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 (Soon)
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 (Soon)
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

158. The Anonumous Letters

When his personal assistant Lila told Branch Manager Rudramurthy that the General Manager (GM) from the Head Office was on the line, Rudramurthy took the call immediately and said, "Good morning, sir!"

"Is your personal assistant with you?" asked the General Manager.

"Yes, sir" said Rudramurthy. Understanding that the General Manager wanted to speak to him in private, he signaled Lila to leave his cabin.

"Now I am alone. Please tell me, sir" said Rudramurthy.

"I hear that you are being very intimate with your persona assistant" said the General Manager.

"Sir" exclaimed Rudramurthy, momentarily taken aback.

"I am glad that you didn't respond 'how do you know, sir?' We have received an anonymous letter carrying this allegation."

"Sir! This is scandalous. Completely false!"

"Do you think we would believe this? Can you guess who could have written this letter?"

"I don't have to guess. I know for sure who wrote the letter. I am grateful to you for your faith in me."

"If you tell me who you think has written the letter, we will keep that person under watch and take action against him at the appropriate time."

"No, sir! I will deal with this" said Rudramurthy.

After the conversation was over, Rudramurthy summoned the peon and told him, "Ask Bhaskar to come."

When Bhaskar came to his cabin, Rudramurthy asked him, "I told you to attend to a customer complaint. What is the status?"

"I went to the customer's place and met him in person. He accepted my explanation and withdrew the complaint" said Bhaskar.

"Good" said Rudramurthy. "What do you think of Lila?"

"Sir, I don't understand the question."

"Someone has written an anonymous letter to the head office, saying certain undignified things about her."

"They wrote about Lila?"

"What did you expect? That they would have written about me?"

"Why are you telling me this, sir?"

"Because you are a wise man. You have a good understanding about every thing that is going on in this office. Someone, intending to paint me bad, has ended up besmirching the name of a good person like Lila."

Bhaskar was silent. 

"You are a person with a sense of responsibility. Find out who wrote that anonymous letter and advice him appropriately. If someone has a grudge against me, let him fight with me directly. People intending to hurt me should not end up in hurting other people. You may leave now."

Bhaskar went out of the cabin, without saying anything. 

After Bhaskar had left his cabin, Rudramurthy reflected. Bhaskar's face expression and reaction to the information about the anonymous letter confirmed that he was the author of that letter. It appeared to Rudramurthy that Bhaskar would have realized that dragging Lila's name was wrong.

Right from the time Bhaskar joined the company, he was maintaining a hostile attitude towards Rudramurthy. 

Rudramurthy's strictness during Bhaskar's training period and his repeated warnings to Bhaskar that he would be terminated without getting confirmed in his job, if he did not carry out the responsibilities given to him properly, created an impression in his mind that Rudramuthy was not fair and that he was unduly strict, while dealing with Bhaskar. This perception resulted in a feeling of bitterness and hostility towards Rudramurthy. 

Rudramurthy was aware that Bhaskar was doing things, with an intention to bring a bad name to Rudramurthy. It came to Rudramurthy's knowledge that Bhaskar, on several occasions, tried to spread false information about Rudramurthy among the employees and that he had written anonymous letters to the head office, making false allegations against Rudramurthy. 

Since Bhaskar was doing his job well, Rudramurthy did not mind his activities against him. This time, he spoke to Bhaskar, only because Bhaskar had dragged Lila's name by alleging an illicit relationship between Lila and Ruframurthy. Still, he spoke to Bhaskar only indirectly, hoping that he would realize that casting aspersions on Lila's character was not fair, when he had no grudge against her.

Bhaskar continued to indulge in similar activities, even after Rudramurthy spoke to him about the anonymous letter. He continued to send anonymous letters to the Head Office. But he did not involve other employees. It appeared to Rudramurthy that after his talk with Bhaskar about the unfairness of besmirching Lila's name, Bhaskar changed his ways. 

"Sir! There is a call from the GM" said Lila. 

Rudramurthy attended the call.

"Mr. Murthy! We keep getting anonymous letters about you, every now and then!" said the GM. 

