104. Higher Interest Rate

When Sambandham came to his relative Kailasam's house, a young man was sitting in Kailasam's house and conversing with Kailasam.

"Who is this gentleman? I have not seen him" Sambandham asked Kailasam.

"He is known to me" said Kailasam.

The young man told Sambandham, "Mr. Kailasam is my guide. I will never forget the help rendered by him."

"Oh, what help?" asked Sambandham.

"That's nothing" said Kailasam. He then introduced Kailasam to the young man, saying, "Sukumar! He is Mr. Sambandham, my relative. We will see again later" and sent him away.

After Sukumar had left, Sambandham asked Kailasam, "Who is this person? What help did you render him?"

Kailasam narrated the background.

A few years back, Kailasam had deposited fifty thousand rupees in a finance company, lured by their offer of high rate of interest. The firm was paying interest every month, on a particular date. The depositors located in the city would go to office of the finance company and receive the interest in cash.

For the first two months, the firm paid the interest on the due dates. From the third month, the payment was delayed and the depositors had to visit the office of the firm a few times, to receive the interest payment.

Once, when Kailasam had been to the firm to receive the monthly interest, he met Sukumar. Sukumar had come to the firm, to deposit money. 

After sensing that Sukumar was going to deposit money in that firm, Kailasam took him aside and told him, "I have deposited fifty thousand rupees in this firm. They are not paying the interest regularly. I have to visit the office several times to receive the interest every month. It is not safe to deposit your money here. Don't commit the mistake I have committed. It will be safer to deposit your money in a bank."

"But this firm is paying interest at a rate five percent higher than the rate paid by the banks!" said Sukumar.

"I deposited my money here only for that reason. But I am now regretting my decision."

"Sir, I will be depositing only ten thousand rupees. I will take the risk and see!"

"Think of it this way. Five percent additional interest will amount to five hundred rupees per annum. Are you going to risk ten thousand rupees, for the prospect of getting hundred rupees additional income in a year?" asked Kailasam.

Sukumar reflected for a while. But he was still focused on the prospect of getting a higher rate of interest.

"Okay. Do one thing. Wait for one month. You will have time to think about your decision" said Kailasam.

"If I keep the money idle for one month, I will be losing interest income. However, considering your suggestion, I will wait for one week, before depositing the money" said Sukumar. He also asked for and got the phone number of Kailasam.

"What happened afterwards?" asked Sambandham, showing his curiosity.

"Two days after that, the firm closed shop. People who had deposited their money lost their money" said Kailasam.

"So, you also lost your money. You didn't tell me about it!"

"Do you expect me to proudly broadcast to the world, my foolish act of losing money, lured by the offer of high interest? Since you asked me about my acquaintance with Sukumar, I am telling you this."

"Ok. You were telling me about your acquaintance with Sukumar. Please continue."

"Learning the news of the firm downing its shutters, Sukumar rang me up and conveyed his condolences. His decision to postpone his move to deposit the money in that firm, on my suggestion, saved him, from losing his money. He has been grateful to me for warning him, and stopping him from depositing the money with the firm. He asked for my address and visited me to convey his gratefulness to me. After that, I have not given him any suggestion or advice. But he keeps calling me a guide! He visits me now and then, for showing his gratitude and respect to me. He says that after that experience, he cultivated the habit of thinking twice, before taking any decision" said Kailasam.

"Though you may think that the help rendered by you is small, he has realized its value and been grateful to you" said Sambandham.

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 11
Gratitude

Verse 101 (In Tamil)

thinaith thuNai nanRi seyinum panaith thuNaiyAk
koLvar payan therivAr.

Meaning:

Even if the help rendered by a person were to be as small as a millet seed, those who know its value, will consider it as large as a palmyra fruit.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'kUdudhal vaDDi' by the same author)

Verse 105 (Soon)
Verse 103