It was during Ganapathy's visit to Mukundan's house by way of a social call that he met Ramu, who was residing in Mukundan's house.
Ganapathy learnt that Ramu had been working in a chemical manufacturing unit and that he lost his job recently, when the unit was closed due to financial reasons and that he was on the lookout for another job.
After conversing with Ramu for some time, Ganapathy gauged that Ramu had good knowledge about chemicals and that he was keeping his knowledge updated, by reading books and journals on Chemistry and Chemical processes.
Ganapathy was impressed by Ramu's depth of knowledge about chemicals and developed a liking for him. He visited Mukundan's house often, only to have conversations with Ramu.
"Hey! I am your friend. You didn't visit me often all these days. But, after meeting my brother, you come to my house quite often, to talk to him. My brother has become closer to you than I am" Mukundan remarked in a lighter vein.
"I am seeing you in the office every day. So, there is no need for me to visit your house to see you" replied Ganapathy.
"You brother Ramu is a genius. He has vast knowledge about chemicals. He also has ideas for manufacturing certain chemical products. I am planning to start a chemical manufacturing unit, in partnership with him" Ganapathy told Mukundan.
"He has no money to invest" said Mukundan.
"He doesn't have to invest. He can be a working partner. I will invest the capital" said Ganapathy.
"You have a good job. You want to quit the job and start a business. Think deeply about it" said Mukundan.
Ganapathy resigned his job and began to take steps to start the chemical manufacturing unit planned by him. He sat with Ramu and prepared a detailed project report.
Both together selected a place for setting up the unit. The agreement to rent the premises was to be signed in a couple of days.
The doorbell at Mukundan's house rang at 10 pm.
Mukundan opened the door.
"What is the matter, Ganapathy? You are visiting me at this late hour?" asked Mukundan, in surprise.
"Is Ramu there?" asked Mukundan.
"He went to bed just now. I will call him" said Mukundan. "Is anything important?" he added, in a tone of concern.
"Yes" said Ganapathy.
When Ramu came to the living room, Mukundan asked him in a tone of urgency, "Ramu! Can this chemical be used to make addictive drugs?"
Ramu, who came out worried, felt relieved by the question. "Oh! This is what you were concerned about. I was worried that there was some serious problem. This chemical can be used to make some addictive drugs. But, only pharmaceutical grade material can be used for such purposes. We are going to make only industrial grade."
"Making synthetic drugs is an illegal activity. Why should people indulging in an illegal activity bother about using the pharmaceutical grade. They can use the industrial grade material also to make drugs, can't they?"
"No, Ganapathy. If they use industrial grade material, they won't get the required quality. If this was possible, the government would have imposed a lot of restrictions on the manufacture and use of industrial grade of this chemical also, as they have done with the pharmaceutical grade."
"No, Ramu. One of my friends told me that drugs are being made using industrial grade material of this chemical also. The information given by him is not likely to be wrong. Thus, there is a chance of the chemical we plan to manufacture being used for making intoxicating drugs. Don't you agree?"
"Ganapathy! I don't understand why we are discussing this. You are going to sell your product in the market. If it goes through various hands and reaches the hand of a addictive drugs maker, what can we do about it?" asked Mukundan.
"After knowing that the products we plan to manufacture can be put to wrong use, how can we proceed with manufacturing the product?' asked Ganapathy.
"What are you trying to say, Ganapathy?" asked Ramu, shocked by the import of Ganapathy's words.
"We have to give up this project. We can think of doing something else."
"Ganapathy! Don't you realize that you are being stupid? After quitting your job and working so long on this project, you want to abandon it for a trivial reason! Think practically" said Mukundan, in an agitated voice.
"I am sorry. After knowing that the action we are planning can lead to some harmful consequences, we should not pursue it. This is my stand" said Ganapathy, firmly.
"Ganapathy! I am not prepared to enter into any venture with you" said Ramu angrily and went inside.
"In that case, I will have to search for a job" said Ganapathy.
Section 2
Purity in Action
enRum oruvudhal vENdum pugazhOdu
nanRi payavA vinai.
Verse 650
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