"Are you going to take action on me, for the offenses alleged about me, in the anonymous letters?" asked Rudramurthy, in a lighter vein. 

"Though you won't reveal to us who has been writing these letters, we know the identity of the person."

Rudramurthy was silent. 

"We received the information about who was writing these letters, from one of your employees. Bhaskar is the culprit, isn't he?"

Rudramurthy remained silent. 

"You have been patiently tolerating his actions aimed at causing harm to you. I commend you for your forbearance. But, you have done something I am unable to digest" said the GM.

"I understand what you are referring to!" said Rudramurthy.

"You have recommended Bhaskar for the post of Assistant Manager - that too when there are three others senior to him!"

"Sir! Bhaskar is on top, on the basis of his competence and performance. For a position of responsibility, these two factors are the most important to be considered. This is my view."

"Have you forgotten the troubles he had caused to you? How can you put a person who tries to cause harm to others in a position of power and responsibility?" 

"Sir! When it comes to discharging his responsibilities, Bhaskar's performance has always been good. I think that it is reasonable to expect that it will continue to be so in future. I expect that once he is given a position of responsibility, he will act with greater responsibility. I only considered what was good for the company. Why should I block Bhaskar's deserved elevation, just because he tried to cause harm to me?" said Rudramurthy.

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 16
Forbearance 

Verse 158 (In Tamil)

migudhiyAn mikkavai seydhAraith thAn tham
thagudhiyAn venRu vidal.

Meaning:

Defeat a person who has, out of arrogance, done you harm,

by your forbearance.

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

Verse 159
Verse 157

653. The Rise and the Fall

No one expected Bharani to come up so fast in the ranks, within two years of joining that political party.

Normally, ordinary members of the party won't have an opportunity to be noticed by the party supremo.

But, Bharani attracted the attention of the party president, by organizing public meetings at frequent intervals in his region and inviting top leaders of the party to address them. 

The party president sent word to Bharani to come to the headquarters of the party and meet him. After having a direct meeting with the party president, an opportunity available only to important functionaries of the party, Bharani had his reputation within the party go up even higher.

Having earned the commendation 'Bharani is another name for vibrancy,' from the party president, Bharani was made the head of the newly created Training Wing of the party, which was entrusted with the job of orienting and training new members of the party. Many people in the party felt that the new wing was created, only for giving a position of responsibility to Bharani.

After getting a position in the party, Bharani's importance within the party went up still further. 

"What have you done, moron! You are educated. Don't you have common sense?" flared the district secretary of the party.

"Sir, I was quietly dining in a restaurant. The man sitting opposite to me accused me of spilling water on his side of the table. It led to some argument between us. After he used abusive language against me, I was provoked and used some harsh words against him" said Bharani, twisting his body, with a feeling of embarrassment.  

"Used some harsh words against him! What an understatement! You berated him using indecent and vulgar words, words seldom used in public. In fact, I didn't know that there were such vulgar words in Tamil! Someone took a video of your indecent outburst and shared it in the social media. That video became viral in no time. The opposition parties and the media have been deriding our leader saying, 'Look at the 'dignified' language used by a functionary of the party, whose leader often gives discourses on dignity and decorum in political discussions. And, this 'man of words' is in charge of the training wing of the party. One can imagine what kind of training the members of the party will get from this gentleman!' Our leader is understandably enraged by your behaviour. I don't know what action he is going to take against you. You were coming up so fast in the party, through your hard work and dedication. But, by this one act of yours, you have ruined your future" said the district secretary.

That evening, there was a press release from the parry headquarters that Bharani was expelled from the party and relieved of all positions held by him in the party with immediate effect.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 66
Purity in Action

Verse 653 (in Tamil):
Odhal vENdum oLi mAzhgum seyvinai
Adhum ennum avar.

Meaning:  

Those who seek to scale greater heights should shun deeds that dent their reputation.

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

 Verse 654
Verse 652 

157. An Opportunity To Settle the Scores

Somasundaram looked exhausted, when he returned home after spending three days in the police lock-up.

It was only sometime later, after his wife Mangalam tried to rejuvenate him, by offering him water, snacks and coffee that she noticed the bruises and swellings on his body.

