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Vittal is my neighbour. He is ten years elder to me. Since we two had some common interests, we would often interact with each other. In spite of my being in a different age group, he has been treating me like a friend.
I hesitated for a while, unable to decide whether to attend that function or not.
"This is an annual event. It will be lively. Every speech will be very interesting. There was a session in the forenoon but I couldn't attend it, as I had some other work. The evening session will be even more interesting. It starts at 4 p.m. The speakers will enchant us and time will fly. Let us go," he added.
Noticing that I still hesitated, Vittal said, "The canteen at the meeting hall is run by Vijaya Bhavan!" smiling.
Viyaya Bhavan is a restaurant chain, reputed for its exquisitely delicious dishes.
"Yes, sir. I will join you!" I said.
As we entered the hall at about 4 p.m, the enchanting aroma of dishes from the canteen struck us.
"Why don't we have some snacks in the canteen and then enter the function hall?" I suggested.
Vittal shot down my suggestion saying, "The program is about to start. We will go to the canteen after some time" and virtually pulled me into the hall.
As stated by Vittal, the speeches were enthralling, indeed. The speakers were delivering an exquisite literary fare, without contaminating the speeches with silly jokes, contrived humour, political innuendo, references to populist trivia about films and film stars etc.
Even as I was enjoying the speeches, a part of my mind was still relishing the aroma from the canteen inhaled by me, while entering the hall.
I asked Vittal a couple of times whether we could take a break, go to the canteen and come back.
He rejected my suggestions, saying, "Wait! How can we leave in the middle of such a wonderful speech?"
Exasperated by his repeated turning down of my requests, I began to wonder whether we would be going to the canteen only at 9 p.m, after the program had ended. 'By that time, the dishes would have got exhausted and the canteen might have been preparing to down its shutters. Maybe, my luck is not favouring me today!" I thought, feeling frustrated.
After a particular speaker had completed his speech, the person presiding over the session announced the name of the next speaker.
Vittal suddenly pressed my hand and said, "Get up! Let us go out!" and began to quickly walk towards the exit
After leaving the hall, he walked briskly towards the canteen. I followed him, rejoiced by this unexpected break.
After we took our seats in the canteen, I asked Vittal, "Why did you decide to skip the speech and come here, sir? Did you suddenly feel hungry?" in a mocking tone,
"When I have been treated to such wonderful speeches, how could I feel hungry?" replied Vittal.
"Then, why did you get up abruptly and come to the canteen?"
"Did you hear them announce the name of the next speaker? I have heard his speech earlier. He is not a good speaker. Since I knew that his speech is not going to be a treat to my ears, I thought I could offer some food to my belly! This speaker may speak for 20 to 30 minutes. We should be able to able to enjoy some delicious snacks and return to the hall, before the next speaker begins his speech. That way we won't be missing any treat to our ears! Let us give our orders fast. The canteen is not crowded now, but I expect that more people will flock to the canteen, after listening to the present speaker for a few minutes and discovering that he has nothing pleasing to offer to their ears! When the canteen gets crowded, it will take longer for the snacks we order to get delivered to us!" said Vittal.
Just as he had finished saying this, I observed that some people were entering the canteen.
Thirukkural
Section 2
Section 2
Materialism
Chapter 42
Learning through Listening
Learning through Listening
sevikku uNavu illAdhapOzhdhu siRidhu
vayiRRukkum Iyappadum.
vayiRRukkum Iyappadum.
Meaning:
When the ears are not treated to good fare, let us give some food to the belly.
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