1111. A Flower that Blossoms by Touch!

"I see a difference between how you were, when we were lovers, and how you have been, after we got married" said Sarala.

"What difference? Has my love for you gone up or gone down?" asked Velan.

"Your love remains the same always. But your concern for me has gone up."

"How do you say that?"

"When I am walking, if I stumble a little, you rush to support me, fearing that I could fall down. When a leaf from a tree fell on me, you immediately took out the leaf, threw it down and blew air through your mouth on the spot where it fell, as if I was injured!"

"What you say is true. My concern for you has gone up, from where it was earlier."

"What is the reason for this sudden concern?"

"It is not sudden. It was only last night that I knew you completely."

"You shameless fellow! What is the connection between our first night and your having more concern for me?"

"Last night, I realized how tender a person you are. That is why I want to look after you with more care."

"You say I am tender. Can you explain how tender I am?"

"There is a film song, penned by the lyricist Kannadasan, in which a man describes a woman as 'whiter than the milk and softer than the snow.' That description could be fitting on you."

"In the context of the story of that film, that line describes the innocence of a young woman. It doesn't describe her tenderness."

"Whatever the intended meaning of that line might have been, I consider it the description of the tenderness of a woman. But, if you won't accept it, I will think of some other way to describe your tenderness. Can I say that you are tender like a flower? Yes, that will be an apt description. Of all the flowers, the Anichcham flower is said to be the most tender. It is so tender that it will wilt, if someone inhales its fragrance. You are even more tender than the Anichcham flower. But, there is a difference!"

"What difference?"

"If someone even goes near the Anicham flower and smells it, it will wilt. But if I touch your tender body, you bloom more, becoming prettier and brighter. That has been my experience!" said Velan.

Sarala laughed hearing what Velan had said and Velan saw the blossoming of a flower, in that laughter.

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 112
In Praise of Her Charms

Verse 1111 (in Tamil):
nannIrai vAzhi anichchamE ninninum
mennIraL yAm vIzhbavaL.

Meaning:

Oh, Aniccam flower, the best and the softest of all flowers, may you be blessed, but my lady has even more tenderness than you.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'thottAl malarum pU' by the same author.)

 Verse 1112 (Soon)
Verse 1110

100. Unripe Bananas

Those who knew about Nagammai would avoid talking to her. If someone were to engage in an argument with Nagammai, that person won't be able to withstand the flood of harsh words, coming from her mouth, and hitting the other person.

Unable to live with Nagammai, listening to and putting up with the sharp expressions coming from her, her mother-in-law left their home and went to live with her other son.

Even Nagammai's two sisters would limit their conversations with her.

Nagammai's younger sister Sivakami once told her other sister, "Our parents have rightly named her after the cobra*. The words flowing out of her mouth are as venomous as the poison emitted by a cobra!"

Fortunately, Sivakami's words had not reached Nagammai's ears. If they had, Nagammai would have proved her sister Sivakami right, yet another time!

Nagammai's husband Shanmugam was living with her, patiently tolerating her diatribes, bitter expressions and sarcastic remarks,

Sumathy, Nagammai's twelve year old daughter, was one person, who would stand up to her mother, and even pull her up, for the harsh language used by her.

Sumathy would often reprimand her mother, saying "Why do you always talk to people, as if you are engaged in a fight with them?"

"What do you know? You are just a child. And you have the temerity to advise me!" Nagammai would hit back.

When Sumathy returned home from the school, she found that her mother was delivering a harangue to her father.

"You have been buying fruits and vegetables for so many years. But, you are still unable to pick the ripe fruit. I wonder what kind of upbringing you have had from your parents!" said Nagammai.

"What is the problem, mom?" asked Sumathy.

"Look at the bananas your father has bought. I asked him to get banana fruit to eat but he has bought unripe banana, which can only be used to make curry!" said Nagammai, showing the bananas to Sumathy.

"Then, make curry out of them" said Sumathy.

"Don't talk smart. It is half-ripe. Hence it qualifies to be neither a vegetable nor a fruit."

