94. Morning to Evening

The day didn't start well for Anandan.

When Anandan just got up from bed, his wife Sundari told him, "The milk has turned sour. Will you get one packet of milk from the shop?"

Even before brushing his teeth, Anandan went out to buy the milk packet. 

Milk was not available in the shops nearby. He had to walk some distance to find a shop where milk was available.

When he reached home with the milk packet, Sundari had been waiting impatiently for the milk.

"Why did you take so long to buy a milk packet? Did you step into a restaurant on the way and have your morning cup of coffee there?" she asked, almost grabbing the milk packet from his hand.

"What a pity, this idea didn't strike me!" said Anandan, taking Sndari's insinuation lightly.

After Anandan brushed his teeth and came into the kitchen to pick up the cup of coffee that Sundari had made for him, Sundari asked him, "We have a lot of expenses for the month. But you have not got any job till now," her voice sounding worried.

"A painting contract has almost been finalized. I will receive the advance payment in a couple of days. Don't worry" Anandan assured her.

He heard his cellphone ringing from the next room.

"It should be that person" Anandan told Sundari and went to that room to pick up the call.

He came back into the kitchen after a couple of minutes.

"What did he say? When is he giving the advance?" asked Sundari, anxiously.

"He is not giving the contract now!" said Anandan, pursing his lips.

"Why?"

"He is giving some excuse."

"Did you not fight with him for going back on his promise?"

"Leave it!"

"How can we leave it? We were depending on that contract for meeting this month's expenses."

"Let us see" said Anandan, smiling.

"How can you smile in a situation like this?"

Anandan left home, telling Sundari that he would visit some prospective clients and try to procure some job.

When Anandan returned home, it was 3 pm.

"Did you get any orders?" asked Sundari, as soon he stepped into the house.

Anandan shook his head sideways signaling that he didn't get any.

"Ok. Have your lunch. I had my lunch just now, after waiting for you so long" said Sundari.

Anandan sat on the floor and Sundari began to serve food on the plate laid before him..

At that time, their daughter Arthi, who had returned from the school, came running towards Sundari, yelling "Mom" and tried to hug her.

As Arthi dashed into Sundari, the vessel containing the sambar, which Sundai was holding in her hand, fell down. The entire sambar spilled out on the floor.

Even as Sundari was admonishing her daughter saying, "Why did you come rushing like this?" Anandan got up.

"Why are you getting up?" asked Sundari.

"The sambar has spilled on to the entire hall. You will find it difficult to clean it. I will clean it and then have my lunch" said Anandan. "Don't blame Arthi. She came rushing towards you only because of the love she has for you" he added.

He then patted his daughter on her cheek and told her, "Fortunately, the sambar didn't spill on your school uniform and stain it. Get your dress changed and come."

"My goodness! The entire sambar has spilled out. Today, I have not made rasam either. What will you eat?" said Sundari, regretting.

"No problem. I have the rice, the vegetable curry, the butter milk and the pickle. That is a lot for me" said Anandan.

'Why is God being so unkind to my husband who accepts every obstacle or setback calmly and patiently?' wondered Sundari, looking at Anandan with a mixed feeling of admiration and pity.

After lunch, Anandan was relaxing, by lying down on the bed, closing his eyes.

His cellphone rang.

Sundari, who was sitting on a chair at a little distance from him and reading a magazine, listened to the conversation, hoping that it would be about a job offer from a client.

After listening to the other side, Anandan said, "Ok. I need a loan of ten thousand rupees only. Will you give me?...Oh, you can offer only a minimum of one lakh rupees! Sorry... I understand. Thank you" and ended the conversation.

"I have often observed that when someone calls you offering a loan, you don't say no to their offer, but ask for a loan of ten thousand rupees. Do you really need a loan of ten thousand rupees?" asked Sundari.

"I don't. But if I bluntly say no to their offer, they will feel disappointed. I know that they won't give a loan for small amounts. So I will ask them whether they will give me a loan of ten thousand rupees. They will say, 'Sorry. The minimum amount of loan we offer is one lakh. That way, their disappointment will be mitigated to some extent" said Anandan.

"Should you go out of the way to mitigate their disappointment? Are these calls not a nuisance to us?"

"These calls may be irritating to us. But, for the telecallers, making these calls is their job. I won't be able to help them by becoming a prospect. So, I try to mitigate their frustration!"

"I don't understand your philosophy. As for me, whenever you get a call, I keep hoping that it will be from a client, but keep getting disappointed!"

"Don't worry. What you have been expecting may also happen!" said Anandan.

"Let me hope so!" said Sundari, without feeling hopeful.

In the evening, when Sundari was in the kitchen, she heard Anandan's cellphone ring. She then heard him talking to someone.

'Someone might have called offering a credit card and he might be talking to them patiently, without bluntly saying no and ending the call!' thought Sundari.

After a few minutes, Anandan came into the kitchen and told Sundari, "Do you remember that I did a painting job for an apartment last week? The owner of that apartment called me just now. He is very much satisfied with the quality of my work. So, he is now offering me the job of painting his office. It is a big job. He asked me to come to his office immediately and collect the cheque for the advance payment."

Thirukkural
Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 10
Speaking Pleasantly

Verse 94 (In Tamil)

thunbuRUm thuvvAmai illAagum yAr mAttum
inbuRUm insolavarkku.

Meaning:

Tormenting poverty will not befall one who speaks

only pleasant words to everyone.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'kAlai mudhal mAlai varai' by the same author)

Verse 95
Verse 93