81. An Unexpected Guest

Prelude

This story has been constructed using the characters in the epic Mahabharata. As per the story narrated in the epic, the Pandavas (the five brothers, Yudhishtira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva) were banished to the woods by their cousins (100 brothers called Kauravas, Duryodhana being the eldest), after the Pandavas lost their kingdom to the Kauravas, in a game of gambling. The Pandavas, with their wife Draupati (Draupati was married to all the five brothers) were residing in the woods for 12 years (after which they were required to live incognito for one year, as per the terms set by the Kauravas, for the Pandavas to redeem their kingdom.) 

Yudhishtira, the eldest of the Pandavas, obtained a divine vessel called Akshya Patra - meaning a vessel of abundance - by praying to the Sun God. This vessel would always be filled with food, getting automatically replenished, whenever food is taken out of it, until the time it is cleaned with water after consuming the food for the day. The next day, the Akshaya Patra would be filled with food again. 

(These details will help those not familiar with the Mahabharata, understand in this story.) 

After welcoming the sages who visited them at their abode in the woods and extending their hospitality to them by providing them food, the Pandavas sat down to eat. 

"Draupati, what is the menu today?" asked Bhima, smiling.

"We can eat only what the Akshya Patra gives us!" said Yudhishtita.

Draupati served food to the five Pandavas from the Akshya Patra.

"If the Sun God had not blessed us with this Akshaya Patra, could we have survived our life in the woods?" asked Nakula.

"We would have been able to survive alright, but we wouldn't have been able to extend our hospitality to the sages and others who visit us, out of their goodwill towards us" said Arjuna.

"It's true. This vessel of abundance was given to us by the Sun God, accepting the appeal made to him by Yudhishtira, on the advice of sage Daumaya. We should thank Sage Daumya for this" said Draupati.

"But the problem is, once we clean the vessel, we won't get any food from the vessel for the rest of the day. That's why we were caught unawares when Sage Durvasa visited us with his disciples, after Draupati had cleaned the vessel. We were on the verge of being cursed by him!" said Bhima.

"On that occasion, we were saved by the grace of Krishna" said Arjuna.

"Sahadeva! Why are you silent?" asked Yudhishtira, addressing his youngest brother.

"Brother! Though we are living in the woods, we are not following 'Vanaprasta*,' but 'Grahastasrama,' the life of a family man, don't we?" asked Sahadeva.

"Yes, we do" replied Yudhishtira.

"What are our important duties during Grahastasrama?"

"Extending hospitality to the guests."

"Have we been doing this?"

"Why do you ask this question? Every day, several sages and people living in the woods visit us. Have we not been extending our hospitality to them, by offering them food and water?" asked Arjuna, showing his irritation.

"Be patient, Arjuna! I understand what Sahadeva is thinking? Let him say what he wants to" said Yudhishtira.

 

"You want me to reveal what you have in your mind, elder brother! I will. It is true that we have been extending our hospitality to the people who visit us. But, we feed them using the Akshaya Patra. So, what is our contribution to this? What is our effort?"

"Are you suggesting that we should throw away the Akshaya Patra?" asked Bhima, sarcastically.

Yudhishtira began to reflect on what his brother had said.

"Please have your food soon. I will then have my food and clean the Akshya Patra" said Draupati.

"What are we going to do, if we are visited by a guest, just as Sage Durvasa did, the other day?" asked Sahadeva.

"Sahadeva is implying that if such an event happens and if we are able to feed the guest, only then it would be real hospitality!" said Yudhishtira, with a smile.

The other three Pandavas looked at Sahadeva, with amazement and perplexity.

The eventuality contemplated by Sahadeva, became real one day.

A short while after Draupati cleaned the Akshya Patra after every one had had their food, a sage visited them.

From the statement of the sage that he arrived there after traveling a long distance and from his tired looks, the Pandavas were able to infer that it was several hours or even days, since the sage had eaten anything. 

"What are we going to do now? Will Krishna come to our help, as he did the other day? Perhaps, Arjuna or Draupati can send him a message through their minds!" said Bhima, in lighter vein.

"The day Sage Durvasa came, there was a small particle of food sticking to the bottom of the Akshaya Patra. When Krishna ate that particle and felt satiated, the Sage and his disciples also felt satiated, because of the divine power of Krishna. But from that day, whenever I clean the vessel, I have been taking extra care to see that no food particle sticks to the bottom of the Akshaya Patra. So, even if Krishna were to come today, he may not be able to help us!" said Draupati

"We can't expect that Krishna will come to our help every time. This time, Bhima can help us!" said Sahadeva.

