22. A Customer at the Bank.

There was only a small number of customers inside the bank. 

The old man had been patiently waiting in front of the Savings Bank counter, while the clerk at the counter was attending to other customers ignoring the old man.

After a few minutes, the old man politely asked the clerk, "Have you made entries in my pass book?"

The clerk sitting behind the counter got annoyed by the question.

"Look here, man! Asking for pass book entries to be made during the busy hours is improper. And you can't even wait for five minutes till I attend to other customers?" he flared.

The customer standing beside the old man thought, 'Should he not consider the person's age and treat him with some respect?' but didn't say anything.

After a few minutes, the clerk opened the ledger and began to post entries in the pass book. Presently, he looked up at the old man with a look of surprise and asked "Whose account is this? Is it your employer's?"

"It is my account" replied the old man.

Perplexed by the simple appearance of the man whose bank account showed substantial credits and a huge balance, the clerk quietly completed the entries and handed over the pass book to the old man.

"Thanks" said the old man.

The clerk did not even bother to acknowledge it.

When the old man was leaving the bank, he had to pass by the Branch Manager's cabin. The Branch Manager, on sighting the old man, came out of his cabin, greeted him and said, "Sir, please come in!"

When the old man was sitting in the Branch Manager's cabin and talking to him, the clerk who had made the passbook entries for the old man came into the Branch Manager's cabin to seek some clarification. He hesitated a little when he saw the old man.

"Come in, Bhaskar," said the Branch Manager. "Bhaskar, this is Mr. Damodaran, a renowned businessman. Although his company accounts are in another bank, his savings account is in our bank. The accounts of his family members are also with us. He also has many fixed deposits with us. You wouldn't know he is a millionaire by looking at him. He is so simple. He speaks very respectfully to everyone. How many people have been deceived by thinking he is an ordinary person! He remains as simple as he was when he first started his business in a small way! I can go on and on about him. I have told him many times that he doesn't have to come to the bank, but can send his driver or servant. But he won't listen." 

He then turned to Damodharan and told him. "Sir, this is Bhaskar. He has recently come to our branch on a transfer. He is the one who looks after the Savings account."

"Yes, I know! Just now, he made entries in my pass book" said Damodharan, smiling at Bhaskar.

Thirukkural
Section 1: The Path of Virtue

Chapter 3
The Greatness of the Ascetics

Verse 22 (In Tamil)
thuRanthAr perumai thuNaik kURin vaiyaththu
iRanthArai eNNik koNdaRRu.

Meaning:

Trying to quantify the greatness of those who have given up attachments is like counting those who have died till now (It is so difficult a task.)

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'vangiyil oru vAdikkaiyALar' by the same author)

Verse 23 

Verse 21