"Then, wait for a couple of days for the bananas to ripe, and then eat the fruit" said Sumathy, not giving up.

"Did I ask your father to buy bananas, which could be eaten only after two three days?" countered Nagammai.

Shanmugam tried to explain saying, "Nagammai! Last time, when I bought ripe bananas, you said that they decayed soon and told me to buy only half-ripe bananas, so that they can be kept for a day or two and eaten. That is the reason I bought semi-ripe bananas."

"These are not even semi-ripe. They are hard to bite and they they have a bitter taste. The bitterness lingers in the mouth for long" said Nagammai.

"Mom, you say that if the banana is not ripe, it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. The same way, the harsh words used by you also make people feel better. Why can't you realize this?" asked Sumathy, recalling a verse from Thirukkural, she had learnt in the school.

*Nagam means cobra in Tamil.

Thirukkural
Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 10
Speaking Pleasantly

Verse 100 (In Tamil)

iniya uLavAga innAdha kURal
kaniyirppak kAy kavarndhaRRu.

Meaning:

Using harsh words, when sweet words are available, is like plucking an unripe fruit, when ripe ones are available.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'thuvarppu vAzhai' by the same author)

Verse 101 (Soon)
Verse 99

438. Knitting Jobs

"No entry for salesmen and donation seekers!"

On seeing the above board, displayed outside an apartment complex, while passing through it, when he was going in his car, Selvanayakam asked his driver to stop the car. 

He showed the board to the official of his company, who was traveling with him in the car, and told him, "Get a board like this fixed outside our office immediately. The menace of people visiting us, asking for donations, is becoming unbearable. Since our office is located inside a compound that locates several offices, a lot of people are able to gain entry into our compound."

Selvanayakam was following the policy of not extending any help to anyone. He was strict about not encouraging his friends or relatives to seek any help from him.

"Every one should earn money for his own needs and live within his means. What is this culture of seeking help from others?" he would often tell his wife Visalakshi.

"What would people, who don't have sufficient income, do? Doesn't humanitarianism require us to help the needy and the poor?" Visalakshi would argue.

This kind of exchange of views had taken place between the husband and the wife many times, but Selvanayakam was stubborn in his attitude.

"As your wife, don't I have the right to spend your money for some of the causes dear to me?" Visalakshi asked him once.

"You can spend money for your needs. But I won't allow you to donate money for any cause" said Selvanayakam, firmly.

Selvanayakam was alone in his house. Visalakshi had gone out.

A boy came there, asking for Visalakshi.

"Sir, is madam not home?" the boy asked Selvanayakam.

"Who are you?" asked Selvanayakam. He judged the boy to be poor, by his appearance.

"Madam told me that she would give me money to buy my school books" said the boy, reluctantly.

"How much?"

"Two hundred rupees."

At that time, Visalakshi arrived there. She took out two hundred rupees from her handbag, and handed the money to the boy.

Selvanayakam was waiting for the boy to leave, before he could take Visalakshi to task.

"Have I not told you that you should not spend money for charity?" asked Selvanayakam, angrily.

Visalakshi looked at him directly and said, "Yes, you had said that I should not spend YOUR money for charity. But the money I gave the boy was earned by me!"

"Earned by you! How?"

"I knit sweaters for a company. They provide me the thread. My job is to knit it by hand, using a needle. They will pay me for each sweater I knit. I do this job, when you are not home. I can't earn much from this. I hardly earn a couple of thousand rupees per month. I use that money to help a few poor boys in our neighbourhood, for their educational needs" said Visalakshi.

"I am earning in millions from my business. Why should you work like a labourer working on piece rate, to earn a couple of thousand rupees per month?" asked Selvanayakam, shocked and angry.

"I don't like leading a life of selfishness, without helping anyone. When I saw that we are surrounded by people, needing help and support from more fortunate people like us, I thought I should do something for them. So, I do some work to earn some money and use that money to do a little help to a few needy people. Please don't try to stop me from doing this!" said Visalakshi, folding her palms together, in a gesture of beseeching him.

