dwells with the labour of the industrious.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'Lakshmiyin akkA' by the same author.) 

Verse 618
Verse 616