"Yes. But he got a well-paying job in a big company. I was able to get only a job with an average salary. Are you unhappy about this?" asked Arjunan.
"Not at all. I was just being curious. My mother would often say that wisdom lies in running the family within one's income and saving money for the future. I don't have the habit of making comparisons. Everyone's life is different" said Laksmi, smiling.
Arjunan was not sure whether his wife really had such a mature outlook or she was trying to show that she was not upset by the contrast between their economic status and that of Kathiravan.
"Now that Lakshmi* has come into my life, I will get all the riches" he said, by way of making her feel good.
Thirty years had passed. Arjunan could not rise up much in his career ladder. His attempts to get a better job did not bear fruit.
The firm he worked for was not very big. His salary didn't see any dramatic rise. His economic status went up only marginally from the not so impressive annual increments, upward adjustments in salary due to inflation and the small rises he got on account of a few promotions he received.
Kathiravan and his wife Tara had come to Arjunan's house for lunch.
After the lunch, Arjunan and Kathiravan retired to the room upstairs. The ladies went to the bedroom situated on the ground floor.
"When did you construct the upper floor? It was not there, when I came here the last time" asked Kathiravan.
"About six months back. I constructed this house little by little, the way children build a toy house joining the blocks in the building set. I purchased this land many years back for a small price. I purchased this land only because it was available at a price affordable by me. At that time, this area had not begun to develop. There was no bus service too. Now you can see how developed this area is. A few years after buying this land, I constructed a small house and then we moved into it. After a few years, I constructed another room on the ground floor. I was able to construct the upper floor only recently. Both my son and daughter have been married and they have been living in other places. I constructed this room so that they could stay in this room, when they visit us. It is also useful as a retiring room, during the times friends like you and other guests visit us" said Arjunan.
"You have acted wisely. Look at me. I moved from place to place on getting promotions, changing jobs etc. Wherever I worked, I lived in a rented house. I could have bought a house at some place. As long as I was working, I had lived in big houses that had comfort and luxury. Now, after my retirement, I don't have a house to live. Considering the current prices, I can't afford to buy a house now. Except for performing the marriage of my only daughter, I have not done anything worthwhile with the money I had earned all these years. Though I held high positions in big companies and received a good salary, I don't have a house of my own. I earned a lot of money, but I don't know where all the money had gone. Because I had been spending money liberally and living a life of luxury, I failed to notice where my money went and for what purpose. It is going to be a challenge for me to live the rest of our life, paying house rent and meeting other expenses with the limited income I could get by investing the savings I have" said Kathiravan, with a sigh.
*Lakshmi is the Hindu Goddess of wealth
Knowing One's Strength
pOgARu agalAk kadai.
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