Thirukkural

Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 44
Condemnation of Faults

Verse 438 (in Tamil):

paRRuLlam ennum ivaRanmai eRRuLLum
eNNappaduvadhu onRanRu.

Meaning:

Clinging to wealth, out of avarice, and not being inclined to charity

is worse than any other flaw, a person could have. 

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'kambaLip pinnal vElai' by the same author.)

Verse 439 (Soon)
Verse 437

1110. The bookworm

When Latha came to Sekar's house for the first time, she found that books were kept at various spots in the house.

"Why have you spread your books all over your house? Your house looks like a waste paper mart!" said Latha.

"You are echoing my mother's voice" said Sekar. "My house is small. There is no space for keeping all the books at one place. That's why I have kept the books at various places in my house" he added.

A trace of concern arose in Latha's mind.

"When I came to your house for the first time, I began to doubt whether my decision to marry you was right" said Latha, running her fingers through Sekar's hair. The two of them got married only that day.

"Why? Were you worried that my house is too small?"

"No. I was worried about the books that lay scattered at various places in your house."

"Did you think that since my books occupied a lot of space in the house, there won't be enough space to keep your things in the house?"

"In spite of having read so many books, you remain a dummy!" said Latha, whacking his head, playfully. "I was worried that you could be a bookworm and that you won't pay any attention to me."

"Oh! Interesting. But, what are you thinking now?" 

"Now? You have been choking me with your love so much that I wonder whether you don't have any work other than showing your love to me!" said Latha, touching his cheeks with her palms, affectionately.

"As far as I am concerned, you are also a book. People say, reading books will make us knowledgeable. But when I read a book, I only realize how much ignorance I have and how much more there is for me to learn. I end up with a feeling of amazement about how much is there for me to learn. As you said just now, I feel that I am a dummy. So, after reading a book, I develop a desire to learn more and more by reading more and more. Every time I read you, you amaze me like a new book. And I crave to read you again and again. As I realize that there is more and more for me to read in you, my love for you keeps increasing more and more" said Sekar, hugging her with affection.

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 111
The Joy of Being Together in Love

Verse 1110 (in Tamil):
aRithoRu aRiyAmai kaNdaRRAl kAmam
seRithoRum  sEyizhai mAttu.

Meaning:

The joy I get by being together with this girl, wearing shining jewels, is similar to the learning that we get by reading books, the learning  that we need to learn more.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'lathAvin kavalai' by the same author.)

Verse 1111
Verse 1109

437. Kuppuswamy's Savings

The Commission business started by Kuppuswamy, on a small capital, took off within a couple of years, giving him big success in his business.

Since Kuppuswamy had faced poverty in his younger days, prudence became his second nature. Both his wife Pushpa and his son Kumar were trapped in his prudent way of living, and felt suffocated.

Beyond providing them food to satiate their hunger and clothes to wear, Kuppuswamy did not allow them to enjoy any comfort in life. There were no appliances or facilities in their home, beyond what can be found in the home of a middle class person.

Every year, during Kumar's summer vacation, Pushpa would request Kuppuswamy to take her and Kumar to a hill station like Ooty or Kodaikanal. Every time, Kuppuswamy would reject her request.

The reason cited by Kuppuswamy for not taking his family on a vacation trip was that he could not be away from his business, even for a few days.

After hearing this excuse for a couple of years, Pushpa asked Kuppuswamy, "Okay. If you can't come with us, can Kumar and I go!"

It was then that Kuppuswamy told her the real reason why they couldn't go on a tour. 

It would cost money!

"Do you know how I toil to earn every penny in my business. Do you want to squander everything I have earned, by going on a pleasure trip for a week?" asked Kuppuswamy, in a tone of reprimand. "Only a person like me, who had struggled a lot, before beginning to earn money through hard work, will know the value of money!" he added. 

Pushpa wondered whether she should feel sorry or outraged by Kuppuswamy's attitude.

"Going on a trip during the holidays is a regular practice among many families. Even people who don't have enough money to lead their lives will make it a point to go on a tour, at least once in a few years. But you have been earning well. Yet, you consider spending money for a vacation trip an extravagance!" said Pushpa, showing her anger.

