63. Dhanraj's Woes

When Nallasivam went to his friend Dhanraj's house, Dhanraj's wife told him that he had gone out. After Nallasivam waited for a few minutes, Dhanraj returned home. Seeing Nallasivam, Dhanraj took him inside his room.

After he closed the door and sat near Nallasivam, Dhanraj couldn't control his tears. He covered his face with a towel and sobbed.

Perturbed by this sudden emotional display of Dhanraj, Nallasivam tried to console him, saying, "Dhanraj! Please calm yourself and tell me what the problem is."

"It is about my son Senthil. I spent a lot of money for his higher education, much more than I could afford.  But he discontinued his studies, saying that he found it too difficult to learn things. He wanted to start a business. I provided him the money needed for investment and also for the monthly expenses. Now he says that he has incurred losses in that business. He intends to start another line of business and wants me to fund his new venture. I pleaded with him not to venture into another business but to join me in looking after my family's agricultural activities. I am growing old and he can take over from me, I suggested. But he won't listen. He says that just as his elder brother has been working in Dubai and earning money, he should also do something and earn money and that the only way he could earn money is by doing business. I have already sold a part of my landholdings to fund his first business venture. If I were to fund his second venture, I should sell my remaining landholdings also! After selling my lands and foregoing the income I have been getting from cultivation, my wife and I will be driven to the state of begging for food."

Dhanaraj began to sob again.

"Why are you being so pessimistic, Nallasivam? Senthil could do well in his new venture. Moreover, your elder son Balu has been working in Dubai and earning well. Won't he take care of you in your old age?" said Nallasivam, in an attempt to placate Dhanraj.


"That's another story, Nallasivam. Soon after Balu got a job in Dubai, I persuaded him to get married so that he won't feel lonely at a new place, though he himself was not in a hurry to get married. Now he is leading a happy life there and my wife and I are happy about it. But he doesn't send us any money. He says that since his expenses in Dubai are high, he has no money to spare! Is he going to support us in our old age? No chance! It is my fate that both my sons are so unhelpful to their parents."

Nallasivam remained silent, not knowing how to console his friend.

"I am sorry, Nallasivam. I let out my feelings, without asking you about the purpose of your visit" said Dhanraj, apologetically.

"Nothing important. I am leaving for Chennai tonight. I wanted to tell you and take leave of you" said Nallasivam.

"Oh! You are going to stay with your son Raghu for a while. You will back after a couple of weeks, won't you?"

"Possibly, but I am not sure" said Nallasivam.

Nallasivam's elder son Raghu living in Chennai and younger son Ravi living in Bangalore had both been asking their parents to live with them permanently. Nallasivam and his wife decided to stay for a period of three months with each of them, then come back to their village and then decide about vacating their village house and living with their sons on a permanent basis.

Nallasivam didn't want to tell Dhanraj about his plan at a time when Dhanaraj was feeling let down by both his sons.

He decided to convey his plan to Dhanraj after a few days by calling him over phone from Chennai.

Thirukkural
Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 7
The Boon of Having Children

Verse 63 (In Tamil)

tham poruL enba tham makkaL avar poruL

tham tham vinaiyAn varum.

Meaning:

Our children are our assets. What kind of assets one gets will be determined by the consequences of one's deeds in one's previous birth(s).

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'iraNdu piLLaigaL' by the same author)

Verse 64
Verse 62