660. In the Wink of an Eye

"I had given an advertisement online for selling my car. Someone rang me up on seeing the advertisement. We negotiated over the phone and arrived at a price. He sent me an image to my mobile phone and asked me to scan it with my mobile. He said that it was called the QR code and that if I scanned the code, he would be able to see my bank details and transfer the money to my bank. He said that he would take delivery of the car the next day" said Mahadevan.

The police inspector from cyber crimes who was listening to Mahadevan's complaint laughed and said, "He was telling you the truth! Once you had scanned the code sent by him, he would have known your bank details, including your password. Then he wiped your account clean. How much money did you lose?"

"Twenty eight lakh rupees."

"Why did you keep such a large sum in your account?"

"I would normally keep a few lakh rupees in my account, for the day-to-day expenses of my business. A few days back, a fixed deposit kept by me got matured and about twenty lakh rupees were deposited in my savings account. I had planned to reinvest the sum, in the next few days. But, all the money has gone in the wink of an eye. How did this happen? How was the amount transferred from my account, without my getting an OTP* in my mobile and verifying it. The bank says that the transfer took place, only after verification of the OTP" said Mahadevan.

"This new kind of fraud called QR scam has been hitting people, since recently. We are still investigating how this fraud is being executed. The scammer would have learnt all the details about your bank account, like the name of the bank, account number, balance and your password. He would have transferred the amount from your account to one of his untraceable accounts immediately. In all probability, you would have received an OTP at your mobile phone. You might not have noticed it or you might have ignored it, thinking that it was an error, since you didn't initiate any transaction. The message carrying the OTP would automatically have been forwarded to the scammer's mobile. He would have verified the OTP and completed the transfer" explained the inspector.

"Can you not trace the account to which the money was transferred and recover the money?"

"These scammers would have opened accounts in a number of banks, giving false details supported by forged identity documents. They would transfer the amount to some of their other accounts, immediately after getting the credit. By the time we trace the chain of transfers, the scammer would have moved away and started a new scam. If he is smart, he would stop the activity, after earning some money and destroy all evidences, without leaving any trace. Even if we could catch him, the chances of your getting your money back are extremely low. We keep cautioning people, by bringing these kinds of scams to the notice of people. But, many people like you don't pay attention to our messages and keep getting scammed. By the way, what is the business you are engaged in?"

"I am a commission agent" said Mahadevan, somewhat reluctantly.

"Why are you so reluctant to mention your business? You should feel proud about doing a business, however small and earning money in an honest way, unlike these scammers who make money by cheating others."

'But, I didn't earn money in an honest way. I take residence in a small place, convince some small businessmen that I could procure them loans at low interest, collect a few thousand rupees from them as a retainer and abscond from that place. I then go to some other place and repeat this process. The money I lost to the scammer was earned that way. I had been carrying on this 'business' at various places, emboldened by the belief that people who were cheated by me won't go to the police, since each of them lost only a few thousand rupees. I have shown the money earned by my scheme, as money earned from commission agency. But, what I had accumulated little by little over the years has been entirely swindled from me by a scammer, much bigger and smarter than me" reflected Mahadevan.

*OTP - One Time Password sent to a mobile number for verifying the authenticity of a transaction.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 66
Purity in Action

Verse 658 (in Tamil):
salaththAl poruL seydhE mArththal pasu maN
kalaththuL nIr pey thirI aRRu.

Meaning:

Earning money through deceit and protecting such ill-gotten wealth

is like storing water in a fresh unbaked mud pot.

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

Verse 661 (Soon)
Verse 659

1146. The Lunar Eclipse

"Today, there is a lunar eclipse. Don't go out of the house" Alarmelmangai advised her daughter Selvi.

"Why shouldn't one go out during the eclipse?" asked Selvi.

"Don't ask questions about everything. What is the need for you to go out after it has become dark?"

"I am not going anywhere, Mom. I just wanted to know the reason for your advice"

"I want to speak to you about an important matter. And I want to speak to you, before your daddy comes home" said Alarmelmangai.

"That is fine. But, why did you cite the eclipse as the reason for stopping me from going out?" asked Selvi.

Selvi then went to the open yard at the central part of the house, looked up the sky and said, "The eclipse began only a few minutes back. But, within this short period, Rahu* has swallowed half the moon."

"Yes. I think that Rahu will swallow the entire moon in about half an hour" said Alarmelmangai.