"Yes, Bhima. You alone have the strength and alacrity to gather food fast. Get some edible fruits and vegetables from the trees in the woods and bring them. We will offer them as food to the sage. In the meanwhile, we will welcome him, facilitate his taking a bath and make him comfortable. You should return, before he gets ready to eat" said Yudhishtira.

"Will it be appropriate to offer fruits and vegetables as food to the sage? He could have obtained them from the trees, himself!" said Arjuna.

"People visit us expecting our hospitality not because they are unable to get anything to eat. They come here out of their affection for us. Hospitality means offering what we have to the guest. If a wealthy person comes to a poor man's house, the poor man can offer only what is available with him to the wealthy man! 

"**When Rama came to Sabari's cottage in the woods, she offered him only fruits and meat. She even tasted them to check whether they tasted good before offering them to Rama. Didn't Rama gracefully accept the food contaminated by her saliva?" asked Yudhishtira.

"But, what if the sage is not satisfied with the fruits we offer him and get angry with us?" asked Draupati.

"Fortunately, this sage is no Durvasa!" said Sahadevan, smiling.

Draupati cut the fruits and vegetables brought by Bhima into small pieces, placed them on a large leaf and served them to the sage.

After having his food, the sage took leave of him.

Yudhishtira told the sage apologetically, "Respected sage! We couldn't serve you cooked food. That's why we served you fruits and vegetables. Please bear with us!"

"Yudhishtira! I have taken a vow that I won't eat cooked food. I have been taking only vegetables and fruits. A guest should not ask his host to serve him a particular kind of food. That's why I refrained from asking you to serve me fruits and vegetables. If you had offered me cooked food, I would have accepted it symbolically, by sprinkling a few drops of holy water on it, and then offered it to birds and animals. Though my hunger wouldn't have satiated, I would have been gratified by your hospitality. But you might have felt disappointed that I didn't consume the food offered by you. By God's grace, you offered me the food I could consume. You have not only satiated my hunger but also made me feel satisfied. You have also got the satisfaction of extending your hospitality to me!"

The sage blessed the Pandavas and Draupati and took leave of them.

* The Hindu way of life prescribes four stages of living for a man - Brahmacharya, the life of celibacy, Grahastasrama, family life or married life, Vanaprasta, retiring to the woods with the spouse after completing one's duties to his family and Sanyasa. a life of renunciation.

** An incident from the epic Ramayana.

Thirukkural
Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 81
Hospitality

Verse 81 (In Tamil)

irundhOmbi ilvAzhvadhellAm virundhOmbi
vELANmai seythaR poruttu.

Meaning:

The purpose of nurturing wealth and leading a family life,

is to be able to be hospitable to guests.

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

Verse 82 (Soon)
Verse 80

404. Kanniah's Concerns

Industrialist Sukumar had prepared a plan for expanding the production capacity of his factory, discussed the plan with his company executives and almost finalized it. 

When Sukumar was alone in his cabin, Kannaiah came to see him.

Kanniah had been working for Sukumar's company since long. Though not well educated, Kanniah was given the respect due to a senior executive of the company.

All the senior executives, including the General Manager of the company, treated him with respect.

Kanniah was not assigned any particular work in the company. He was given the freedom to choose to do what he wanted to. No one would question him.

Kanniah was aware of his position in the company and confined himself to supervising the work of the employees at the lower level. He never tried to interfere in the work of the senior executives.

Sometimes, he would give some suggestions to the senior executives. He would do it in a polite manner. The executives would listen to him, but take their own decisions, whether to consider his suggestions at all.

Kanniah visited the customers and suppliers of the company at frequent intervals and interact with them. He would convey their feedback to the concerned executive, and if necessary to Sukumar, the Managing Director.

Since this initiative of Kanniah helped in sustaining and improving the relationship of the company with its customers and suppliers, Sukumar encouraged it.

Sukumar greeted Kanniah, who entered his cabin, saying, "Come in, Mr. Kaniah." 

"Sir, I heard that you are planning to expand the production" said Kanniah.

"Yes, Mr. Kanniah. I am working on that project. It is in the final stage."

"You will be taking a loan from the bank, won't you."

"Yes. This being a big project, we will be going for a bank loan. But, why are you asking about this?"

