613. Helping A Friend

"With the scores obtained by my son in his higher secondary examination, he will be able to get a seat in AK College, under the management quota. But they will demand a sizeable sum as donation. I won't be able to afford it. This is disappointing!" Santhamurthy told his friend Pushpavanam.

"Can he not get admission in some other good college?" asked Pushpavanam.

"Maybe he can. But, as you know, AK College is the dream of many an aspiring student. They coach very well. If a student studies well and gets good scores in the tests, he will get a scholarship. Their campus placement system is also very efficient. Many reputed companies come to their college and recruit the students, during the final year. Thus one will get a job, that too in a good company, immediately after completing his education. If my son had scored one or two percent more, he would have got admission in that college, even under the government quota. But, my son doesn't seem to be having the luck to get an admission in AK College" said Santhamurthy, with a sigh. 

"If you were t admit your son in some other college, by which date you have to do so?"

"Admissions will take place only after counseling. The counseling dates have not yet been announced. Based on my son's scores, I can only make a guess about in which colleges he will be able to get admission. Why are you asking this? Do you have any suggestions?"

"I have no idea about college admissions. My daughter is studying in eighth grade. I still have four more years to be concerned about college admission" said Pushpavanam, laughing.

After a week, Santhamurthy received a call from Pushpavanam.

"Hey, Santhamurthy! Your son has got admission in AK College. You don't have to pay any donation" said Pushpavanam, in an excited tone.

"What do you mean? How is it possible?" asked Santhamurthy, perplexed.

"After you had told me about your desire to secure an admission for your son in AK College, I gathered information about that college. I learnt an MP (Member of Parliament) has a close connection with the Chairman of that college and that every year, the Chairman has been giving admission to one or two candidates recommended by the MP, without demanding any donation.

"Then, I inquired about the MP's background. When I heard the name of the village he hailed from, I remembered that one Krishnakumar, who studied with me in the college, also hailed from that village. After completing my college education, I was not in touch with him. In fact, we were not close friends, but I was acquainted with him.

"I got the contact details of Krishnakumar, through a friend of mine, who himself tapped his friends to trace Krishnakumar. I spoke to Krishnakumar over phone. He was surprised at my contacting him, after a gap of several years. Even at the outset, I told Krishnakumar that I was contacting him only for seeking his help, since I believed a straightforward approach would get a better reception. 

When I told him about getting admission into AK College, using the influence of the MP from his place, he told me that he was well acquainted wit the MP.

"He said that he should talk to the MP in person but that the MP was in Delhi. I suggested that both of us go to Delhi and meet him. He readily agreed. Since traveling by flight would be expensive, we two travelled to Delhi by train, after booking the tickets through 'tatkal'* and met the MP. He agreed to recommend the seat to your son. I understand that normally he does it for money. But, since Krishnakumar was close to him, he didn't ask for money. We should thank Krishnakumar, who, accepting my request, came to Delhi, by sparing his valuable time. Right now, I am calling you from Delhi."

Santhamurthy remained silent, not knowing what to say.

"What is it? There is no response from you!" prodded Pushpavanam.

"What can I say? On learning my desire to get my son admitted in AK College, you had taken herculean efforts, as if you were doing it for your son, from gathering information about the admission process of the college, through thinking of approaching the MP through a classmate of yours, tracing your classmate, talking to him, persuading him to go to Delhi to meet the MP, to going to Delhi with him, meeting the MP and getting the admission! But, I am not surprised, because I know that once you decide to do something, you will have the determination to make all possible efforts to get it done, however difficult the task may appear to be. Whether you are doing something for you, or for someone else, you work with the same zeal and perseverance. Helping other people has always been your second nature. I can never thank you enough for what you have done" said Santhamurthy, overwhelmed by the feelings of joy and gratitude.

"You cannot evade your liability by saying that helping others is my second nature. You have to reimburse me the travel expenses and board and lodging expenses incurred by the two of us!" said Pushpavanam, laughing.