She then pressed her daughter's shoulders and told her, "Sit down. I want to talk to you."

After a short pause, Alarmelmangai told her daughter, "Selvi! I know that you are in love with Perumal. I have already told you that I would talk to your father about this and get his consent for your marriage, and advised you not to meet your lover frequently, till the time I get your father's consent."

"Yes, mummy. I am acting as per your advice." 

"Don't lie to me. Our neighbour Periyanayagam has seen you sitting with Perumal on the bank of the village pond and talking to him. She asked me, 'What is happening Mangai? Your daughter has been roaming about the village with Perumal.'"

"Mummy! I told you about the meeting in advance and took your permission to meet him" replied Selvi, somewhat angrily.

"Well. You told me one day that you were meeting Perumal. Another neighbour Komalam told me that she saw you with Perumal in the temple on another day. You didn't tell me about that."

"What else?"

"Parvatham told me that she saw you two walking on the river bank yet another day."

"Okay. Come out with the list of all the places, where people saw us  on various days" said Selvi. The anger she had earlier was now replaced by a feeling of amusement.

"Am I narrating a story? I told you how people had told me about seeing you with Perumal on several days. What is your explanation for this?" asked Alarmelmangai, angrily 

Selvi laughed loudly.

"Why do you laugh? This is no laughing matter."

"Mummy! I met Perumal only on one day. We went to the temple. We sat for a while on the banks of the tank. Then, we walked for sometime on the river bank. We might have sat under a tree too. The people of this village have narrated this one day meet as incidents that happened on different days. You believe these stories and ask me about them! Rest assured, mom. I will never do anything in violation of your advice" said Selvi, pressing her mother's hand with affection.

She then ran to the open yard, looked at the sky and shouted, "Look at this, mom! The snake Rahu has swallowed about three fourth of the moon" with excitement.

*Rahu- As per a story in the Hindu mythology, the lunar eclipse is caused by a snake called Rahu devouring the moon (and then releasing it.)

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 115
Gossiping by Others

Verse 1146 (in Tamil):
kanDadhu mannum oru nAL alar mannum
thingaLaip pAmbu koNdaRRu..

Meaning:

I saw him but one single day, but the rumour thereof has spread like the seizure of the moon by the serpent.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'orE nAL unai nAn' by the same author.)

Verse 1147 (Soon)
Verse 1145

659. The Farm House

I was a senior government official. 

When Punyakoti became the Chief Minister, he appointed me as one of his private secretaries.

Punyakoti had been known for surrounding himself with loyalists and sycophants, people who would readily carry out his wishes, even if they had to violate rules or harm people, in the process. 

Since I had a reputation for being independent and inflexible, I was surprised that he chose me as one of his personal secretaries. Till today, I have not been able to decipher the reasons behind his choice.

I was given a posting in the office at the Chief Minister's residence. Though a public servant is expected to work from the secretariat that housed the offices of various government departments, some political leaders holding a public office had the practice of having a small office at their residence, to facilitate their functioning from their residence, part of the time. 

The office at the residence was usually staffed by a couple of loyal officers, who would play important roles in making deals with various kinds of people, including businessmen and other kinds of people.

I believed that Punyakoti had me posted in his house, feeling confident that I won't reveal to the outside world the agreements and deals made in the privacy of his home office.

Thangappan, a relative of Punyakoti was residing with Punyakoti. It was widely believed that he was the one who negotiated and finalized most of the deals on behalf of Punyakoti. 

The spectre of businessmen and contractors arriving at Punyakoti's house with big suitcases, Thangappan asking the servants to take the suitcases inside for safekeeping, after personally  checking the contents of the suitcases and satisfying himself, was a frequent occurrence.

Though I could not but witness these events, I distanced myself from these activities, by not taking any conscious notice of them.

It was a holiday. I was sitting on a park bench. A middle-aged man came and sat next to me. After looking at my face for a while, he remarked, "Sir! I have seen you at Punyakoti's home."

"I work in the Chief Minister's office at his residence" I said. 

"I have seen you there" he said and after a pause added, "Is there no one to check the atrocities committed by these people?" in an angry tone.

"If you have any complaints, send a letter to the Chief Minister's Grievance redress cell" I said.

"Can I complain to the Chief Minister's Grievance Cell about an atrocity committed by Punyakoti?"

"Please don't talk to me about such matters" I said politely, but firmly.

Despite my request, he continued to narrate his experience. 