"Sir, please don't consider me presumptuous. I just wanted to bring to your notice the information I gathered during my interactions with people in the market. It appears that, in the recent times, the competition for our product has increased. The imports are also said to be going up. They say that because of these developments, the selling price of our product is likely to fall. Under these circumstances, please think whether it is desirable to go for expansion and borrowing money from the bank, for the project."

Sukumar, who was fuming, as he listened to Kanniah, controlled his anger and told Kanniah, "Mr. Kanniah! I encouraged you to meet our customers and suppliers, since your interactions with them had, in the past, helped us to understand their problems, solve them and hence improve our relationship with them. But I cannot take kindly to your listening to market gossip and advising me on what to do, based on your perceptions. I have great regards for you. Don't make me change my impression about you."

Kanniah, feeling humiliated, left the Managing Director's cabin, without saying anything.

After two months, Sukumar abandoned the expansion project. This was due to the market survey report given by the consultants, whom the company had appointed for a hefty fee of two lakh rupees, which stated that due to the twin factors of increasing competition from other local manufacturers of the product and increasing imports, the company would find it difficult to sustain its sales at the past levels and also face an erosion in its profitability, due to an imminent fall in the selling price of the product resulting from increase in supplies and competition and advised that the company give upits expansion plan!

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 41
Lack of Education

Verse 404 (in Tamil):

KallAdhAn otpam kazhiya nanRAyinum
koLLAr aRivudaiyAr.

Meaning:

Though the illiterate may display streaks of intelligence,

they would still not be acknowledged by the learned.

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

Verse 405 (Soon)
Verse 403

1092. Don't Touch Me!

''Your eyes touched me as they moved past me.

But your hands made me pine."

"How poetic! The lyricist Kannadasan excel again" said Lingam, after singing the above lines of a film song.

"I bet you have no idea of  what these lines mean!" taunted Sumathy.

"Of course, I do. The man tells his lover that her eyes met his. This is what he means by saying that her eyes touched him. But he pines for her hands to touch him. How am I doing?"

"Not bad! I thought you were pretending to have understood the meaning of the lines."

"So, I have indicated what I am pining for. Will you satisfy my yearning?"

"I can't, dear!"

"Why, dear?"

"The answer to your question lies in the next line of the song!"

"Is it so? What comes in the next line?" Lingam paused for a few seconds, recalling the next line of the song, and then recited it. "My modesty made me stand on a thorn!"

Sumathy nodded her head, confirming that that was the line she was referring to. 

"Why do you have to stand on a thorn? The lyricist has suggested in the next line what you should do."

As Sunathy was trying to recall the next line, Lingam sang it "Oh my garland of pearls, come near me!"

Singing the line, Lingam tried to grab her hand.

Sumathy stepped back instantly, and said angrily, "If you try to touch me again, then you have to forget me!"

Upset by Sumathy's sudden anger, Lingam retorted, "You are offended by my attempt to hold your hand! I resent your attitude. I won't try to meet you again" and went away.

Sumahy was shocked by Lingam's unexpected reaction.

After a week, when Lingam was walking on a street, he saw a group of women, walking on the other side of the street, in the opposite direction. Initially, he didn't notice who they were. Only after passing them, he turned to look at them, driven by an unconscious impulse.

He noticed that Sumathy was in that group. Sumathy also looked at him, but turned her face away. Lingam felt a current of emotions running through his body.

"You said that you would never try to meet me. Why did you come to see me, then?" asked Sumathy.

"You asked me to come!" asked Lingam.

"When did I ask you? What is this story?"

"Did you not look at me, when I was waking on the street?"

"We can't help looking at people, who walk past us on the street, can we?"

"But your gaze was not a routine gaze. Your furtive gaze, emanating  the corner of your eye, was short, lasting just for a second. But it was a gaze that had the power to catapult me into the air and carry me. That's why I rushed here to meet you. In this process, I also learnt a lessn."

"What is that lesson?"

"The other day, I tried to touch you thinking that touching you would give me great pleasure. But today, I realized what great pleasure I could get from your gaze itself. So, I have decided to defer my pleasure of touching you to the period after our marriage."

"Get lost!" said Sumathy, in mock anger.

"My modesty made me stand on a thorn!" sang Lingam.

"Be careful to ensure that you don't jump to the next line!" said Sumathy, with a smug on her face.

