657. Loan Recovery Officer

If someone were to ask Kumaran where he was working and Kumaran give an answer, that person would look at Kumaran with respect, hearing the name of the multi-national bank he was working for.

Usually, people won't ask him what position he was holding in that bank. If someone asked, he would say, Loan Recovery Officer.' They won't probe him further about the nature of his job.

Kumaran's parents were not alive. His father's brother took the initiative of finding him a suitable match.

When Kumaran's uncle took him to a prospective bride's house, Kumaran expressed his wish to talk to the girl, in private. With the girl's parents acceding to his request, Kumaran and the girl sat inside a room and conversed.

"Do you know about my job?" Kumaran asked the girl. 

"Loan Recovery Officer in a multi-national bank" said the girl, named Girija.

"That is my designation, alright. But, in reality, I am a Loan Recovery Thug!"

"What do you mean?"

"My job is to recover the dues from people who owe money to the bank in the form of credit card dues or loan installments. I would go to their homes, yell at them and speak disparagingly of them, in a way to make them feel humiliated and shamed in the presence of the neighbours, who are bound to hear me deliberately speaking in a loud voice, intending it to be heard by as many people in the neighbourhood, as possible. Sometimes, I would enter the house, lock it from inside and threaten the borrower. Of course, only the borrower and his family members would be able to hear my threats, since I couldn't have any witnesses hearing the threats issued by me. Sometimes, I may even slap or hit some people to terrorize them. I will even threaten the borrower with murder, if he won't clear the dues within a specified period. I would also forcibly seize two-wheelers, TVs and other appliances from the defaulters. This is how I function as a Loan Recovery Office" said Kumaran, feeling bitter.

"Once I saw someone threatening one of our neighbours. We all felt scared" said Girija.  

"In the beginning, I didn't feel bad about what I had been doing. But, nowadays, I feel disturbed about creating a fear in the minds of the borrowers and making them pay the dues, even by taking extreme measures like selling their precious assets. Though I am only doing my duty, I feel that the guilt gets attached to me. Some people would curse me saying, 'You heartless fellow! You think you are going to be happy, after doing these things to us?' Some would curse me saying, 'Take it from me. You will be ruined!' I know that a lot of people would have cursed me silently. One person committed suicide, after I had threatened him of dire consequences, since he was unable to pay his dues."

"Why are you telling me these?"

"I don't want to continue in this job. I am not highly educated. I don't have special skills or experience. So, if I quit this job, I won't be able to get a good job. I may only get a job with a modest salary. Will you still consent to marry me?" asked Kumaran.

"Of course, I will" said Girija. "It is better to have a job with a small salary and live in poverty than have a well-paying job that involves doing harm to others" said Girija.

"In that case, I will come to your house and seek your hand in marriage, after taking up another job" said Kumaran, feeling elated.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 66
Purity in Action

Verse 657 (in Tamil):
pazhi malaindhu eydhiya Akkaththin sAnROr
kazhi nalguuravE thalai.

Meaning:  

The extreme poverty of the virtuous is far superior to the wealth obtained by heaping up sinful deeds.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'kadan vasUl adhikAri' by the same author.) 

Verse 658 (Soon) 
Verse 656

1144. Sivakami Aunty

"Then?" asked Manimekalai.

"Then what? We have spoken about every thing!" said Chandran.

"Does it mean we don't have anything else to talk about? If this is the state of things now, how will things be after we get married?"

"After marriage, we will have many things to have a fight about. Life will be exciting, with fights and truce coming one after the other."

"Are you suggesting that there is nothing interesting in our love life?"

"Oh, my God! I didn't mean to say so. When we are in love, we will be careful that we shouldn't quarrel, lest a quarrel should lead to a break up. But, after we get married, we won't have this fear. That is what I meant" said Chandran

"It is true that our love life lacks excitement. Normally, there will be opposition to love from the parents. But we didn't have that problem. Your parents are not alive. Though I have not yet told my parents about our love, I have no doubt that they will consent to our marriage. After all, their marriage was love marriage too. So, our love life has been going on without any hitch. Only if some problem crops up, there will be excitement" said Manimekalai. 

