Small Story 331.

Small Story 331 Dad's Groundnut Chikki Castle Muthu visited his office to meet the accountant and collect the loan cheque for his house construction. He had taken a week’s leave to oversee the initial stages of the project. Accountant Swamy greeted him warmly, handed over the cheque for ₹15 lakhs, and offered him a cup of tea. Muthu, a Sales Supervisor in a leading trading company, had served there for over 25 years. Now, he was finally building his dream home on a plot he had bought a decade ago in Gubbalala—an area that has rapidly developed in recent years. Muthu’s only daughter, Lakshmi, works in a top IT company and earns a good salary. His wife, Ragini, is a Tamil writer who contributes regularly to a popular Tamil magazine. Currently, they live in a rented 3-bedroom apartment, paying ₹50,000 per month plus maintenance charges. The total budget for his dream house is around ₹3 crores, excluding the cost of the land. Accountant Prakash, while handing over the cheque, casually enquired about Lakshmi. Muthu knew that Prakash hoped to see his son, Viswa, marry Lakshmi. But Lakshmi hadn’t expressed any opinion about the matter. After receiving the cheque, Muthu went to the bank and deposited it. Though he dislikes borrowing, a sudden increase in building material prices had created a shortfall of ₹10 lakhs. However, thanks to his diligent savings over the last 20 years—and the combined income of the family—he managed without needing to take any major loans. Only this small bank loan was necessary now. Muthu is careful with money and avoids obligations. He often tells his friends, “All by God’s grace, I’ve never had to borrow from friends or relatives.” Prakash always says, “Muthu is an example of good values and financial discipline.” To that, Muthu proudly replies, “My father was from Kovilpatti—a town known for groundnut chikkies. He used to sell them on a cycle, going door to door. He made sure I completed my M.A. before he passed away.” His father, Shanmugam Pillai—popularly known in business circles—had built the successful snack brand ‘Muthu Chikkies’ from scratch. Muthu is deeply proud of his father’s legacy and principles. After his father's demise, Muthu gave that establishment to his aunt’s family, as per his dad’s request—since his aunt was a widow with one handicapped son. He often says, “My dad is my hero. He worked hard and built our family’s dignity. His blessings have brought me this far, and they will continue to bless Lakshmi too.” K. Ragavan 8-8-25