Small Story 168.

Small Story 168. A Reward for Honesty** Driver Manickam had been searching for hours to find the address provided by his friend Venu. Venu had asked him to go to a financier named Damodaran to secure a loan for his daughter’s wedding, which was only 21 days away. After a long search, