496. Why Didn't You Argue the Case?

"When Murali had been to another place on a visit, he should have been careful. Why did he drive a car there? It was only recently that he had learnt to drive a car and got the driving license. Should he have put his driving skills to test so soon, that too at another place?" fumed Vaithilingam.

"Our son has been arrested. Instead of taking steps to get him out of jail, you are reading out a charge-sheet against him!" lamented his wife Rohini. 

"Getting him out on bail is not difficult. Shankar, on whose motorcycle our boy had dashed the car, is the son of a local bigwig. Shankar has been injured and hospitalized. The police have booked a case against our son. It will take several years for the case to be tried in the court and a judgement delivered. Murlai has been preparing to go to the United States for higher studies. The pendency of this case will be a hindrance to his plans. I will go there immediately and see what can be done" said Vaithilingam.

The case against Murali for rash driving and causing an accident came for trial in the local court. The trial went on for a month. The court gave a verdict acquitting Murali of all charges, accepting the argument of Murali's lawyer Santhan that the accident was caused due to the fault of Shankar, who rode the motorcycle. 

Vaithilingam congratulated and thanked Santhalingam.

"Sir! You are a Supreme Court lawyer. It was magnanimous of you to have engaged me to defend your son, instead of choosing to appear for your son yourself. I should thank you for the opportunity" said Santhalingam, with humility.

"I asked you this question earlier, but you didn't answer me. Why did you engage a local lawyer to defend our son instead of your defending him" asked Rohini. 

"I am a Supreme Court lawyer, alright. But arguing cases in the lower courts requires a different set of skills. A lot of local factors will come into play, when a case is heard in the trial court. The father of the injured person, being a locally influential person, would do everything in his means to establish that his son was not at fault. Knowing that a delay would hurt us, he could also manage to get the case dragged on for years! Only a lawyer rooted in that place and experienced in arguing cases in the local court could manage these tactics and win the case quickly. I am not sure if I had taken up the case, I would have won" said Vaithilingam.

"I don't understand what you say. Couldn't a big lawyer like you have achieved what a small-time lawyer has?" asked Rohini, not convinced by her husband's explanation.

"I will put it this way. You say I am a big lawyer. I have argued cases against big lawyers and won. But, have I ever won an argument with you at home?"

Rohini smiled, feeling proud.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 50
Knowing the Right Place

Verse 496 (in Tamil):

kadal OdA kAl val nedum thEr kadal Odum
nAvAyum OdA nilaththu.

Meaning:

The sturdy-wheeled lofty chariot cannot cross the seas, nor can ocean-sailing ships move on land.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'periya vakkIl chinna vakkIl' by the same author.)

Verse 497 (Soon)
Verse 495