*tatkal - a system of booking train tickets, a day before the journey by paying a higher price for the ticket (followed in India)

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 62
Perseverance

Verse 613 (in Tamil):
thALANmai ennum thagaimaikkaN thangiRRE
vELANmai ennum serukku.

Meaning:

The greatness of benevolence rests on the dignity of laboriousness or perseverance.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'seat kidaikkumA?' by the same author.) 

Verse 614
Verse 612

1138. The Army Chief's Faux Pas

"Indrakumari. What an impressive name! It means the daughter of Indra, the Lord of the Celestials" said the Army Chief Karthaveeriyan.

"Don't read too much into the meaning of my name. My father is not a chieftain like Indra. Nor is he someone well-versed in the art of war like you. He is just a machineman, who makes weapons using a simple tools" said Indrakumari.

"Listening to you gives me the impression that your father is adept in the use of language. You should have inherited the power of expression from him. Just as your father creates weapons that comes to my aid in fighting the war, he has also created you, a beauty glittering like a golden statue, to be my life partner."

Indrakumari was thrilled to hear the words of the army chief.

"When are you going to ask my father to give his consent for you to marry this golden statue?"

"Though I am known for my bravery in the battle field, when it comes to the task of seeking your hand in marriage from your father, I am a bit fearful. Give me some time to muster some courage, to meet your father and talk to him."

"If the king asks you to fight a war, you will muster your troops in no time and march towards the battle field. But you are asking me to give you time to muster the courage, before you could talk to my father!" said Indrakumari, smiling.

When Karthaveeriyan went to the palace to meet the king, he had a pleasant surprise.

The queen, the minister, the princess and two of the princess' friends were also present in the king's chamber. One of the two friends was Indrakumari.

The king had an important message to be conveyed to Karthaveeriyan.

Karthaveeriyan was listening keenly to the king's words, even while wondering why Indrakumari had not told him that she was a friend of the princess.

"The spies of the enemy king are roaming about in the capital. Therefore, women from the royal families need more protection. The minister's daughter will be leaving to her husband's place, after her marriage. She needs to be taken there with adequate security. Therefore..."

"I myself will accompany Indra's daughter, to ensure her security" said Karthaveeriyan.

For a moment, every one looked at Karthaveeriyan. perplexed by his words. The princess, who was quick to discern the reason for Karthaveeriyan's faux pas, turned  to Indrakumari and smiled. Indrakumari bowed down her head, feeling embarrassed.

The king and others, who watched this, understood the situation and laughed. 

It took some time for the army chief to realize that he had said 'Indra's daughter,' instead of saying 'the minister's daughter,' because he was thinking about Indrakumari in his mind!

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 114
Shedding Shyness

Verse 1138 (in Tamil):
niRai ariyar man aLiyar ennAdu kAmam
maRai irandhu manRu padum.

Meaning:

Love that is hidden in the mind comes out in the open, without having considerations for a person as someone to be pitied or someone who is inhibited by chaste. 

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'dhaLapadhiyin thadumARRam' by the same author.)

Verse 1139 (Soon)
Verse 1137

614. An Offer To Help

"My husband passed away suddenly, orphaning me and my daughter Sangheeta. How am I going to take care of my daughter? How will I perform her marriage?" lamented Parvathy.

"Don't worry, Parvathy. Some of your relatives will help you" said her neighbour Devi.

More than six months had passed since the demise of Parvathy's husband. Parvathy was running her family with great difficulty.

One day, Murugan, a son of Parathy's cousin came to see her.

"I heard about the demise of uncle, only recently. I thought I should meet you and see how you have been coping" he said.

"Even my close relatives are not bothered to check whether we are alive or dead. But, you have taken so much interest in us and come to see us. I feel heartened" said Parvathy, touched by Murugan's concern.

After getting to know of Parvathy's plight, Murugan told her, "Don't worry about Sangheeta, auntie! She is like my sister. It is my responsibility to get her a good job. Let her work for some time. I will look for a good match and arranger to get her married within the next two or three years" Murugan assured Parvathy.

