155. Birthday Celebration

"What do you suggest we do about Sukumar?" asked Bharath, Proprietor of the firm.

"He has embezzled ten thousand rupees. He has to be dismissed from service. That is what your father would have done" said Dakshinamurthy. He has been the Manager of the firm, from Bharath's father' time.

"My father was very strict. He used to be strict even with us, his children, at our home."

"Oh! What a towering personality he was. I was the only person, who could serve under him for such a long time. Before me, three people who served as managers quit after short tenures, unable to withstand your father's strict ways. Other employees would also have quit, if they had got jobs elsewhere."

"Would my father punish people even for small mistakes?" asked Bharath.

"Yes, he would. He sacked a couple of people for coming late to work frequently."

Bharath rang the bell to summon the peon.

When the peon came, Bharath told him, "Ask Sukumar to come to my cabin."

"Why should you deal with that embezzler, sir? I would tell him that you had dismissed him from service. Just tell me whether we should stop with recovering the money from him or we should file a police complaint also."

Before Dakshinamurthy could complete his sentence, Sukumar entered the room.

"Did you steal the money?" Bharath asked Sukumar.

Bharath stood silent, keeping his chin down.

"Why did you steal it?"

"I had to pay money to a creditor, who was threatening me with dire consequences. I thought that I would be able to replace the money in a day or two by making some arrangement and took the money for paying the creditor, since I felt intimidated by his threat."

"But, you are going to lose your job now. What are you going to do?"

Sukumar didn't answer.

"Okay. Can you return the money stolen by you within two days?"

"Sir!" exclaimed Sukumar, not knowing what to say.

"Return the money and then come back to work" said Bharath.

"Sir! Do you really...?" said Sukumar, unable to believe what he had heard.

"As of now, you don't have a job here. I will give you three days' time. Before that, you should hand over the money to the Manager. After that you can join back duty. But, you can't have the job of a cashier, hereafter. The Manager will allot you some other work."

"Sir! I didn't expect this. Hereafter, I will not commit even a small mistake" said Sukumar, thanking Bharath, with folded hands.

After Sukumar had left, Dakshinamurthy asked Bharath, "What have you done, sir?"

Bharath smiled, but didn't answer him.

After a few months, one day, when Bharath entered the office, he noticed that the entire office was decorated with festoons and flowers.

After settling down in his cabin, he thought of summoning Dakshinamurthy and asking him what was going on.

But, before he could do so, Dakshinamurthy entered the cabin and greeted him with a smile, "Happy birthday, sir!"

"How did you know when my birthday was. I am not in the habit of celebrating birthdays."

"I didn't know it, sir! But, somehow, our employees have found out that today is your birthday and decided to celebrate it by decorating the office. In fact, they planned it two days before, collected some money among themselves for festoons, flowers, garland, sweets etc."

"Were you in the habit of celebrating my father's birthday also?" asked Bharat.

"No, sir. Truly speaking, the employees feared your father. But, they have respect, esteem, loyalty and goodwill towards you" said Dakshinamurthy. 

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 16
Forbearance 

Verse 155 (In Tamil)

oRuththArai onRAga vaiyArE vaippar
poRuththAraip pon pOl podhindhu.

Meaning:

One who punishes the person who wronged him is not held in high esteem by the world. One who shows forbearance is considered precious, like Gold.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'piRandha nAL' by the same author)

Verse 156 (Soon)
Verse 154