Many years back, he bought five acres of land in the outskirts of the city, established a farm in that land, constructed a farm house and lived there.

A few months back, he was summoned by Punyakoti to his house. Punyakoti and Thangappan coerced him to sell his farm house and land to them, for a price way below the market price. 

"The price they paid me for my property is not adequate to buy even an apartment in the city. I was deprived of my property and was virtually thrown on the streets, along with my family."

He began to sob uncontrollably.

"You could have declined to sell your property" I said, not knowing how to pacify him. 

"How could I have said no, when they threatened me that they would kidnap my child and kill her, if I didn't agree to sell my property on the terms dictated by them? I have read about an instance of their kidnapping the child of a well-known businessman and forcing him to sell his property situated in a prime area, for a throwaway price. If this was the plight of a wealthy and influential man, how can an ordinary person like me stand up to these thugs?"

Suddenly, his mood changed. He stood up, gesticulated angrily and said, "Right at this moment, I am throwing a curse on this duo. They would be drowned in the tears shed by me and many others like me. They would face retribution for their sins very soon."

He then left the park. 

I had retired from service. 

I got a phone call from my lawyer. 

Many years ago, I had bought a small piece of land in a village. A few years later, I was shocked to learn that some people sold that land to another person, using forged documents. I filed a case in the court, seeking the cancellation of that sale and restoration of the title to me. 

My lawyer conveyed to me the happy news of the court delivering a judgement in my favour.

I profusely thanked the lawyer for his services.

"No need to thank me, sir. You got back something that you acquired  through rightful means. How will a property acquired by you using the money honestly earned by you go out of your hands?" remaked the lawyer. 

He then remarked, "I saw a news item that Punyakoti's properties are going to be auctioned."

"Yes" I said tersely. Though I don't talk to anyone about Punyakoti, other people often talk to me about him.

"The atrocities committed by Punyakoti and Thangappan are unprecedented. Both of them having been sentenced to five years' imprisonment, the process of auctioning their properties as per court order has begun. I feel that it is the effect of the tears shed by the large number of people, harmed by this duo" said the lawyer.

The face of the hapless man who cried sitting next to me on the park bench came to my mind.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 66
Purity in Action

Verse 659 (in Tamil):
azhak koNda ellAm azhap pOm izhappinum
pin pyakkum naRpAl avai.

Meaning:  

All that has been obtained by a person causing someone to shed tears will depart from him. On the other hand, if one were to lose assets obtained by fair means, they will prove beneficial to him later.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'paRi pOna paNNai vIdu' by the same author.) 

Verse 660
Verse 658

658. The Rogue Elephant

"We need to expand our hermitage. The existing space is not sufficient. What shall we do?" asked Ishwar Yogi, the founder and head of the hermitage.

"We can buy some land in a nearby place and construct buildings there" said Muthulingam, his secretary.  

Ishwar Yogi laughed and said "Muthu! You are a highly educated man. I am having you as my secretary, expecting that you will give me creative and innovative ideas. Not for coming out with such lousy idea!."

Muthulingam knew that if Ishwar Yogi spoke with a laughter, it meant that he was angry at the person he was speaking to! So, he did not say anything further. 

"There is forest land nearby. We can cut off the trees in five acres of that land and use that place for constructing buildings" said Ishwar Yogi. 

"Swamiji! That is forest land. It belongs to the government. Construction of buildings won't be permitted there."

"The government has kept the land unused. So, we can take it. We can say that we are going to start a yoga school, construct a small building for the yoga school in a corner and use the rest of the land to construct the buildings we need. Tell the architect to prepare the plan. We have to start the construction soon."

"Swamiji! We need to get the building plan approved."

"We will first construct the buildings and then seek approval. We have our people in all the places, to do our bidding!" said Ishwar Yogi and laughed.

Muthulingam realized that this laughter did not result from Ishwar Yogi's anger but from his arrogant self-assurance that the government machinery was under his control.

About five acres of forest land were encroached. The encroached land was fenced and high-rise buildings were constructed in the forest land, after cutting off a large number of trees, defying opposition and protests from local people and environmental activists. 

A number of animals living in that area were confused that the lands they have been using for dwelling and moving about were blocked and began to search for other places of abode nearby. 

