659. The Farm House

I was a senior government official. 

When Punyakoti became the Chief Minister, he appointed me as one of his private secretaries.

Punyakoti had been known for surrounding himself with loyalists and sycophants, people who would readily carry out his wishes, even if they had to violate rules or harm people, in the process. 

Since I had a reputation for being independent and inflexible, I was surprised that he chose me as one of his personal secretaries. Till today, I have not been able to decipher the reasons behind his choice.

I was given a posting in the office at the Chief Minister's residence. Though a public servant is expected to work from the secretariat that housed the offices of various government departments, some political leaders holding a public office had the practice of having a small office at their residence, to facilitate their functioning from their residence, part of the time. 

The office at the residence was usually staffed by a couple of loyal officers, who would play important roles in making deals with various kinds of people, including businessmen and other kinds of people.

I believed that Punyakoti had me posted in his house, feeling confident that I won't reveal to the outside world the agreements and deals made in the privacy of his home office.

Thangappan, a relative of Punyakoti was residing with Punyakoti. It was widely believed that he was the one who negotiated and finalized most of the deals on behalf of Punyakoti. 

The spectre of businessmen and contractors arriving at Punyakoti's house with big suitcases, Thangappan asking the servants to take the suitcases inside for safekeeping, after personally  checking the contents of the suitcases and satisfying himself, was a frequent occurrence.

Though I could not but witness these events, I distanced myself from these activities, by not taking any conscious notice of them.

It was a holiday. I was sitting on a park bench. A middle-aged man came and sat next to me. After looking at my face for a while, he remarked, "Sir! I have seen you at Punyakoti's home."

"I work in the Chief Minister's office at his residence" I said. 

"I have seen you there" he said and after a pause added, "Is there no one to check the atrocities committed by these people?" in an angry tone.

"If you have any complaints, send a letter to the Chief Minister's Grievance redress cell" I said.

"Can I complain to the Chief Minister's Grievance Cell about an atrocity committed by Punyakoti?"

"Please don't talk to me about such matters" I said politely, but firmly.

Despite my request, he continued to narrate his experience. 

Many years back, he bought five acres of land in the outskirts of the city, established a farm in that land, constructed a farm house and lived there.

A few months back, he was summoned by Punyakoti to his house. Punyakoti and Thangappan coerced him to sell his farm house and land to them, for a price way below the market price. 

"The price they paid me for my property is not adequate to buy even an apartment in the city. I was deprived of my property and was virtually thrown on the streets, along with my family."

He began to sob uncontrollably.

"You could have declined to sell your property" I said, not knowing how to pacify him. 

"How could I have said no, when they threatened me that they would kidnap my child and kill her, if I didn't agree to sell my property on the terms dictated by them? I have read about an instance of their kidnapping the child of a well-known businessman and forcing him to sell his property situated in a prime area, for a throwaway price. If this was the plight of a wealthy and influential man, how can an ordinary person like me stand up to these thugs?"

Suddenly, his mood changed. He stood up, gesticulated angrily and said, "Right at this moment, I am throwing a curse on this duo. They would be drowned in the tears shed by me and many others like me. They would face retribution for their sins very soon."

He then left the park. 

I had retired from service. 

I got a phone call from my lawyer. 

Many years ago, I had bought a small piece of land in a village. A few years later, I was shocked to learn that some people sold that land to another person, using forged documents. I filed a case in the court, seeking the cancellation of that sale and restoration of the title to me. 

My lawyer conveyed to me the happy news of the court delivering a judgement in my favour.

I profusely thanked the lawyer for his services.

"No need to thank me, sir. You got back something that you acquired  through rightful means. How will a property acquired by you using the money honestly earned by you go out of your hands?" remaked the lawyer. 

He then remarked, "I saw a news item that Punyakoti's properties are going to be auctioned."

"Yes" I said tersely. Though I don't talk to anyone about Punyakoti, other people often talk to me about him.

"The atrocities committed by Punyakoti and Thangappan are unprecedented. Both of them having been sentenced to five years' imprisonment, the process of auctioning their properties as per court order has begun. I feel that it is the effect of the tears shed by the large number of people, harmed by this duo" said the lawyer.

The face of the hapless man who cried sitting next to me on the park bench came to my mind.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 66
Purity in Action

Verse 659 (in Tamil):
azhak koNda ellAm azhap pOm izhappinum
pin pyakkum naRpAl avai.

Meaning:  

All that has been obtained by a person causing someone to shed tears will depart from him. On the other hand, if one were to lose assets obtained by fair means, they will prove beneficial to him later.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'paRi pOna paNNai vIdu' by the same author.) 

Verse 660 (Soon)
Verse 658