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 110
Reading the Cues

Verse 1092 (in Tamil):
kaN kaLavu koLLum siRu nOkkam kAmaththil
sembAgam anRu peridhu.

Meaning:

The furtive glance, that gleams one instant bright, is more than half of love's supreme delight.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'pArvai onRE pOdhumE' by the same author.)

Verse 1093 (Soon)
Verse 1091

403. When Rajangam Chose to Remain Silent...

Rajangam always had a complex about his having not had an education beyond the primary school level.

If he was in a group of people, that had a couple of educated people, he wouldn't take part in the conversation among the group members.

If someone in that group who was close to Rajangam persuaded him to join the conversation, he would give some excuse like having an engagement and leave that place.

Among Rajangam's friends, Viswanathan was the only one, who was well educated. Rajangam could speak to Viswanathan freely. Viswanathan also understood Rajangam's complex about his lack of education, and would make him feel comfortable, while conversing with them.

Sometimes  it would happen that some of the things said by Viswanathan went over Rajangam's head. During those times, Rajangam would lament, "How do you expect me to understand these things? I am not an educated person like you!" half in jest, half in earnest.

One day, when Rajangam went to Viswanathan's house, some of Viswanathan's college friends had been there.

Rajangam tried to leave immediately, telling Viswanathan, "I will come some other time," but, Viswanathan stopped him and made him stay.

When Viswanathan and his friends were conversing, Rajangam was sitting with them, watching the conversation quietly. Though he had some knowledge of some of the topics they discussed, he chose to keep quiet, without saying anything based on his own understanding of the topics.

Except for nodding his head sometimes, and smiling some other times, Rajangam made no contribution to the conversation.

When some of Viswanathan's friends tried to drag Rajangam into the conversation by asking him, "What do you think of this?" he just smiled.

After some time, Rajangam took leave of them and returned home.

Next day, when Rajangam met Viswanathan, he said, "What Viswanathan, you got me into a difficult situation yesterday. I think your friends would have thought that I was an ignoramus!"

"Not at all. On the other hand, they spoke highly of you. They told me, 'Your friend is very humble and unassuming!'"

"They wouldn't have known that I am not well educated."

"They knew it, alright. When they asked me about your educational background, I told them, 'Unlike us, he didn't have the benefit of college education. He has done his schooling.' They said, 'That's fine. We come across people who have a little knowledge about a topic talking authoritatively, as if they are experts on that topic. But your friend was polite and civilized. What more quality does a person need?' I felt very proud" said Viswanathan.

Rajangam also felt a little proud, himself.

.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 41
Lack of Education

Verse 403 (in Tamil):

KallAdhavarum nani nallar kaRRAr mun
sollAdhirukkp peRin.

Meaning:

Even the unlearned will get a good name, if they refrain from talking in the presence of the learned.

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

Verse 404
Verse 402

80. Anand's Doubt!

 Anand called up his Branch Manager.

"Sir, I have completed all the tasks for the day" he said.

"How can you decide that?" shot back the Branch Manager.

"Sir, I meant that I have completed all the tasks you had asked me to do." 

"That is the right way of putting it. Ok. It will be late, if you come to the office from there. There is one more work for you in that area."

"Sir, it is 6 o'clock already!"

"Normally, you leave the office by 7.30 pm only, don't you? It is only six o' clock now. Arumugasamy said that he would give us the payment today. Go to his office and collect the cheque from him. You can go home from there and bring the cheque, when you come to the office tomorrow."

"Sir! His office is quite far from here."

"You are not going to walk that distance. You are going to take a bus!"

"Sir, I had requested you in the morning to permit me to go home a little early today, since I have to take my mother to the doctor."

"Yes, you had and I told you to complete your work for the day and leave. That's what I am saying now also!"

"Sir, the doctor will be available only till eight o' clock. Only if I leave home now, I will be able to take my mother to the doctor, before the clinic is closed."

"You said that your mother is running temperature. This is not a serious ailment!"

"Sir, she is quite old. The fever has not subsided since the last three days."

"Look, Anand! Your mother is not a child. Can she not take an autorickshaw and go to the clinic? If she wants some help, she can ask one of your neighbours to accompany her to the clinic. Won't they oblige?"

"Ok, sir!" said Anand, with resignation.

Anand rang up to his mother and asked her to request the lady in the neighbouring house to accompany her to the doctor's clinic.

'Thank, God! There is a facility called the mobile phone. If such a facility were not available, it would be difficult to live in a world inhabited by monsters like the Barnch Manager!' he reflected.

