"Till now, you have not asked for any help from your elder brother. Why don't you ask him just this time? After all, you will be asking his help, only for the higher education of our son" said Sarala.
"I often wonder whether my brother was the same person who grew with me in the same house, played with me and moved close with me. He has changed so much. I don't feel comfortable even to visit him" said Kumaran.
"Siblings, after growing up, do not remain the same they were in childhood. However much your brother two might have moved away from you, I am sure that he has affection for you. Why don't you go to his house and try?" persisted Sarala.
"Affection? His affection for me, his mother, has evaporated after he became rich. Once he had started earning money, he transformed himself into a goblin entrusted with the task of defending his wealth. He has no consideration for me, his mother, who brought him up. He has taken for granted that I will stay with my younger son Kumaran and has never given a thought to ask me to stay in his house, even for a short period. Even when I had stayed in his house for a few days on a couple of occasions, he treated me like an unwanted guest. It was his wife who showed me some kindness, by taking care of my food and other needs. That is why I have stopped going to his house. Is he going to help you? I don't think he will" said Gandhimathi, Kumaran's mother, showing her frustration and anger.
"For what it is worth, I will go to his house and ask for his help. He had been affectionate towards me in the past. I hope some traces of that affection is still present in him."
"Ramesh has got admission in an engineering college. I have to pay a substantial sum at the time of admission, towards admission fees, tuition fees, caution deposit etc.. I need money for this. I have applied for a loan against my provident fund. But it will take a few weeks for the loan to be sanctioned and released. If you can lend me the money now, I will repay it once I get the PF loan. I will be able to manage the fees for the subsequent semesters, from my own resources" said Kumaran."Kumaran! People are under the illusion that businessmen have a huge quantity of currency notes stacked in their locker. The reality is different. I have been running my business, by taking a loan from the bank. Sometimes, when my wife asks for a couple of thousand rupees for domestic expenses, I won't have the cash with me. I issue cheques for my suppliers for the goods supplied by them even when there is not sufficient money in the account and send my Manager to the bank to beg the bank officials to pass the cheques, just as you have been hunting for money, after getting admission to your son in an engineering college" said Kumaran's brother Adhi.
Kumaran was at a loss to know how to respond to Adhi's observations.
At that time, a servant reluctantly came into the room and told Adhi, "Sir, People from that orphanage have come again."
"Even when they came here last time, I should have turned down their appeal firmly. I said that I would consider donating sometime in the future, just to avoid saying a firm 'no.' But, taking advantage of my considerate reply, they are pestering me again. Tell them that I am preparing to go on a tour and that I won't be able to see them" Adi told the servant in a stern voice.
He then turned to Kumaran and said, "I hope everybody is fine at home. Hope mother's health is good. Take good care of her. I have to leave to a place urgently."
Kumaran recalled his mother describing Adhi as a goblin guarding his treasure and stood up to leave.
Thirukkural
Section 2
Materialism
Chapter 57
Refraining From Doing Terrifying Things
Verse 565 (in Tamil):
arunchevvi innA mugaththAn perum selvam
pEy kaNdu annadhu udaiththu.
Meaning:
The wealth of a person who is inaccessible and has a harsh countenance resembles a treasure protected by demons.
Verse 566 (Soon)
Verse 564
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