They didn't meet for the next five days. Chandran came to their usual meeting place every day, waited for Manimekalai and returned home, disappointed.  

When Manimekalai came to the meeting place the sixth day, she had a worried expression on her face.

"What happened, Manimekalai? Are you not feeling well?" asked Chandran, with concern. 

"Are you not aware of what is happening around us?" asked Manimekalai, in an angry tone.

"What is happening around us?"

"Some people have been gossiping about you and me. Has the gossip not reached your ears?"

"No. But, what are they gossiping?"

"They say that you and I hugged and kissed each other in public!"

"This is atrocious! I have not even touched you. Who created this story?" asked Chandran, angrily.

"There is one Sivakami aunty in our village. Gossiping is her full time profession. She seems to have noticed our talking to each other. She has created a story around our sitting together and conversing with each other, by adding elements like hugging, kissing etc to our conversation and spread it to a wide circle of people."

"What is the reaction of people to this gossip?"

"I don't know about it. But, this gossip has reached the ears of my mother too. She asked me about it. I told her about our love. She told me, 'Ask your lover Chandran to meet me and your father soon and seek our consent to marry you.' But, I was scared to come out, since I didn't know what the people of this village would be thinking about me and how they would be judging me. That is why I didn't come to meet you for the past few days" said Manimekalai.

"We were feeling that there was no excitement in our love life. Sivakami aunty has filled this void, by creating some excitement. Let us go and meet her and and convey our thanks to her" said Chandran, laughing.

Manimekalai stared at him with disbelief, for a while. Then, she relaxed herself and joined in his laughter.

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 115
Gossiping by Others

Verse 1144 (in Tamil):
kavvaiyAl kavvidhu kAmam adhu inREl
thavvennum thanmai izhandhu.

Meaning:

Our love grows due to the gossip of the villagers. Otherwise, it would lose its power and languish.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'sivakAmi seydha udhavi' by the same author.)

Verse 1145 (Soon)
Verse 1143

656. A Desperate Moment

Ramadas' task was to canvass passengers traveling long distance to board a particular bus. For every passenger brought by him to the bus, he would be paid a small sum as commission.

Ramadas would often lament to himself 'what kind of a profession is this?'

His dissatisfaction with his profession was the reason for his not getting married, despite having been repeatedly persuaded by his mother Kantimathi, to get married. 

"What is the point in marrying and having a family, when I don't have a steady income? How will I feed my family members on the days I don't have any earning?" Ramadas would argue with his mother. 

Kantimathi would counter him, saying, "When the need arises, you will find the means to earn the amount of money required to fulfill the need. Your wife may also be able to earn and supplement your income. Will it not be good for you?" 

But, Ramadas did not want to act on blind faith.

He found it amusing that some people came forward to offer their daughter's hand in marriage to him.

When Ramadas explained his financial position to them, they said, "Don't worry. You will be able to manage. I don't have a steady income too. But, I have been able to manage my family."

Ramadas wondered whether it was their ignorance or the desperation to get their daughter married off that was behind such a blind faith.

Ramadas had no income for two consecutive days. In spite of his repeatedly shouting the name of the destination of the bus and reaching out to people, no one boarded the bus he directed them to.

This situation was not unusual. During those times, he would manage with his savings.

But, this time, his savings had exhausted. Both Ramadas and his mother had nothing to eat that day. He would at least have a few cups of tea at the tea stall in the bus station, on credit. But, his mother couldn't have even a cup of tea.

Only if he earned something that day, he and his mother would have something to eat that night. The thought of how long his mother would be able to withstand hunger created a churning sensation in his gut. 

"What Ramadas, didn't get any customer today?"

Hearing the voice from behind, Ramadas turned back, 

Gokul!

Gokul was running a profession near the bus station. But, his profession was not something that he could speak about. 