When Anand returned home, after collecting the cheque from Mr. Arumugasamy, it was 9 p.m. His mother had not yet returned home. 

Though the clinic was scheduled to be open only till 8 p.m, the doctor followed a system of giving tokens to all the patients, who arrived at the clinic till 8 p.m. and see all of them, even if it took more than 10 p.m. to see all of them. It can't be said that the doctor was doing this for money, because he was charging only a nominal consultation fee.

'People like that doctor have also been living in the same world, inhabited by merciless creatures like his branch manager.'

Knowing that his mother would have left with the neighbour, Anand went to the neighbour's house, to collect the key of his house, 

The neighbour, an elderly gentleman was watching a spiritual discourse on the television. 

"Uncle, we have troubled you and the auntie" said Anand to his neighbour.

"What is this, Anand? If we can't render such little help to each other, what is the use of our being neighbours? I know how concerned you have been with your mother's health. Your mother has gone to the doctor, with my wife. The doctor is very good. Your mother will be cured, if she starts taking the medicine prescribed by him. Don't worry" said the neighbour, encouragingly.

Anand noticed that the person giving the spiritual discourse in the television was using the word 'soul' quite often. 

"Uncle! Is there a thing called 'soul?'" asked Anand.

"Of course, there is. Our body has many layers like the skin, the flesh, the blood vessels, the nerves, the bones etc. And then, there are organs like the heart, the lungs etc. Soul can be considered the innermost layer of the body. It is not tangible, though."

"I have no knowledge of sprituality, uncle. But I wonder whether some people have an organ called heart inside the the body. For such people, the body may be only a skeleton, covered by skin!" said Anand.

The neighbour looked at Anand, wondering what he was trying to convey."

Thirukkural
Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 8
Love and Affection

Verse 80 (In Tamil)

anbin vazhiyadhu uyir nilai ahdhilArkku
enbu thOl pOrththiya udambu.

Meaning:

Only a person who follows the path of love, is in a state of living;

else the human body is just a skeleton dressed with skin.

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

Verse 81 (Soon)
Verse 79

1091.The Snake Charmer

"Why are you looking so dull" asked Sabesan.

"No, I am ok" said Natarajan.

"You are not. From the time you saw that girl, you have been restless."

"Not from the time I saw the girl, but from the time she saw me!"

"Both mean same!"

"No, they don't. We look at many girls. But they don't care to look at us."

"But that girl looked at you, you mean!"

"Yes. Her gaze was not an ordinary gaze. When I read poets and writers describe a woman's gaze as a dart, a sharp knife etc. I would laugh at those descriptions. But when I encountered that girl's gaze, it appeared to enter my body and churn my organs. From that time, I have been experiencing a sensation of having been gripped by fever" said Natarajan.

"Why don't you meet the girl and talk to her, then?"

"I feel nervous. When I had met her gaze for the first time, my body experienced a sensation, from which it is yet to recover. I don't know what will happen, if I meet her gaze once again!"

"You are hopeless!" said Sabesan, in jest.

The friends walked without further conversation.

After a while, a snake charmer was coming from the opposite side, holding a snake in his hand.

After he passed them, Sabesan asked his friend, "What do snake charmers do with the snakes caught by them?"

"They will hold road shows and collect money from people watching the show" said Natarajan.

"They will do so, if the snakes are harmless. What will they do with venomous shakes? They can't take the risk of showcasing venomous snakes!"

"I don't know" said Natarajan.

"They will extract the venom from the snakes and sell it!" said Natarajan.

"Whom will they sell the venom to?" asked Natarajan, in surprise.

"I don't know to whom they will sell. But I know that using the snake's venom, drug companies make antidotes to be used as remedy for snake bites."

"They use snake's venom to prepare antidotes for snake poison!" exclaimed Natarajan.

"Yes. That's the way nature works. Poison is used to nullify the effects of poison!"

"Oh, I get it now. As suggested by you, I have to go and see the girl now!" said Natarajan.

"You should see her! Why?" asked Sabesan, perplexed.

"I mean I should meet her gaze again. The malady inflicted on me by her gaze can be cured only by another gaze from her!"

Natarajan moved away, without waiting for his friend's response.

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 110
Reading the Cues

Verse 1091 (in Tamil):
iru nOkku ivaLuNkaN uLLadhu oru nOkku
nOy nOkku onRu annOy marundhu.