"If you want, you can visit one of your relatives. I am not stopping you."

Pushpa could do only that.

Buying a house was only the big spending Kuppuswamy indulged in.

When Kumar was studying Engineering, he conveyed his wish to study abroad, to his father.

"I consented to fulfill your wish to study Engineering, since you were good at studies. Your Engineering education has been costing me a lot of money, already. You will get a good job in the campus interview that will be held in your college. Why do you want to go abroad and study further, spending a lot of money?" asked Kuppuswamy.

"Studying at an international university in the United States has a lot of value. After completing my studies, I will get a job there, with very good salary. I will get an education loan from a bank, for my overseas studies. I will repay this loan from my salary. But we need to spend money initially"  said Kumar.

Kuppuswamy gave his consent, half-heartedly.

Kumar went to the United States for higher studies. After completing his education, he got a job there. He told his parents that he had no intention of coming back to India. One year after getting a job in the United States, he married an Indian girl who was working there.

Kuppuswamy had no regret about Kumar's decision. But Pushpa was upset. With her husband living a life, focusing only on earning and accumulating money, and her son choosing a life for him and settling down in a foreign country, she felt lonely. Her unhappiness and frustration affected her health, leading to certain ailments. She was becoming physically weaker, day by day.

Due to changes in the trade environment and market conditions, Kuppuswamy's commission business began to take a downslide. After struggling for a couple of years, Kuppuswamy decided to close down his business.

After Kuppuswamy began to stay home, after winding up his business, he began to experience health problems, associated with his growing old.

Pushpa's health also began to deteriorate.

Both of them underwent a number of medical tests, as advised by their physician.

After studying the test reports, the physician told the couple, "Both of you are suffering from a host of health problems. You will have to stay home and be on constant medication. It will be difficult for the two of you to live without the help of another person. You may also need medical attention, now and then. Hence, it is essential that there is someone at home, to look after you and take care of you, throughout the day."

Pushpa spoke to Kumar over the phone, conveying to him what the doctor had said.

"Mom! You should follow the doctor's advice. You and dad can't manage on your own. Apart from engaging people to cook and to do household chores, you should also engage the services of two nurses, a male nurse for dad and a female nurse for you. Or, both of you should join a luxurious old age home, where there will be people to take care of you. You will also have immediate medical attention there. Both the alternatives involve considerable expenditure every month. Since daddy has earned a lot of money and saved it without spending, you shouldn't have any problem about money!" said Kumar.

Pushpa felt sad that Kumar did not offer to contribute even a small amount of money, for their expenditure. 

She looked at Kupuswamy, who was sitting beside her on the sofa, listening to Kumar over the speaker.

For the first time, Pushpa noticed an expression of regret on her husband's face. Was it on account of the feeling that they had been virtually abandoned by their only son, or on account of the realization that the money saved by him over the years, without enjoying any comforts, was going to be squandered on paying salaries for people, who were going to take care of them?

She was not sure.

Thirukkural

Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 44
Condemnation of Faults

Verse 437 (in Tamil):

seyaRpAla seyyaA dhivaRiyAn selvam
uyaRpAladhu anRik kedum.

Meaning:

The wealth accumulated by a person, without using it for doing things needed by him, will perish, without being useful to him.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'sErthhu vaiththa paNam' by the same author.)

Verse 438
Verse 436

1109. A Pat on the Back!

Vatsala:

I have been moving closely with Chandran for the past six months. But I never thought that he would be such a bad person.

We both have been working in different offices located in the same building. My office is located in the sixth floor and his in the fourth floor.

One day, Chandran came running and got into the lift. I was the only other person in the lift. I smiled at him and he also smiled back.

Another day, we met in the cafeteria. At that time, we got introduced to each other and began to converse.

For some reason, I developed a liking for Chandran. He also liked me. After that, we began going out together, during the weekends.

It was only last week that we decided to tell our parents about our love and request them to arrange for our marriage.

But, in the meanwhile, this incident happened.

Chandran:

I never expected Vatsala to be so mean. 