"May God bless you!" said Parvathy, overwhelmed by his willingness to help.

Parvathy told Devi about Murugan's visit and his assurance.

"It is amazing that we have such kind people in the present times!" exclaimed Devi.

Several months passed since Murugan's visit. He didn't visit Parvathy again. There was no communication from him, either. 

"He spoke to me so assuringly. But, I wonder why there has been no further communication from him" Parvathy told Devi.

"Maybe, he is busy with his job. Did he give you his address or phone number? Share it with me and I will ask my husband to contact him!" said Devi.

"I don't have his address. He gave me a phone number for contacting him, in case of any emergency. I think it is the phone number of one of his friends." 

"Give me that number. I will ask my husband to call that number and contact him" said Devi.

Devi's husband Velayudham dialed the number given by Parvathy. When the phone was picked up at the other end, Velayudham said, "Your friend Murugan gave us this number. Can I speak to him?"

"Has Murugan borrowed money from you?" asked Murugan's friend

"No such thing. Murugan had visited his aunt Parvathy sometime back. She told her that he would get a job for her daughter. Subsequently, he didn't contact her. I am Parvathy's neighbour. She wanted me to check with him" said Velayutham.

Murugan's friend laughed out loud and said, "Murugan promised to get a job for someone! He himself doesn't have a job and been roaming about idly. I have urged him several times to take up some job or other. But he has not even made an attempt to search for a job. His promising to get a job for someone is funny. Perhaps, he would have said so, just to show himself off as a benefactor."

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 62
Perseverance

Verse 614 (in Tamil):
thALANmai illAdhAn vELANmai pedi kai
vALANmai pOlak kedum.

Meaning:

Benevolence of the person without persistence

will turn futile like a sword in the hands of a coward.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'murugan udhavuvAnA?' by the same author.) 

Verse 615 (soon)
Verse 613

612. When the Past Came to Haunt

Satish was excited, when he came out of the venture capital firm, after completing his interview with them.

"I feel confident that they will finance my venture. What do you think?" he asked his friend Kumar, who was with him during the interview.

"I also feel that they liked your project idea. I hope they will take a favourable decision soon" said Kumar.

"I should thank you for referring me to this venture capital firm" said Satish.

"The owners of this firm follow a conservative approach. They won't consider any proposal, unless it is referred to them by a source they trust. Since one of the directors of this company is known to me, I recommended you to them. And, they called you for an interview. Generally, they will  have the interview only with the entrepreneur and his associates or executives. I don't understand why they insisted that I be present in the interview, when I am not involved in your venture!" wondered Kumar.

When Satish called up Kumar after two weeks and asked him whether he had any information from the venture capital firm, Kumar told him, "No. I didn't get any message from them. I think they will communicate with you directly. Wait for a few more days."

"Didn't the director of the firm you are acquainted with give you any hint about their decision?" asked Satish, concerned about the delay.

"No. And it won't be appropriate for me to ask him about this, either" said Kumar.

After about a month, Satish received a terse communication from the venture capital firm stating, "We regret that we are unable to finance your venture."

Satish rang up to Kumar, told him about the rejection letter and said, "I was very confident that they would finance my venture. I feel disappointed," conveying his disappointment.

After being silent for a few seconds, Kumar asked Satish, "Do you remember that during the interview, they asked you about the two year break in your career?"

"Yes, I do. I honestly answered that question, by telling them that I launched a business, but that since it didn't do well, I wound it up and took up a job once again."

"They also asked you about the details of that business, didn't they?"

"Yes, they did. I gave a detailed account of what business I had started, what the problems faced by me were and why I decided to wind it up. It appeared to me that they were appreciative of my being frank about that issue."

"They might have appreciated your frankness. But it was a business with good potential. It was true that you had some problems in marketing. But, if you had continued running the business for a couple of years more, it would have become successful. The person who bought that business from you has been doing very well now" said Kumar.

"What are you trying to say?" asked Satish.