At one corner of the encroached land, a small make-shift building carrying the name board 'Ishwar School of Yoga' remained aloof and abandoned, while the other buildings buzzed with activity. Devotees both from within and outside the country flocked to listen to the lectures and discourses of Ishwar Yogi and on special occasions, to witness and enjoy his dancing with glamorous film stars 

A new government that assumed office in the state after three years, by winning the assembly elections, issued a notice to the hermitage that the government was going to demolish the buildings constructed without approval and in violation of rules and take over the land encroached by the hermitage. 

Ishwar Yogi approached the courts, praying for exemption from environmental rules, since his institution was a yoga school. With the central government filing an affidavit in support of Ishwar Yogi, the court quashed the notice issued by the state government. 

"Did you see what happened? You preached to me that we shouldn't buildings on forest land. What do you say now?" Ishwar Yogi gloated to Muthulingam, rubbing him for the reservations he had expressed for the proposal.

'You are the one who preaches to others about ethics and morality. But you do things in violation of both government rules and principles of morality, unmindful of the harm being done to people as well as animals. Who am I to preach to you?' thought Muthulingam.

The lady reading the news in a television channel read the following news:

"This morning, a rogue elephant that entered the hermitage of Ishwar Yogi, lifted him by its trunk and threw him down with force. The Yogi suffered injuries in several parts of his body and was immediately taken to a hospital for treatment. The doctors said that the Yogi has suffered multiple fractures, some mild and some severe. The incident happened, when the Yogi was taking his usual morning walk inside the hermitage. Hearing his cries, several people rushed to the spot from the hermitage. Seeing the people coming out, the elephant ran away. Therefore, no one else was affected.

"Forest minister Vezhavendan told media persons that this incident justified the stand of the government that construction of buildings in forest land posed danger to animals living there. Quoting this incident of a rogue elephant driven out from its abode, attacking the head of the hermitage, the government would approach the court seeking permission to take over the forest land that belonged to the government, he added."

The newsreader paused with a smile and then switched to the next item in the news bulletin. 

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 66
Purity in Action

Verse 658 (in Tamil):
kadindha kadindhorAr seydhArkku avai thAm
mudindhAlum pIzhai tharum.

Meaning:

The actions of those, who have not desisted from doing deeds forbidden (by the virtuous) will, even if they succeed, cause them sorrow.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'madham pidiththaa yAnai' by the same author.) 

Verse 659
Verse 657

1145. What Makes Poonguzhali Intoxicated?

"I have been repeatedly requesting you to put an end to your drinking habit. But you won't listen to me" said Poonguzhali, in exasperation.

"I have been trying. But I couldn't succeed. I need the state of intoxication, drinking gives me" said Inamkumaran.

"Why do you need that state? I don't feel the need for such a state!"

"Everyone needs a kind of intoxication. I don't know what will make you fee you such a state."

"Just because you are unable to give up drinking, don't theorize that every one needs some kind of an intoxication" said Poonguzhali.

At that time, Poonguzhali's attention was drawn to something she just noticed. Turning her head to look in a particular direction, she told Ilankumaran, "I will be back in a minute" and walked in that direction.

When she came back to Ilankumaran after ten minutes, Ilamkumaran asked her "Where did you go?"

"I saw two women looking at us and talking. I went near them and listened to what they were talking about us" said Poonguzhali.

"What did they talk about?"

"What will they talk about? They were remarking that you and I have been roaming about the village together. They said that it would be better if we get married and then go about the village as a married couple!"

"Did you fight with them for gossiping about you?"

"Why should I fight with them? After all, what they said was true" said Poonguzhali, with a smile.

"When you went near them, I came after you, stood behind you and observed you. I noticed that you felt elated listening to them speak about our love!" said Ilamkumaran, laughing.

"You will indulge in such surreptitious acts!" exclaimed Poonguzhali, in feigned anger.

"Aren't you doing the same thing? You look for people gossiping about you, listen to their conversation stealthily and rejoice. I think it makes you feel intoxicated!"

"How can you call it intoxication?"

"It is intoxication, alright. I saw the sign of intoxication in your eyes, when you were listening to the gossip. It was as if you were going to enter a state of stupor. The intoxication you get by listening to the gossip about our love is similar to the one I get from drinking liquor!" said Ilamkumaran.

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 115
Shedding Shyness

Verse 1143 (in Tamil):
kaLiththoRum kaLLUNdal vEttaRRAl kAmam
veLippadum thORum inidhu.

Meaning:

Just as one who has a habit of drinking feels delightful, whenever he consumes liquor, we feel delightful, whenever there is a gossip in the town about our love.

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

Verse 1146
Verse 1144

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
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
Verse 1143