Meaning:

Her collyrium-applied eyes have two types of gazes. One type of gaze inflicts the malady. The other serves as the remedy for that malady.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'pArvaiyilE nOy koduththAy kanni iLa mAnE!' by the same author.)

Verse 1092
Verse 1090

79. In Search of Beauty

Raghu's mother Sarala was becoming exasperated in her efforts to find a suitable match for her son Raghu.

Raghu found fault with almost all the girls whose profiles she had gathered, using her contacts and other sources. He found some deficiency or other in the appearance of the girl, like the girl being fat, her nose being long, her teeth being crooked etc.

"There are men who marry women with physical disabilities. But you are too much obsessed with the appearance of the girl, the way cattle buyers would evaluate the cattle before buying it" said Sarala, expressing her displeasure.

"I am not looking for the most beautiful girl on earth. I only want that the girl I marry should be fairly good-looking. Is it wrong?" countered Raghu.

At last, he chose Vanitha, whom he considered beautiful.

A few months after heir marriage, Sarala came to Raghu, when he was alone.

"Vanitha just takes care of her own needs. She is not concerned about me or your father" she said.

"Don't say something, just for the sake of finding fault with her" said Raghu.

"I am not trying to find fault with her. She doesn't even provide us adequate food. She doesn't bother to find out whether we took our food or not. We have to manage with whatever food is left, after she takes her food. Some times, there won't be enough rice and some other times, there won't be sambar or rasam*. Some days, there will be no vegetables left for us."

Even as she was narrating her experience, she began to sob.

"Your father had been living like a king. Today, like a beggar, he has to eat leftovers! Why shouldn't Vanitha prepare food that will be adequate for all of us? After all, we are not poor. We can afford to eat a full meal, can't we?"

"You could have posed this question to Vanitha herself!"

"I did. She said that aged people should eat less. That would be good for our health, she advised us! She also said that we shouldn't be spending a lot of money on food!"

"I would talk to her" said Raghu.

Raghu himself had been facing such problems. He was not getting enough food, some days. When he asked Vanitha about it, she said, "It is not as if you need more food. You just have a craving for food. You should learn to control your tongue. I want you to eat less, lest you should develop a belly!" she said nonchalantly.

Unable to bear the pain felt by his parents, Raghu took up his mother's grievance with Vanitha. 

"My parents are aged. They need to be taken care of. Should you not provide them adequate food?"

"You are talking as if they are starving! Every one in your family is a gourmand. If what I cook is not enough to satiate your parents, ask your mother to cook something for her and your father. I think she has the physical strength to cook!" was her indifferent response.

Raghu regretted why he took up the issue with her at all.

Raghu had noticed that Vanitha sometimes cooked some dish and ate it without sharing it with him, not to speak of sharing it with his parents! If she was just selfish, even that was acceptable. But should she have no concern for other people in the household?

After a few months, Raghu's parents moved to their native village, to live there permanently.

Raghu began to nurture an apprehension whether Vanitha would be affectionate towards the children that may be born to them.

"I think I might have conceived. I am going to the doctor today" said Vanitha.

Raghu felt thrilled on hearing this.

"You are conveying this great news in such a casual way! I will come with you to the doctor" said Raghu, excitedly.

"No. You may go to the office. I will go to the doctor alone. There is no need for you to  accompany me!" said Vanitha.

"Give me a call, after meeting the doctor" said Raghu, concealing his disappointment. 

Raghu didn't get any call, till the time he left the office.

When Raghu went home in the evening, he found that Vanitha was lying down on the bed. She looked tired.

"What happened? Are you not well? What did the doctor say?" asked Raghu, with anxiety.

"I got my pregnancy aborted!" said Vanitha.

"What do you mean" asked Raghu, shocked. "Why?"

"I don't want to have a child!"

"You don't want to have a child, so, you got it aborted! Should you not have consulted me?"

"Why should I? Who has to bear the child, you or me?"

"There are thousands of people yearning to have a child. But you got your pregnancy aborted!"

"I don't like the idea of having children, and struggling to bring them up. I want to be free!"

"Why did you get married, then" asked Raghu, angrily.

"To live happily! The world is not going to lose anything, by our not contributing to its population!" said Vanitha.

Raghu looked at her, feeling desperate. Her beautiful looks struck him like a slap on his face.

Long, attractive eyes, a nose that appeared to have been sculpted with perfection, well aligned teeth, slim figure and...