"I think that your having started a business earlier and given up after a couple of years might have created a negative impression about you in the minds of the people who interviewed you. From your perspective, the option to quit the business and cut your losses rather than take the risk of suffering more losses, by continuing the business might have appeared sensible. But, people who run venture capital funds have the inclination to reward risk-takers and hence might have perceived your decision as a shortcoming on your part" said Kumar, somewhat reluctantly.

Satish was silent for a while and then asked Kumar, "Did you already expect this? Why didn't you tell me earlier? Now, I remember that while I was excited after the interview, you didn't share my optimism!"

"When, in the interview, they asked you about your earlier business,  I had an apprehension that this could be held against you. But since you were optimistic about getting a favourable decision from them, I didn't want to express my doubts and dampen your spirits. When they didn't communicate with you even after two weeks, I thought that they might be making enquiries about your old venture. Now, it appears that they gathered more details about your previous venture, and rejected you, thinking that you had not tried enough to make your earlier business profitable. Don't be disheartened. We will try to tap some other sources" said Kumar.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 62
Perseverance

Verse 612 (in Tamil):
vinaikkaN vinai kedal Ombal vinaik kuRai
thIrndhArin thIrndhanRu ulagu.

Meaning:

While doing a task, don't abandon it in the middle, thinking that it will be difficult to complete it. The world deserts those who desert an essential task.

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

Verse 613
Verse 611

1137. Urmila's Anger

"Is it essential that you leave me alone here and travel beyond the seas, to earn money?" asked Urmila.

"Don't we need money to lead a happy life, after our marriage? I am a merchant. When I get an opportunity to earn a considerable sum of money by selling merchandise in a foreign country, is it wise to forego the opportunity?" asked her lover Valavan.

"You have a good business running in our town. Is the amount you earn from your business here not adequate for the two of us?"

"It is adequate for the two of us, alright. But, it won't be adequate, after we beget twenty children!"

"Twenty children! My goodness. I don't want to get married at all!"

"Okay. I will settle for two! Don't worry. I am going to be away just for one year. One year will fly in no time and I will be back with you."

"For you, time will fly, since you will be on the run. But for me, sitting at home and counting the days awaiting your return, time will move only at a snail's pace."

"Some merchants will be coming here from my place and returning to my place several times during the next one year. I will send a letter to you through each and every merchant that visit this place. You can send your reply through the same person. So, you will not find time moving slow" said Valavan. 

One month after Valavan had left, Urmila received a letter from him. In that letter, he had poured out his love for her and his craving to meet her soon. 

The merchant, who handed over the letter to Urmila, told her, "I will be returning in ten days. Draft a reply to Valavan and keep it ready. I will pick it up from you, a day before I leave this place."

But, when he came back after ten days to collect the reply letter from Urmila, she told him, "Please tell Valavan that I am not giving him any letter."

After three months, Valavan sent her another letter through another merchant. After elaborately writing about his love for her, Valavan had written, "It appears that your anger at me, for leaving you alone and going away to a far off place on business had not subsided, when you received my first letter. That is why you didn't send me a reply, I presume. I hope that your anger would have subsided by this time and that you would send me a reply to this letter."

But Urmila didn't send him a reply the second time too.

After that, Urmila didn't get any letter from Valavan.

Valavan returned home after one year, after successfully competing his trade mission. He came to Urmila's house to see her.

Urmila's mother received Valavan from the front hall of her house.

"How is Urmila?" asked Valavan.

"You can see for yourself" replied Urmila's mother, in a dejected tone. 

On entering the room, Valavan was shocked to see the appearance of Urmila lying on a cot in the room.

It was like a skeleton clad in a sari, lying on the cot.

Sensing that someone was entering the room, Urmila opened her eyes. Seeing the figure of Valavan, standing at the threshold of the room, she got up with a jerk and sat on the cot. Then, as if driven by some force, she jumped down from the cot, ran to him, hugged him and cried by pressing her face against his bosom.

"What has happened to you, Urmila? You have become so emaciated! Are you not well? You didn't reply to my letters. Are you still angry with me?" asked Valavan, upset by her appearance.