"Just look at the sea of people throbbing this bus station. If you go near a small cluster of men standing alone and murmur the message into their years, a couple of them are bound to respond and come behind you. Take them to the spot and you will get a commission. This is guaranteed. Do you have an idea how many men standing alone here are craving for a female companion? Those men are desperately looking for someone to come to them and solicit them."

Gokul was right. Ramadas has noticed people working for Gokul approaching single men standing in the bus station, talking to them a few words and some of them following the men to a spot near the bus station. 

Sometimes, it had occurred to Ramadas that what those men were doing was easier and definitely more lucrative than his job of canvassing passengers to board a particular bus.

When Gokul made the offer to Ramadas, albeit in an indirect way, there was a momentary thought in Ramdas' mind that he could try doing that at least for that day, since he had no earnings till that moment.

But, Ramadas swept off that thought immediately with a strong resolve and told Gokul, "Sorry, sir! That job won't suit me."

He then moved shouting, "Madurai, Dindigul, Theni" hoping that some passengers heading to those places would hear him and come to him. 

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 66
Purity in Action

Verse 656 (in Tamil):
InRAL pasi kANbAn Ayinum seyyaRk
sAnROr pazhikkum vinai.

Meaning:

Even when you see your mother starving, don’t do deeds that the virtuous people would deem contemptuous.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'gOkulin yOsanai' by the same author.) 

Verse 657
Verse 655

160. Who Will Win the Endurance Test?

When Mukundan joined that firm, he had high expectations about the job.

It was a small firm engaged in shipping and forwarding business. Mukundan expected that working in such a firm would be both challenging and exciting.

But, within a few days of joining the firm, he began to sense disappointment. The main factor that caused the disappointment was the attitude and actions of the Managing Director of the company. 

The company had a turnover of a few million rupees and was considered one of the best companies in its line of business. But, the Managing Director Marthandam was running it like a farm. 

The employees had no authority to take decisions even on routine matters. They had to seek the approval of the Managing Director at every step. Marthandam had the habit of finding fault with the actions of the employees and severely reprimanding them, without bothering to hear their side.

Only after joining the company did Mukundan realize that Marthandam's abrasive style of functioning made many employees leave the firm within a short time, in spite of the attractive salary package and perquisites offered to the employees.

The only source of solace for the employees was General Manager Kannan. In striking contrast to the Managing Director who acted with arrogance and treated the employees with contempt, Kannan was an embodiment of patience and dignity.

Marthandam treated Kannan also with the same contempt with which he treated the other employees. In fact, he treated Kannan even worse than he did the other employees.

Marthandam acted as if he wanted to humiliate Kannan in the presence of other employees. He would reprimand Kannan in office meetings, in which other employees participated. Sometimes, he would come out of his cabin, come and stand outside Kannan's cubicle and shout at him, unmindful of the fact that this would be witnessed by the entire office. Additionally, he would summon Kannan to his cabin and criticize him for his alleged lapses.

But Kannan was attending to his work, unmindful of the humiliations harped on him by Marthandam. 

If any mistake was committed by an employee, Kannan would talk to him about his mistake calmly and advise him to exercise care to avoid such mistakes in future. 

In fact, on many occasions, Kannan protected the erring employees from the rage of the Managing Director, by dealing with the problem at his level and resolving it, obviating the need for the matter to come to the attention of the Managing Director.

When Mukundan went to the lunch room, he saw Kannan sitting there alone. When Mukundan was about to start a conversation with Kannan, Assistant Manager Kasi entered the room.

"What Mr. Kasi, you are not fasting today?" Kannan asked Kasi, smiling.

"Why, sir? Will Mr. Kasi observe fasting often?" asked Mukundan.

"Yes. He observes fasting five or six days a month, on some count or other" said Kannan. 

"Fortunately, I am not fasting today. If I were, I wouldn't have had the stamina to withstand the verbal thrashing given to me by the Managing Director this morning!" said Kasi. 

"I am amazed that you are able to endure hunger five or six days a month, by observing total fasting" said Kannan. 

"I endure suffering only for a few days a month. But my endurance is no match to yours" said Kasi.

"What do you mean?"