"Did they beat you?" she asked, shocked.

"Will the police ever refrain from beating a person arrested by them?"

"You are a person respected in the village. How could they do this to you? The brutes!" lamented Mangalam. 

"The police station is not located in our village. Moreover, the police inspector has come to this station on transfer, only recently. He knows nothing about our village and its inhabitants. Leave it. I have returned home, after all!" said Somasundaram.

Tears welled up in Mangalam's eyes. "Should that Manickam be happy, after doing this to you?" she said angrily.

Mangalam's brother Sivaguru entered this house.

"What is this, brother-in-law? How did this happen? I went to the police station every day to meet you. But, they didn't allow me to meet you. How did this arrest happen?" asked Sivaguru.  

"Manickam diverted water from our lands to his, by cutting the border between our lands and his, thereby making the water flow to his lands. When I went to the lands, I noticed it and tried to restore the border by digging out earth with a spade and filling it in the border, in order to close it. At that time, Manickam came there and started arguing with me. He left, after verbally quarrelling with me for a few minutes. Subsequently, he went to the police station and gave a complaint that I attacked him with a spade. Believing his complaint to be true, the police arrested me" said Somasundaram.

"How did they arrest you, without verifying the truth of his complaint?"

"It so happened that sometime before he quarrelled with me, he was digging the earth in his land with a spade The spade accidentally hit his foot and caused an injury. He showed that injury to the police and claimed that I tried to attack him with the spade and that when he tried to run away, my spade hit him on his foot. He claimed that I chased him with the spade in my hand and that he escaped from me and rushed to the police station to file a complaint. He had taken a person with him, to give false evidence in support of his claim."

"My goodness! The police arrested you believing his false complaint, just because he had an injury caused by a spade on his foot! But, how did they release you?"

"While the inspector arrested me promptly on receipt of the complaint, he came to the village and conducted an enquiry, only after three days. The man who gave the false evidence panicked and admitted that he didn't witness any such incident. People of our village also spoke in support of me. After that, the inspector released me."

"Why didn't the police take action against Manickam, for filing a false complaint?"

"Manickam still claims that I hit him with a spade. The police just closed the case, saying that there was no evidence to substantiate the complaint."

"See how they have beaten him!" Mangalam told Sivaguru. 

"They beat you!" exclaimed Sivaguru and then looked at the bruises and swellings closely.

"We should not spare Manickam" said Sivaguru, angrily. 

After a few months, when Somasundaram's daughter Bhuvana was riding a bicycle in the village, her bicycle accidentally hit Manickam, who was walking on the road. There was some argument between the two of them, each blaming the other for the accident.

After hearing about this incident, Sivaguru came to Somasundaram. 

"Manickam had a scuffle with Bhuvana. Based on this, we can give a police complaint against Manickam" Sivaguru tod Somasundaram.

Somasundaram gently rubbed the scars on his body, caused by police beating with his fingers and said, "Sivaguru! I have still not forgotten the pain and humiliation I suffered, when the police arrested and beat me up. If Manickam is arrested, he will also be subjected to the same kind of treatment. The police may treat him even more harshly, considering the gravity of the offense of eve-teasing. No, Sivaguru. I have suffered the pain of beating and the humiliation of imprisonment. I don't want to be the cause for another person to suffer the same kind of pain and humiliation. Though Manickam has caused me harm, I don't want to cause him pain like the one I suffered."

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 16
Forbearance 

Verse 157 (In Tamil)

thiRanalla thaRpiRar seyyinum nOnondhu
aRanlla seyyAmai nanRu.

Meaning:

Even if other people do you harm, it is better

not to resent and do harm to them, in retaliation.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'vanjam thIrkka oru vAyppu' by the same author)

Verse 158
Verse 156

652. Abandoned Venture

Ganapathy had a degree in Economics. But, he was inspired to start a chemical manufacturing unit. The inspiration resulted from his association with Ramu, the elder brother of Mukundan, Ganapathy's colleague in his office.

It was during Ganapathy's visit to Mukundan's house by way of a social call that he met Ramu, who was residing in Mukundan's house.

