167. The Jealous Husband!

"My sister Vanaaja's daughter's marriage has been fixed" Said Saroja, enthusiastically.

Her husband Subhsh, who had just returned home from work said, "Oh!" disinterestedly.

"The groom is working in the U.S." she added, with pride.

Subhash's face expression turned bitter. 

"I have been running a business, earnings millions of rupees. We got our daughter married to a groom working in India. How did your sister's husband, who is working in a small firm for a poor salary, get hold of a groom working in the U.S.?" asked Subhash. 

"What kind of a question is this? We didn't look for a groom working in the U.S. We got our daughter married to a groom from India, who is well-employed and who is earning well. My sister's family did not specifically scout for a groom from the U.S. It so happened that way" said Saroja, in a disapproving tone.

"Well. It is the people, at the bottom who often hit the jackpot!"

"Please remember that you are talking about my sister's family. Don't talk about them in such demeaning terms."

"I am only stating a fact. What is wrong in making an observation that a person of poor means like my brother-in-law was lucky to fix a groom working in the U.S. for his daughter?" said Subhash, defensively. 

"Among the three daughters of my parents, I was the only one to get married to a wealthy person. As a result, I lead a rich life. My two sisters belong to the middle class. My two brothers also have only moderate means. Logically, my brothers and sisters should feel jealous of me. But, you feel jealous of my sister's family! In future, if something good happens to my brothers or sisters, you will feel jealous of them. It is funny. But, I am not amused" said Saroja, with resentment and went inside. 

On another occasion, Subhash spoke to Saroja bitterly about one of his employees sending his son to the U.S. for higher studies.

"He is a clerk in my firm. He is surviving on the salary paid by me. And, he is sending his son abroad for higher education. How strange!" said Subhash.

"What is strange or surprising about it? People from poor families going abroad for higher studies has become so common now. Banks give educational loans. Foreign universities give scholarships. A lot of young people from poor families have gone abroad for studies, got jobs there and transformed the financial position of their parents, by sending them money from abroad!" said Saroja. 

"Is it not natural for me to become upset, if someone below me achieves something I have not been able to?"

"Why should you be upset about another person achieving something? People make use of the opportunity they get. We had only one daughter. We could have given her any education at any place in the world. We had the resources for it. But, she was not interested in higher studies. She didn't want to study further, after getting her undergraduate degree. Subsequently, we got her married. She is living a happy life. Let others do what they want and what they are able to. Why are you perturbed?" said Saroja. 

Knowing that she couldn't change the attitude of her husband, who was resentful and jealous of other people's success and achievements, Saroja managed to put up with the outpouring of his jealous feelings now and then. 

"Saroja! We may have to move over to another house. Will you feel unhappy about it?" Subhash asked Saroja. 

"This is our own house. Why should we move to another house?" asked Saroja, perplexed. 

"There have been some developments, Saroja. I borrowed money for developing my business, by mortgaging our house to the bank."

"Yes. I am aware of it. But, is your business not doing well?" 

"No, It is not. I have been facing problems in the business for the past few years. I have been incurring losses. I didn't tell you about them, lest you should be worried. I thought I would be able to tide over the situation over a period. Facing a financial crunch, I borrowed money from private lenders too, at high rates of interest. But, I was unable to set things right. The losses have mounted. Now the debt burden has gone up, with the accumulation of interest. I am left with no option other than selling our house and using the proceeds to clear my liabilities."

"What about your business?" asked Saroja, shocked. 

"I won't be able to run the business any more. I have to wind it up. After selling our house and settling the liabilities, some surplus money will be left. We will have to deposit the sum in the bank and live on the interest income on that sum. If the interest income won't be sufficient to meet our needs, I may have to go for a job."

Subhash's voice became choked. 

'My husband, who was jealous of other people's success even when he was living a life to the envy of other people, may, hereafter, have to feel jealous of every one around him!' thought Saroja.

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 17
Bearing No Envy

Verse 167 (In Tamil)

avviththu azhukkARu udaiyAnaich cheyyavaL
thavvaiyaik kAtti vidum.

Meaning:

Sridevi, the Goddess of Wealth, will despise a jealous person and direct him to her sister, Moodevi, the Goddess of Poverty.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'sarOjAvin kavalai' by the same author)

Verse 168 (Soon)
Verse 166