"You listen to the harsh words spoken by the Managing Director every day but remain calm and unperturbed. The endurance I practice is not superior to your endurance" said Kasi.  

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 16
Forbearance 

Verse 160 (In Tamil)

uNNAdhu nORpAr periyar piRar sollum
innAchchol nORpArin pin.

Meaning:

Those who endure abstinence from food are great. But, they rank below those who patiently endure the harsh words of others.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'nALum oru nOnbu' by the same author)

Verse 161 (Soon)
Verse 159

655. The King of Cards

When Selvarangam was watching a video on his mobile phone, the frequently appearing advertisement made its appearance again.

Play Rummy and earn money!

'What If I try playing Rummy on this website just once?'

The moment this thought arose in Selvarangam's mind, his mind went into the past.

Selvarangam learned to play cards, when he was studying in the college. After becoming adept in playing the game, he watched some students play cards in the hostel for stakes. Seeing the winners earn money, Selvarangam would often think that he could also earn money, by playing for stakes. But, since at that time, he didn't have money, he didn't venture into it.

After taking up a job, Selvarangam began to play cards for stakes with his friends, during the holidays. Most of the time, he won and went home with more money than he had with him, when he entered the game. 

One day, Umapathy, one of his friends, lost his entire salary in the card game. 

Unable to bear the loss, Umapathy began to cry. 

"I have lost my entire salary. How am I going to feed my family for the next one month? I have to pay house rent, electricity charges and other expenses too. I also have loan instalments to pay."

Selvarangam was moved by Umapathy's lament. 

A thought occurred to him. 

He handed over the entire sum earned by him in the card game that day to Umapathy and told him, in a commanding tone, "Hereafter you shouldn't play cards. I also won't."

Umapathy looked at Selvarangam in disbelief, while his other friends protested his action calling it crazy. 

From that day, Selvarangam had stopped playing cards. Even if someone invited him to a card game not involving stakes, he would decline the call.

'Earning money by playing cards is snatching money from other people. Just because it is done with the consent of the other person, will it become a justifiable act? Why did I indulge in this activity, without thinking about its moral aspects?' reflected Selvarangam. For a long time, he regretted his practice of playing cards for stakes.

But, seeing the Rummy advertisement now, a thought occurred to Selvarangam. 

'What if I play this game now? After all, I am going to play online. I am not going to play against any person.'

But another thought countering this hit him immediately.

'What kind of a thinking is this? The money I may win by playing the game online is going to come from someone. Have I not been reading news stories about people losing large sums of money in online Rummy and some of them ending their lives, heartbroken by the huge loss suffered by them. I committed this wrong in the past. Then I reformed myself and resolved not to commit this wrong again. What has happened to that resolve?'

Selvarangam cursed himself for harbouring the thought of committing the wrong again and made even a stronger resolve that he would never give room to such thoughts in future.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 66
Purity in Action

Verse 655 (in Tamil):
eRRenRu iranguva seyyaRka seyvAnEl
mRRanna seyyAmai nanRu.

Meaning:  

Never do acts that would lead you to grieve saying, "What is this I have done?" But, if you do, do not ever repeat them.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'sIttukkattu rAjA' by the same author.) 

Verse 656
Verse 654

159. The Pilgrim

"Ganesan!"

Hearing his name addressed as if a servant was being summoned, Ganesan quickly came near the person who called him and said, "Yes, Please tell me sir!"

"What can I say? Everything is so poor" said Nilakantan, in an angry tone.

"What is the issue, sir?"

"You keep forgetting that I joined this tour, by paying money. I am an old man. You left me in the temple and returned to the bus, with all others."

"No, sir. Muthu was there to bring you along to the bus."

"He is a boy. He virtually dragged me to the bus. I could have tripped and fallen down. My legs are aching, because of getting dragged fast" said Nilakantan.

"Muthu might have walked fast taking you along, concerned that the bus should not be delayed. I will tell him to be more careful, hereafter. You said your legs are aching. Shall I give you some pain balm?"