'I went in search of this beauty, didn't I?' said Raghu to himself.

* sambar, rasam* - Liquid dishes that are part of a South Indian Meal. Cooked rice is eaten after mixing it with sambar or rasam. 

Thirukkural
Section 1

The Path of Virtue

Chapter 8
Love and Affection

Verse 79 (In Tamil)

puRaththu uRuppellAm evan seyym yAkkai
agaththu uRuppu anbu ilavarkku.

Meaning:

If a person doesn't have an organ called love in his heart, what purpose will the external organs serve? 

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'idhaRkuththAnE AsaippattAy?' by the same author)

Verse 80
Verse 78

402. The Star Speaker

 

People who watched the talk shows in television channels would be familiar with the name Murugesh.

Murugesh was considered a star speaker for his participation in various kinds of talk shows, including the popular debate shows.

The moment Murugesh came to the stage and stood before the mike, there would be a big ovation from the audience. And after he started speaking, there would be a loud laughter or a big applause for every line he uttered.

Sometimes, during his speech, Murugesh would pause for a few seconds, in anticipation of an ovation from the audience. The audience would pick up the signal and clap.

Murugesh was not much educated. He was running a small business. Somehow, he got a chance to participate in a few talk-shows in a television channel and soon became popular as a clever speaker, who had the power to entertain the audience and the knack to make the audience react the way he wanted them to. Eventually, he was accredited a star speaker.

Because of his popularity in television shows, Murugesh was invited to speak in several events and functions.

The executive committee of 'City Citizens Club' decided to invite Murugesh as a guest speaker, for the anniversary program of the club. Out of the nine members of the committee, three expressed their reservations about inviting Murugesh.

"Most of our club members are highly educated. Some of the members are experts in certain areas. Do you think that these people will relish his speech?" asked a senior member. 

"Among those who watch television talk shows, there are many educated people too. Have they not been enjoying his speech? Murugesh is going to speak on some general topic. I think every one will be able to enjoy his speech" said the Secretary of the club.

Murugesh was asked to speak on the topic 'Science and Spirituality.'

"You can speak naturally, the way you always speak" said the Secretary.

After Murugesh was introduced by the Secretary, the audience greeted him with a gentle applause.

Murugesh began to speak.

"I know nothing about Science, nor do I know anything about Spirituality! So, how do you think that I am going to speak on the topic?"

Murugesh paused for a minute. The audience was quiet, showing no reaction. If this had been a television program, the audience would have laughed out aloud and displayed their enthusiasm to hear what he was going to say.

"But I have a precious possession. I am going to speak by making use of that possession!"

Murugesh gave another pause. Again, there was no reaction from the audience.

"That possession is called ignorance!" said Murugesh, with a broad smile.

"Normally, at this point, there should have been a big applause and loud laughter. But these people are so impassive!' thought Murugesh, feeling frustrated.

The next half an hour passed the same way. Murugesh's plan to impress the audience through his clever way of speaking, even without providing any valuable inputs about Science or Spirituality, the subjects he had no knowledge of, did not work out.

Within a few minutes of his starting his speech, Murugesh began to feel nervous. He found it arduous to continue to speak without any substance, since the audience didn't fall for his gimmicks.

Though Murugesh was given one hour to speak, he completed his speech in half an hour. He kept looking at his wrist watch every five minutes and felt relieved when half an hour got over.

After Murugesh completed his speech, the audience clapped mildly, just for the sake of courtesy.

'Hereafter, I should not accept any speaking assignment, without knowing about the composition of the audience' resolved Murugesh, to himself.

As the Secretary got up to present a vote of thanks, his mind was being rocked by concerns about how he was going to field the strong criticism from the members for bringing Murugesh as the guest speaker.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 41
Lack of Education

Verse 402 (in Tamil):

KallAdhAn soRkAmuRudhal mulai iraNdum
illAdhAL peN kAmuRRaRRu.

Meaning:

The desire of the ignorant to speak is like the desire of a woman without breasts desiring (the enjoyment of) womanhood

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

Verse 403
Verse 401

401. Nallamuthu's Predicament.

It was an unwritten rule in that village that any celebrity coming to that village for any function should stay at Nallamuthu's house.

Nallamuthu was not much educated, but he was the wealthiest man in that village. It was accepted by every one that Nallamuthu, in addition to being an influential person, was adept at getting along well with people and making them feel at home.