Urmila lifted her chin and looked at Valavan, "Was I angry with you? No. I was angry with myself, for being alive all these days, without gazing this face."

"If you had replied to my letters, I would have continued to send you letters. That would have made you happy, wouldn't it have?" asked Valavan.

"Definitely. But I wanted you to focus your attention on your business. Reading the lines in your first letter that were overflowing with love, I had an apprehension that the reply letters from me would only intensify your feelings for me and prevent you from concentrating on your business. That would have defeated the purpose of your visiting that place. So, I decided to suffer the pangs of separation, by refraining from writing letters to you. But, since my body did not have the strength my mind had, it  became emaciated, unable to withstand the  pain of separation. Now that you have come back, my body will regain its strength. I am able to feel my muscles beginning to grow stronger even now. Oh, my dress is becoming tighter!"

So saying, Urmila pulled Valavan towards her and locked him into a tight embrace.

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 114
Shedding Shyness

Verse 1137 (in Tamil):
kadal anna kAmam uzhandhum madal ERAp
peNNin peum thakkadhu il.

Meaning:

Nothing can be greater than the restraint of a woman, who, despite tormented by a sea of love, keeps from writing letters to her lover.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'UrmiLAiyin kObam' by the same author.)

Verse 1138
Verse 1136

140. Vasanthi's Suggestion

"What is the need for me to attend the association meeting?" asked Kannan.

"It is an opportunity to get to know the other occupants of our apartment block" said his wife Vasanthi.

"You may attend. I don't want to come."

"You can be there just for a few minutes and leave the meeting, giving some excuse about another commitment."

Kannan grudgingly agreed to his wife's suggestion.

They had bought an apartment in that building only recently and moved there. 

Vasanthi had got acquainted with several other occupants of the apartment block within a short time, but Kannan had not even spoken to his immediate neighbours. Even when someone greeted him or smiled at him, while running into him in the pathway, Kannan wouldn't even notice it and would be looking elsewhere.

Kannan was a postgraduate in the field of bio-technology and was working as a scientist in a biotech firm. Even at home, he was mostly engaged in reading a book or doing something in his computer. If Vasanthi spoke to him, he would respond. Otherwise, he won't talk much.

Sometimes, Vasanthi would share with him something interesting that she had read in a magazine or saw in the TV. He would listen to her, with an occasional terse comment. 

Vasanthi knew that Kannan was not interested in the matters she talked about and that he was listening to her and responding occasionally, only to make her feel good.

If Vasanthi wanted to go for shopping, or a movie or visit their relatives, Kannan would accompany her.

Vasanthi considered Kannan's aloofness a lacuna in his personality. She learnt from Kannan's office friend Seenu that Kannan maintained his aloofness in the office also. Seenu was the only friend Kannan had. Vasanthi would sometimes think that it was a relief that Kannan had even one friend, given his introverted and inhibited  nature.

The meeting of the apartment owners' association got over in half an hour. The apartment block had 72 apartments. The secretary of the association expressed his desire to be relieved of his position. The meeting was conveyed only to select a new secretary. With no one coming forward to take the responsibility, the meeting got over within a short time.

After returning home, Vasanthi asked Kannan, "Why don't you become the secretary of the association?"

"Me? Are you being serious? How can I take up that responsibility" asked Kannan, surprised by the suggestion.

"Of course, you can. You are well educated and intelligent. You have the capacity to think deeply about any issue and decide. Managing the association's affairs is not so difficult. There are some chronic issues, of course. If you rectify them, then things will begin to move smoothly. You can definitely resolve these issues" said Vasanthi.

"Vasanthi! You know about my nature. I don't socialize much. I don't move with people. How can I take up the responsibility of managing the affairs of the building that involves interacting with people, talking to them, convincing them etc?"