"I have the pain balm with me. I am not a beggar. You don't feel the responsibility for having not escorted an old man with care. You are offering me a pain balm, instad!" said Nilakantan, his anger still not subsided.

Ganesan tried to move away, without saying anything. 

"Wait! I have not yet finished. Switch off the a/c*. I am feeling cold" said Nilakantan.

"Sir! This is summer. If I switch off the a/c, other passengers will suffer discomfort, since it will be very hot" said Ganesan 

"Does it mean that it is alright, if I suffer?"

"Sir! I can do one thing. My catering team is following the bus in a van, with cooking vessels and supplies. You can sit in the front seat of the van, next to the driver. That van is not airconditioned."

"You want to humiliate me by making me travel in the van carrying goods! I have paid for this trip. What do you think of yourself?" yelled Nilakantan.

"Traveling by this bus is your right, sir, since you have paid for it. But, I am sorry I can't switch off the a/c, since other passengers won't agree to it. Please bear wit me" said Ganesan, with folded palms and moved away. 

Ganesan was the person who organized the trip for us, the pilgrims, taking us to a set of sacred places. Though he was young, he managed the tour efficiently, like an experienced tour operator.

Everyone in our group, except Nilakantan, was satisfied with Ganesan's arrangements and the quality of services provided by him including food and lodging arrangements. Only Nilakantan had been finding fault with the arrangements and services, from the time the tour had begun. 

Taking advantage of his advanced age, Nilakantan always addressed Ganesan in a disrespectful way. He kept finding fault with something or other, using harsh words, while criticizing Ganesan.

But, Ganesan never lost his temper. He did not even protest at Nilakantan's disrespectful address or language. 

It was mentioned in the brochure advertising the tour that people advanced in age should bring along an escort to help them during the tour. But, Nilakantan joined the tour, without any escort.  

Ganesan tried to extend all possible help to Nilakantan on several occasions, without even pointing out that not bringing an escort along was Nilakantan's fault. In spite of everything that was being done by Ganesan to help him, Nilakantan kept finding fault with Ganesan. 

"The food is so unpalatable!" remarked Nilakantan. 

Other people eating the food turned their eyes towards Nilakantan. It was surprising to al of us that while all of us were relishing the food, Nilakantan flagged it as unpalatable.

"What is wrong, sir?" asked Ganesan, coming near him.

"The sambar** is so spicy. If I ingest this, my stomach will be upset. I won't be able to come out. I will have to spend the time, sitting in the room" said Nilakantan. 

"No, sir. We have used only a minimum quantity of spices" said Ganesan.

"Are you suggesting that I am making it up?"

"Sir, they have used Beans in the sambar. You might have bitten a piece of Chilly mistaking it to be a piece of Beans. Please drink some water. It will be fine." 

"Just now you said that you have not used spices. But now you admit that you have used Chillies in the sambar. And you have the temerity to advise me to drink water! It was my fault that I trusted you and joined the tour!" burst out Nilakantan.

"I am sorry, sir. It is the normal practice to add a few pieces of Chillies to the sambar, for improved taste and flavour. One piece of Chilly might have found its way to your plate. If you like, I will get you a pinch of sugar. If you put the sugar on your tongue, the hotness of the Chilly will go away" said Ganesan.

"You will saturate the sambar with Chillies. And then, you will ask me to coat my tongue with sugar! I have had great help from you" yelled Nilakantan.

When I got a chance to talk to Ganesan in private, I asked him, "Mr. Ganesan! Don't you think that Mr. Nilakantan's antics are crossing all limits?"

"Leave it, sir!" said Ganesan. 

"Except for Nilakantan, no one has any grievance. All of us are satisfied with your service. Why should you pay heed to his complaints?" 

"Sir! He is advanced in age. He has come alone. He has no one to help him. He is not able to manage on his own. He is also reluctant to accept our help, perhaps feeling guilty or uncomfortable about taking help from us. So, he feels irritated and yells. After the tour is over, I am not going to have any contact with him. I just have to put up with him for a week" said Ganesan.

