Sundar was acquainted with only 4 or 5 people in the complex. His father might have known a few more people.
Sundar told his parents about this encounter and asked his father, "Can you guess who this person is?"
Some faces would appear familiar, while traveling in the lift or walking up or down the stairs. Sometimes, there would be an exchange of smiles, in acknowledgement of familiarity or identity. But, exchange of words was rare. People won't even discuss the problems they face in the apartments. They would stop with bringing the issues to the notice of the secretary of the apartments association.
Therefore, Sundar was surprised, when an elderly gentleman, living in that complex, whom Sundar had seen a couple of times, stopped him, when he was walking inside the complex, and talked to him.
"You are studying Engineering, aren't you?" asked the old man.
"Yes, sir" replied Sundar, wondering how the elderly gentleman would have known this fact.
"You have been studying in Ramalakshmi Engineering College. Am I right?"
"Yes, sir. But how do you know this?"
"When I was walking on the main road, I have seen you boarding the bus of that college. Have you completed the course?"
"Yes, sir."
"When I was walking on the main road, I have seen you boarding the bus of that college. Have you completed the course?"
"Yes, sir."
"Are you going for any job, now?"
"No, sir. I have not yet got a job" said Sundar, feeling slightly awkward.
"Didn't you get a job, in the campus interview?" the old man persisted with his questioning.
"I studied Mechanical Engineering. The job offers I received during the campus recruitment were for software jobs. I didn't take up any of them, since I wanted to go for an Engineering job" said Sundar.
"Don't worry. You will get a good job to your liking, soon" said the old man and walked away.
Sundar told his parents about this encounter and asked his father, "Can you guess who this person is?"
"There is an elderly gentleman, living in the third floor of our building. His name is Venkatachalam. It may be him. I have seen him once or twice, but I am not acquainted with him. I don't understand why he asked you about your getting a job" said Sundar's father Krishnan.
"Being a retired person, he has nothing to do. He could have got the details from you so that he could use them, while chatting with his friends. After all, these gossipmongers need some topic to chat about! I wish you get a job soon and put an end to the inquisitiveness of this kind of people" said Saundar's mother Nayaki, bitterly.
After a couple of days, the doorbell of Sundar's apartment rang. Sundar opened the door.
After a couple of days, the doorbell of Sundar's apartment rang. Sundar opened the door.
Venkatachalam was standing there.
"My dad is not home" said Sundar.
"My dad is not home" said Sundar.
"Oh, but it's ok. I came to talk to you. Can I come in?"
"Please, sir. Please sit down."
"Please, sir. Please sit down."
"Have you heard of the company Protech Innovations" asked Venkatachalam, after taking his seat.
"Yes, sir. I have. It is a company with a very good reputation."
"If you are offered a job in that company, will you accept it?"
Sundar was stunned by what he had heard. "How, sir? Getting a job in that company is not easy!"
"If you are offered a job in that company, will you accept it?"
Sundar was stunned by what he had heard. "How, sir? Getting a job in that company is not easy!"
"A relative of mine is working as the General Manager of the company. His name is Mohan. I spoke to him over phone about you. He said, 'Ask the candidate to meet me. I will see.' I told him, 'The boy is known to me. I will ask him to meet you, only if you assure me that you will give him the job, if you find him suitable.' He said smiling, 'Uncle, how can I turn down a candidate, sent by you?' So, if you go and meet him, you will be offered the job. because I am sure that you are a good candidate."
Nayaki, who was listening to him from the kitchen, came out.
"Sir! I have not even spoken to you. But you are doing such a great favour to me" said Sundar, overwhelmed by feelings of joy and gratitude.
"We all have been residing at the same place. Should we not be helpful to each other? Mohan had told me sometime back, 'Uncle! In our company, we recruit people, only on the basis of references. If you come across any good candidate, please let me know.' When I saw you, I remembered what he had told me. Mohan wants you to meet him tomorrow at his office. Go there and grab the job!"
"We all have been residing at the same place. Should we not be helpful to each other? Mohan had told me sometime back, 'Uncle! In our company, we recruit people, only on the basis of references. If you come across any good candidate, please let me know.' When I saw you, I remembered what he had told me. Mohan wants you to meet him tomorrow at his office. Go there and grab the job!"
Venkaachalam got up from his seat, to leave.
"Sir! Please have a cup of coffee!" said Nayaki.
"Sir! Please have a cup of coffee!" said Nayaki.
"No, madam. I just had my coffee at home. It is not good to drink too much of coffee, at my age!" said Venkatachalam, with a smile.
"Sir! I don't know how to thank you!" said Sundar.
Venkatachaam left, even before Sundar could complete his sentence.
"What a nice person! He had spoken to you only with the noble intention of helping you. But I thought of him as a gossipmonger" said Nayaki.
"We have not done any kind of help to him. I have seen him many times. But I have not even wished him, by way of showing the respect due to an elderly person. But he has come to us on his own and done such a big favour to us. I can't even believe that such a thing has happened" said Sundar, still unable to come out of his amazement.
"We have not done any kind of help to him. I have seen him many times. But I have not even wished him, by way of showing the respect due to an elderly person. But he has come to us on his own and done such a big favour to us. I can't even believe that such a thing has happened" said Sundar, still unable to come out of his amazement.
Thirukkural
Section 1
The Path of Virtue
The Path of Virtue
Chapter 11
Gratitude
Gratitude
Verse 101 (In Tamil)
seyyAmal seydha udhavikku vaiyagamum
vAnagamum ARRal aridhu.
vAnagamum ARRal aridhu.
Meaning:
When a person, who has received no favour from us, does us a favour, we cannot repay our debt to him adequately, even if we could offer him this world and the heaven.
(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'engirundhO vandhAr' by the same author)
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