When I was sitting in a restaurant with Vatsala, my boss Sakuntala came there. Though Sakuntala is my boss, she is very friendly with me, as she is with my other colleagues too. She insists that we should call her 'Sakku.' When she converses with her team members, an observer can't decide who the boss is. That is the work culture of my company.

Seeing me, Sakuntala said, "Hi Chand!" Looking at Vattsala, she asked me, "Who is this lady? Is she your lover, or are you going to say she is just a friend?"

I introduced Vatsala to Sakuntala, saying, "She is Vatsala, my fiancee." 

Then, I turned to Vatsala and introduced Sakuntala to her, saying, "She is Sakuntala. My boss."

"Why do you say Sakuntala? You call me Sakku, don't you?" said Sakuntala. She told Vatsala, "You are a lucky girl, Vats! Chand is a good boy!" 

She then patted me on my back and moved away.

After Sakuntala had left, Vatsala vented her anger on me.

"Who is she? She calls you Chand. She even pats you on your back! How can she take so much liberty with you?" asked Vatsala.

"That is her nature. She talks to everyone freely, taking liberties with all. Did she not call you Vats?" I said.

"That's another thing I found inappropriate. How can she take liberties with a person, whom she has just met? This is not good manners!" said Vatsala, angrily, as if she was insulted by Sakuntala.

"As I told you, it is her nature. Since you are going to be my wife, she might have felt free with you."

"And she reveals to me that you call her 'Sakku!' What does this mean? Is she giving me a message that you are close to her? She pat you on your back and you just kept quiet" said Vatsala, accusingly.

It made me angry and I said something in anger. That led to our break up.

Vatsala:

When I asked Chandran why he kept quiet when his boss Sakku (What a name! Why should she crop a good name like Sakuntala like this? Is it to make the name sound sexy?) patted him on his back, Chandran said, "What do you think I should have done? Should I have patted her on her cheek, in return?"

This made me very angry. Only because he had such a desire in his mind, he should have said that. 

I told Chandran, "You better have Sakku as your lover, instead of me!" and left that place, He tried to stop me, but I left that place in a huff. I got into an autorickshaw, standing outside the restaurant, and went home.

After that, Chandran sent a number of text messages to my mobile phone. I deleted all of them, without even reading them. He also called me up several times. I didn't pick up any of his calls.

Once he came to my office and sent word to me that he wanted to meet me. When the security guard came to me with his message, I told the guard that I was on a call and that I couldn't meet him. My colleagues, sitting near me, looked at me strangely, since at that time, I was sitting idle, with no urgent work to attend.

After that, I didn't get any text message or call from Chandran. I felt relieved.

Chandran:

When I said something in a lighter vein, Vatsala took it seriously and felt offended. She got up and left immediately. I never expected such a reaction from her.

After that, I sent her many text messages, explaining to her that what I said was in a lighter vein, and apologizing to her. She didn't respond. She might not even have read my messages. I also called her up several times, but she didn't pick up any of my calls.

I went to her office and tried to meet her. But she sent word that she was on a call, I knew that she was lying.

After that, I became angry with her, for her attitude and behaviour, and stopped contacting her again.

Vatsala:

It has been two months, since I broke up with Chandran. As days pass, I have a lingering feeling of regret. I feel nostalgic about the days I was together with Chandran. How happy I was during those days! How much love did he shower on me!

Even now, he should have love for me, in his heart. It was me who broke up with him. He texted me and called me so many times. He even came to my office to meet me!

If I had spoken to him or listened to him once, the issue could have been resolved. 

But what about that 'Sakku?' How can I take it lightly?

When I was sitting in the cafeteria and reflecting, Sakku came there, along with a few men. They appeared to be her colleagues. She had her arm on the shoulders of one of them. Is he her lover or is it her habit to hug her male colleagues and pat them on their back?

They sat at a table. When I observed that Sakku was pressing the arm of someone or patting someone on his back or shoulder, I realized that that was the way she moved with her colleagues.

Perhaps. I have acted in haste in breaking up with Chandran.