Ganapathy learnt that Ramu had been working in a chemical manufacturing unit and that he lost his job recently, when the unit was closed due to financial reasons and that he was on the lookout for another job. 

After conversing with Ramu for some time, Ganapathy gauged that Ramu had good knowledge about chemicals and that he was keeping his knowledge updated, by reading books and journals on Chemistry and Chemical processes. 

Ganapathy was impressed by Ramu's depth of knowledge about chemicals and developed a liking for him. He visited Mukundan's house often, only to have conversations with Ramu.

"Hey! I am your friend. You didn't visit me often all these days. But, after meeting my brother, you come to my house quite often, to talk to him. My brother has become closer to you than I am" Mukundan remarked in a lighter vein. 

"I am seeing you in the office every day. So, there is no need for me to visit your house to see you" replied Ganapathy.

"You brother Ramu is a genius. He has vast knowledge about chemicals. He also has ideas for manufacturing certain chemical products. I am planning to start a chemical manufacturing unit, in partnership with him" Ganapathy told Mukundan.

"He has no money to invest" said Mukundan. 

"He doesn't have to invest. He can be a working partner. I will invest the capital" said Ganapathy.

"You have a good job. You want to quit the job and start a business. Think deeply about it" said Mukundan.

Ganapathy resigned his job and began to take steps to start the chemical manufacturing unit planned by him. He sat with Ramu and prepared a detailed project report.

Both together selected a place for setting up the unit. The agreement to rent the premises was to be signed in a couple of days. 

The doorbell at Mukundan's house rang at 10 pm.

Mukundan opened the door.

"What is the matter, Ganapathy? You are visiting me at this late hour?" asked Mukundan, in surprise. 

"Is Ramu there?" asked Mukundan.

"He went to bed just now. I will call him" said Mukundan. "Is anything important?" he added, in a tone of concern.

"Yes" said Ganapathy.

When Ramu came to the living room, Mukundan asked him in a tone of urgency, "Ramu! Can this chemical be used to make addictive drugs?"

Ramu, who came out worried, felt relieved by the question. "Oh! This is what you were concerned about. I was worried that there was some serious problem. This chemical can be used to make some addictive drugs. But, only pharmaceutical grade material can be used for such purposes. We are going to make only industrial grade."

"Making synthetic drugs is an illegal activity. Why should people indulging in an illegal activity bother about using the pharmaceutical grade. They can use the industrial grade material also to make drugs, can't they?"

"No, Ganapathy. If they use industrial grade material, they won't get the required quality. If this was possible, the government would have imposed a lot of restrictions on the manufacture and use of industrial grade of this chemical also, as they have done with the pharmaceutical grade."

"No, Ramu. One of my friends told me that drugs are being made using industrial grade material of this chemical also. The information given by him is not likely to be wrong. Thus, there is a chance of the chemical we plan to manufacture being used for making intoxicating drugs. Don't you agree?"

"Ganapathy! I don't understand why we are discussing this. You are going to sell your product in the market. If it goes through various hands and reaches the hand of a addictive drugs maker, what can we do about it?" asked Mukundan.

"After knowing that the products we plan to manufacture can be put to wrong use, how can we proceed with manufacturing the product?' asked Ganapathy.

"What are you trying to say, Ganapathy?" asked Ramu, shocked by the import of Ganapathy's words. 

"We have to give up this project. We can think of doing something else."

"Ganapathy! Don't you realize that you are being stupid? After quitting your job and working so long on this project, you want to abandon it for a trivial reason! Think practically" said Mukundan, in an agitated voice.

"I am sorry. After knowing that the action we are planning can lead to some harmful consequences, we should not pursue it. This is my stand" said Ganapathy, firmly. 

"Ganapathy! I am not prepared to enter into any venture with you" said Ramu angrily and went inside.

"In that case, I will have to search for a job" said Ganapathy.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 66
Purity in Action

Verse 652 (in Tamil):
enRum oruvudhal vENdum pugazhOdu
nanRi payavA vinai.

Meaning:

One should at all times avoid acts which won't result in good and won't yield fame.

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

Verse 653
Verse 651