"Mr. Ganesan! We are taking this pilgrimage hoping to get God's grace, by visiting sacred abodes of God. But, you are the real pilgrim. Looking at your patience and maturity of thinking, I consider you a sage!" I said.

*a/c - air-conditioner

**sambar - a gravy used in South Indian meal.

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 16
Forbearance 

Verse 159 (In Tamil)

thuRandhArin thUymai udaiyar iRandhAr vAy
innAchchol nORkiRpavar.

Meaning:

Those who bear with the uncourteous speech of the insolent are as pure as the ascetics.

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

Verse 160
Verse 158

654. An Unexpected Offer

The company in which Sethupathy had been working for twelve years had been under the grip of financial problems for quite sometime. As a consequence, the company retrenched some employees Sethupathy was one among those who lost their jobs.

Sethupathy was trying to get a new job. But, despite making hectic efforts, he couldn't get a job, even three months after losing the job. 

When Sethupathy attended an interview in a company, he was surprised to find that the Managing Director of the company was his classmate Sabhari.

Sethupathy and Sabhari had studied together in the college. But, after completing the college education, the two were not in touch. 

"Hi Sethupathy! I didn't expect that you would attend an interview for a job in my company" said Sabhari, with a smile. 

"It is a surprise to me also" said Sabhari. "I am happy to see you as the Managing Director of a company, sir" said Sethupathy. 

"Don't call me 'sir.' Even when you will be working in my company, you can call me by my first name, as you did in our college days."

"Does it mean that I am getting the job?" asked Sethupathy, with a mild laugh. 

"Of course, you are" said Sabhari. "However, I want to make you a special offer. Can you meet me at my home this evening?"

Sabhari gave his visiting card to Sethupathy. 

When Sethupathy met Sabhari at his house that evening, Sabhari ascertained the details of Sethupathy's past experience. He then told Sethupathy about the state of his business.

"My business has been doing very well. I am planning to expand my business. But I have to consider the tax implications. Already, I have been doing a part of my business, without bringing it under the purview of tax. Expanding my business, without covering it under tax will be risky. So, I have been thinking of doing part of my business in the name of another person. And, you have come to me at the right time!" said Sabhari. 

"What do you mean?"

"My company is a private limited company. I propose to start a proprietary firm, with you as the proprietor and divert part of my business to this firm."

"How can it be done? First of all, I don't have money to invest. Secondly, how will it benefit you?"

"You don't have to invest any money. I will put in the capital required. Part of it will be shown as your capital and the remaining amount as loans. Being a proprietary firm, we can do a major part of the business by way of cash transactions and understate the turnover and profit in the account books. You will get a salary and also a share in profit. In practice, you will be working in my company. But you will have the tag of a proprietor. You will earn a good amount of money, more than what you will in a salaried job. What do you say?" asked Sabhari.

"Can you give me a job, without this arrangement?"

"Are you a fool? I am giving you an opportunity to be a proprietor of a firm, with no risk of investment, with a guaranteed monthly income by way of salary and a bonanza at the end of every year by way of a share in profit. What is the problem you have? You are going to work as you will, if you are in a job. You can proudly show your visiting card with your name as the proprietor of a firm to your friends and relatives. If you want, I will also give you a cabin with a nameboard outside, announcing your name as the proprietor."

"I am sorry, Sabhari. I don't want to be a part of an arrangement, which is both illegal and immoral. I will be thankful to you, if you can give me a job that will pay me a salary every month" said Sethupathy.

"I am not looking for an employee. I am looking for a person who can be the proprietor of a firm" said Sabhari, showing his unhappiness about Sethupathy's response.

Sethupathy got up to leave. He walked out, gripped by a concern about getting a job.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 66
Purity in Action

Verse 654 (in Tamil):
idukkaN padinum iLivandha seyyAr
nadukkaRRa kAtchiyavar

Meaning:

Those with unfaltering clarity and vision won’t do deplorable deeds, even when they are in distress.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'karumbu thinnak kUli' by the same author.) 

Verse 655
Verse 653