Chandran:

Though I have stopped contacting Vatsala, I can't help thinking about her. How nice a girl is she! If I get a chance to speak to her over the phone just once, I will be able to win back her love. But she won't take my calls!

It has been two months, since she broke up with me. Maybe, she has had a change of heart by this time. Should I try to call her one more time?

When I took out my phone, for calling her number, my phone rang.

"Hi, Chand! I am sorry. It was entirely my fault" said Vatsala. 

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 111
The Joy of Being Together in Love

Verse 1109 (in Tamil):
Udal uNardhal puNardhal ivai kAmam
kUdiyAr peRRa payan.

Meaning:

Quarreling, Reconciling and Being together. These are the perks

gained by those united in love.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'mudhugil oru thattu' by the same author.)

 Verse 1110
Verse 1108

436. Physician, Heal Thyself!

"What is this? You have got into the habit of munching chewing gum!" asked Abhirami.

"It is not a habit, mom! I chew it only occasionally" said her son Suren.

"When you return from the college, you are chewing the gum. When you go out somewhere and return home, I see chewing gum in your mouth. And you say this is not a habit!"

"No, mom. When I buy something from a shop, if the shopkeeper is short of change, he gives me a couple of chewing gums, instead. I keep munching it, when I am coming home."

"Does it mean that you are visiting the shops so often? What are you buying in the shops?" asked Abhirami. Then, somewhat relenting, she said, "Okay. I am only concerned that this shouldn't become a habit with you!"

Abhirami told her husband Somu, "I suspect that Suren might have picked up the habit of smoking."

"How do you say that? Did you notice the smell of cigarette coming from him?" asked Somu.

"Not exactly. But whenever he comes home, he has a chewing gum in his mouth. I think that he munches chewing gum, only to cover up the smell of the cigarette smoke."

"Why do you have this doubt? Have you done such a thing yourself?" asked Somu, in a lighter vein.

"When I am talking to you out of a concern that our son shouldn't get into the smoking habit, you are joking about this. I have seen my younger brother doing this, when he was a boy. By the time my parents came to know of his smoking habit, it was too late. Till today, he remains a chain smoker. I don't want our son to become an addict like my brother. You need to find out whether Suren has a habit of smoking and if he does, you should talk to him and help him get freed from this habit" said Abhirami, in an angry tone.

After a couple of days, when Abhirami asked Somu whether he had spoken to Suren, he told her "Your apprehension is not misplaced. Suren does have the smoking habit. I will talk to him about this."

But, after that, when Abhirami asked her husband several times whether he spoke to Suren, he kept saying, "Not yet. I will speak to him."

After two weeks, Somu told Abhirami, "I had a frank talk with our son. I have counselled him on the need to give up smoking and also given him suggestions of how to come out of the habit. I am confident that he will come out of the habit soon."

"It has been more than two weeks since I told you about this problem. But, it has taken so many days for you to speak to him!" said Abhirami.

Somu was quiet for a moment and then said, "Abhirami! I also had a bad habit. I had been playing cards with my friends on Sundays. We were playing for money, but to ensure that no one should be financially affected by losing money, we were playing only for small stakes like ten rupees or twenty rupees. Still, it was a gamble and I was addicted to it. I had been trying to come out of this habit for the past several months, but I was not successful. I couldn't resist the urge to go to my friend's place every Sunday. I had been telling you that I went to my friend's place to have a chat with my friends. When I had to take up the task of correcting our son, I decided that I should correct my fault first. For the last two Sundays, I have restrained myself from going to my friend's place. So, only after confirming that I could give up the habit of gambling, I spoke to Suren." 

Somu looked at his wife's face, with a feeling of embarrassment.

Thirukkural

Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 44
Condemnation of Faults

Verse 436 (in Tamil):

than kuRRam NIkkip piRar kuRRam kANkiRpin
en kuRRam Agum iRaikku.

Meaning:

What flaw could fall upon a leader, who rectifies his faults,

before observing and assailing others’ faults?

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'maganE kEL' by the same author.)

Verse 437
Verse 435