In keeping with this practice, the Tamil scholar Arulnambi who came to that village to give a spiritual discourse at a temple in that village also stayed at Nallamuthu's house.

The discourse was scheduled for ten days. Arulnambi was to stay at Nallamutu's house all the ten days. He also had his food at Nallamuthu's house.

Nallamuthu prided himself as a gifted conversationalist. During the times a celebrity was staying at his house, Nallamuthu would be spending a lot of time with the celebrity. 

In the evenings, Nallamuthu and the celebrity would would be sitting on chairs placed outside the house and conversing. For the people walking on the street, this would be an interesting sight.

During the first day of Arulnambi's stay, Nallamuthu went to Arulnambi's room several times, sat there and talked to him. In the evening, he sat with the guest outside his house and conversed with him, in keeping with his practice.

But, on the second day, Nallamuthu didn't try to spend much time with Arulnambi. He went out and kept himself away for most of the time. He didn't sit with the guest outside his house in the evening and converse with him, as he did the previous day. 

On the subsequent days also, he chose to not spend much time with the guest.

A couple of days later, Nallamuthu went to his friend Gajendran's house.

During the course of the conversation, Gajendran asked Nallamuthu, "Usually, you spend a lot of time, conversing with the celebrities staying in your house. But it seems you are not engaging Mr. Arulnambi in conversation much. In fact, after the first day, I have not seen you sitting with him outside your house and conversing with him."

 

Nallamuthu was silent for a few seconds and then said, "I have been able to converse well with all the celebrities who stayed in my house in the past. But I find it difficult to converse with Mr.Arulnambi!"

"Why? Is he not a good conversationalist?"

"No. He converses with me well. But I am unable to understand most of what he says. Even on topics relating to religion and temples, with which I am familiar, he speaks at a level I am unable to comprehend. He is a scholar. I had been under the impression that with what little I knew, I would be able to converse with anyone. But I now realize that if I have to converse with learned people, I should get myself educated at least to some extent!" said Nallamuthu.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 41
Lack of Education

Verse 401 (in Tamil):

aranginRi vattAdi yaRRE nirambiya
nUlinRik kOtti koLal.

Meaning:

Entering an assembly (of the learned) without sufficient knowledge is like playing chess (on a board) without squares.

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

Verse 402
Verse 400

1090. Why did Murugan Give Up Drinking?

"The destructive habit of drinking has been inherited by my son from his father. I have been repeatedly pleading with him to give it up, but he won't listen to me" lamented Meenakshi.

"Don't worry. He will come out of it, once he gets married" said her friend Mangalam.

"I doubt! My husband didn't give up his drinking habit after our marriage!"

"Well, some men get into this habit only after they get married?"

"What do you mean?" asked Meenakshi, wondering what her friend was implying.

"I was referring to my own experience" said Mangalam.

"Then, how do you say that my son will come out of this habit, once he gets married?"

"My son gave up his drinking habit, soon after his marriage. The same thing may happen with your son too!" said Mangalam.

Meenakshi was confused.

"However, we can't say that getting married will automatically make a man give up driving!" said Mangalam, smiling.

Meenakshi became even more confused.

"My mother had been pleading with me to give up the drinking habit. But I couldn't do it. But soon after I began to love you, I have given up drinking" said Murugan.

"How can it be? I never asked you to give up drinking!" asked Nila.

"I am not sure whether I would have been able to do so, if you had asked me to. After all, I was not able to give it up, when my mother asked me to!"

"Then, how did you give it up?"

"When I drink, I feel intoxicated. That intoxication makes me feel elated. But, after I started loving you, I feel that I am in a state of intoxication throughout the day. When I am intoxicated already, I don't feel the need to drink alcohol!" said Murugan.

"I don't understand what you say!" said Nila.

When Murugan was thinking how to explain his point to Nila, his attention was drawn to the song that was being played in her mobile phone.

'If you drink alcohol, you will get intoxicated.
That intoxication will come from love also!'

"How beautifully has the lyricist explained the point I have just made. Do you understand now?"

Nila nodded her head, signaling that she had understood the point and smiled.

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 109
Beauty that Torments

Verse 1090 (in Tamil):
uNdArkaN alladhu adunaRAk kAmam pOl
kaNdAr magizh seydhal inRu.

Meaning:

Brewed spirits intoxicate only when they are consumed.

They cannot, like love, enthrall even those who merely behold.

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

Verse 1091
Verse 1089