679. Unsolicited Help

"I called you several times during the past two days. You didn't pick up my calls" Ramaswamy told his friend Madhavan, in a complaining tone, over the phone. 

"I am sorry. I was unable to do the help you wanted from me. I was trying to arrange for the money you asked for. I thought I would call you after I got the money. I didn't pick up your calls, since I didn't want to disappoint you with negative information" said Madhavan.

"You have never failed me in the past. I was depending on you a lot" said Ramaswamy, with disappointment.

"I am unable to help you this time. I am sorry" said Madhavan and ended the telephone conversation. 

"He is your friend. He asked you for a loan for his business. You could have helped him" Madhavan's wife Parvathy told him.

"If I had money with me, I would have helped him."

"But, in the past, you have helped him, by arranging funds through some other friends."

"If it was possible, I would have arranged. This time, I couldn't do so. Sometimes, it happens like this!" said Madhavan, ending the topic.

"I will never forget the help you have extended to me" Manickam told Madhavan. 

"One should never borrow money from loan sharks. If one does, one will end up in a situation like this" said Madhavan. 

"You are right. I chose to borrow money from them for an urgent need. I was paying interest to them regularly. But, when I could not pay the interest for two months, due to a tight money situation, they began to apply the screws on me. I was terrorized to the extreme. I have heard that these people would even go to the extent of kidnapping the family members and threaten to harm them, if the dues are not paid within the deadline set by them. You and I have been rivals in the business. There have been occasions, when we have had bitter confrontations. But, you have kept every thing aside and come forward to help me, after coming to know of my situation through some source. By quickly arranging for the money and helping me, you have saved me from a desperate situation. I can never thank you adequately for your timely help. I will repay the money to you at the earliest" said Manickam, holding Madhavan's hands, with gratitude. 

"Well, don't borrow from another loan shark, in order to repay the money to me!" said Madhavan, smiling. "But, I do expect something in return from you."

"Tell me, Mr. Madhavan. I will do anything I can."

"A friend of mine asked me to lend him money for his business needs. I have always helped him in the past. But, this time, since I wanted to help you, I had to say no to him."

Manickam was waiting to hear what Madhavan was going to say.

"The reason I chose to help you, rather than help my friend was to use this opportunity to end the bitterness in our relationship. It is true that we are competitors in the business, but we don't have to feel inimical to each other. This is what I expect from you" said Madhavan. 

"If I am going to be inimical towards you, even after you have rendered such a great help to me, I won't be considered human at all. Though we are rivals in the business, let us be friends" said Manickam, extending his hand.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 68
The Method of Executing An Action

Verse 679 (in Tamil):
nattArkku nalla seyalin viraindhadhE
ottArai ottik koLal.

Meaning:

Befriending foes should be considered more pressing than doing good to friends.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'kEtkAmalE seydha udhavi' by the same author.) 

Verse 680 (Soon)
Verse 678