Sarala didn't say anything. She thought 'You are now saying what I had been saying all along!' But, at that moment, she didn't want to say anything that could hurt her husband.
After working for thirty years, in five different firms, at various places in the county, Raghavan was left with only a small house and the lumpsum amount he received as the retirement benefit. A major part of that sum was spent for performing the marriage of his daughter. He deposited the remaining amount in a bank and the interest on this amount was his only income.
Many people came in person to convey their condolences. They also expressed similar sentiments about Raghavan. Sarala understood that those words were not spoken in a formal and courteous way but that they came from the hearts of those who spoke those words.
"Many people spoke to me over phone, offering condolences for your father's demise" Sarala told Satish.
"Yes, mom. I also received a number of calls to my mobile phone. What a great person daddy had been! I should have done penance in my earlier birth, to have been born as his son."
His wife, standing near him, smiled by way of endorsing his view.
It was two years since Raghavan had retired from his job. It was only when, after his retirement, he looked at people of his age that he realized that in spite of working for thirty years, he had not saved much.
After working for thirty years, in five different firms, at various places in the county, Raghavan was left with only a small house and the lumpsum amount he received as the retirement benefit. A major part of that sum was spent for performing the marriage of his daughter. He deposited the remaining amount in a bank and the interest on this amount was his only income.
That income was adequate for Raghavan and his wife. Since they were living with their son's family, they didn't have separate expenses for food and other essentials. Yet...
Many of his friends had more than one house. They also had timeshare in holiday resorts, which enabled them to spend a few days in a resort at different places once a year. They also had other assets like investments in shares, mutual funds etc.
Some of his friends had contributed substantial amounts to their sons and daughters to buy houses. When Raghavan's son Satish bought a house by taking a loan from the bank, Raghavan could not contribute even a token sum for his son's purchase. Raghavan had no idea whether Satish would have felt that unlike many other friends of him, he was not getting any help from his father for buying a house. Perhaps, his wife or her parents might have felt so.
Raghavan felt bad that when many people had saved substantial sums of money for their children, he, with his wife, was living with his son, as non-paying guests, thereby being a burden on him.
When he expressed his feelings to Sarala, she lamented, "What is the use of regretting now? I have been pleading with you that when you were earning, you should be saving some money. If you had allowed me to handle the money, I would have saved at least a small amount."
'Where did all my earnings go? I was not profligate. I have had no habits like drinking and gambling. Apart from spending money for the needs of my family, I have not spent any money for myself. My only lapse was that I spent the money without proper planning. I have not even taken insurance for a substantial amount. What will my son and daughter in law say about me, after my death? Will Satish lament that I have not left him any money? Will the modest sum of insurance my wife will receive after my death and the savings I have be adequate for my wife to live with dignity?' reflected Raghavan.
The moment when it would be known whether Raghavan's concerns would come true arrived. Raghavan died in his sleep. The doctor diagnosed that he had suffered a heart attack in his sleep.
Many of his friends had more than one house. They also had timeshare in holiday resorts, which enabled them to spend a few days in a resort at different places once a year. They also had other assets like investments in shares, mutual funds etc.
Some of his friends had contributed substantial amounts to their sons and daughters to buy houses. When Raghavan's son Satish bought a house by taking a loan from the bank, Raghavan could not contribute even a token sum for his son's purchase. Raghavan had no idea whether Satish would have felt that unlike many other friends of him, he was not getting any help from his father for buying a house. Perhaps, his wife or her parents might have felt so.
Raghavan felt bad that when many people had saved substantial sums of money for their children, he, with his wife, was living with his son, as non-paying guests, thereby being a burden on him.
When he expressed his feelings to Sarala, she lamented, "What is the use of regretting now? I have been pleading with you that when you were earning, you should be saving some money. If you had allowed me to handle the money, I would have saved at least a small amount."
'Where did all my earnings go? I was not profligate. I have had no habits like drinking and gambling. Apart from spending money for the needs of my family, I have not spent any money for myself. My only lapse was that I spent the money without proper planning. I have not even taken insurance for a substantial amount. What will my son and daughter in law say about me, after my death? Will Satish lament that I have not left him any money? Will the modest sum of insurance my wife will receive after my death and the savings I have be adequate for my wife to live with dignity?' reflected Raghavan.
The moment when it would be known whether Raghavan's concerns would come true arrived. Raghavan died in his sleep. The doctor diagnosed that he had suffered a heart attack in his sleep.
A large number of people came to pay homage to Raghavan. Sarala was surprised that so many people had known Raghavan.
"We have to publish an obituary for daddy in a newspaper. Is it enough if I publish the obituary in the Chennai edition of the paper or shall I publish it in the Tamilnadu edition?" Satish asked his mother.
"Your father had worked in many places throughout the country. So, get the obituary published in the the all-India edition of the paper" said Sarala.
For the next few days, the telephone in their house was constantly ringing. A number of people called from various places, conveying their condolences.
"We have to publish an obituary for daddy in a newspaper. Is it enough if I publish the obituary in the Chennai edition of the paper or shall I publish it in the Tamilnadu edition?" Satish asked his mother.
"Your father had worked in many places throughout the country. So, get the obituary published in the the all-India edition of the paper" said Sarala.
For the next few days, the telephone in their house was constantly ringing. A number of people called from various places, conveying their condolences.
"It is shocking to know that Mr. Raghavan is no more. He was such a nice man. It is very rare to come across a person like him" said a caller.
"I was just a peon in the office. But he treated me with respect!"
"He was kind to all. He would never speak harshly to anyone."
"He was not inimical to even those in the office, who tried to sabotage him. Can there be another person like him?"
"He would help every one but won't ask for help from any one. Such a noble soul!"
Messages like these kept pouring. Sarala was amazed. She knew that Raghavan was a good and kind person. But she didn't know that he had earned such a good name from so many people.
"He would help every one but won't ask for help from any one. Such a noble soul!"
Messages like these kept pouring. Sarala was amazed. She knew that Raghavan was a good and kind person. But she didn't know that he had earned such a good name from so many people.
Many people came in person to convey their condolences. They also expressed similar sentiments about Raghavan. Sarala understood that those words were not spoken in a formal and courteous way but that they came from the hearts of those who spoke those words.
"Many people spoke to me over phone, offering condolences for your father's demise" Sarala told Satish.
"Yes, mom. I also received a number of calls to my mobile phone. What a great person daddy had been! I should have done penance in my earlier birth, to have been born as his son."
His wife, standing near him, smiled by way of endorsing his view.
Thirukkural
Section 1
The Path of Virtue
The Path of Virtue
Chapter 12
Neutrality
Neutrality
Verse 114 (In Tamil)
thakkAr thagavilar enbadhu avaravar
echchaththal koLLappadum.
echchaththal koLLappadum.
Meaning:
Whether a person is worthy or not will be decided by the legacy left behind by him.
(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'iRappukkup pin' by the same author)
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