"I am asking you to take up the responsibility, only to make you move with other people. Don't think that I am advising you. You are better informed than me in all matters. You are well educated, intelligent, knowledgeable and capable. Is your keeping aloof and not moving with people not a shortcoming on your part? Should you not fill this gap in your personality? If you become the secretary of the association, you will have to interact with other occupants and other people like service providers. You will be able to shed your inhibition, even without making any conscious effort and become a stronger person" said Vasanthi. 

Kannan looked at Vasanthi for a minute and then said, "If my boss wants me to do something, how can I say no?" and laughed.

It appeared to Vasanthi that the transformation had already begun in him.

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 14
Possession of Propriety 

Verse 140 (In Tamil)

ulagaththOdu otta ozhugal pala kaRRum
kallAr aRivu ilAdhAr.

Meaning:

Those who don't know how to act agreeably to the world, even if they have learnt many things, are still ignorant.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'kuRai onRu kaNNA' by the same author)

Verse 141 (Soon)
Verse 139

611. Thank God!

"Mr. Prabhakar! Among the department managers of our firm, you are quite distinct" said Chndran, the General Manager.

Prabhakaran received the compliment politely, by remaining silent.

"In our firm, there are tasks common to more than one department. When such tasks are to be performed, other department managers evade their responsibility, by pointing their fingers to another department manager. 

"If this were a firm in private sector, such evasion of responsibility won't be possible. Since ours is a public sector firm, people are able to get away with shirking their responsibility. But, you are different. You readily accept any responsibility given to you. 

"Some times, I had asked you to do things not related to your department. Before assigning such a task to you, I had wondered whether you would say no, pointing out to me that the task was not related to your department. But you never did so. Every time, you have accepted the task and carried it out sincerely."

"After all, the tasks you have assigned to me are related to our firm's business" said Prabhakar, feeling slightly embarrassed by the General Manager's effusive praise.

"I am mentioning this because I felt that I should acknowledge and appreciate your attitude. Another thing I observed about you is that you would never say, 'Sir, this is very difficult. I won't be able to do this,' about any task. I myself would, when I encounter some difficult task, think that I may not be able to do it."

"I should thank God for this attitude of mine" said Prabhakar, smiling.

"Where does God come here?"

"When I was a boy, I was physically very weak. The primary school in which I studied was only about half a kilometer from my house. But, I would feel fatigued after walking even such a short distance. I used to rest for about an hour after returning from the school, before I could do anything else. 

"After completing the fifth grade, I had to join a high school, which was about two kilometers from my house. My place was a village. There was no bus facility to commute to the school. 

"If I were to learn to ride a bicycle and ride on it to the school, it would take some time. My father was not confident about my riding a bicycle safely. Above all, buying a bicycle was a luxury, given the economic status of our family at that time. 

"Therefore, after I had completed my fifth grade, my family decided that I discontinue my studies. But, I was keen to continue my studies. So, I pleaded with my father and got him to admit me in the high school.

"At that time, my father told me, 'After a few days, you will become physically exhausted and stop going to the school.' But I was determined to pursue my education, by withstanding any physical strain I may have to face. 

"In the beginning, walking to the school and returning by walk was very difficult. But I withstood the physical strain through sheer will power. Over a period, I was able to overcome the strain and feel normal. To everyone's astonishment, my constitution improved to a great extent and I gained the physical strength of a normal person of my age. 

"The lesson I learnt from that experience was that if one decides to take up a task, however arduous, with the determination and belief that one would be able to do it successfully, one would automatically gain the strength and the power to execute that job."

"You had used your experience resulting from your physical weakness to transform your weakness into a strength. Great! I will try to follow your approach" said Chandran, genuinely impressed by Prabhakar's narrative. "But, why did you say you should thank God for this?" he added.

"Was it not God, who gave me a weak constitution and presented me with the challenge to overcome weakness?" said Prabhakar.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 62
Perseverance

Verse 611 (in Tamil):
arumai udaiththu enRu asavAmai vENdum
perumai muyaRchi tharum.

Meaning:

Do not avoid a task because it is tough;

perseverance will bring glory.

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

Verse 612
Verse 610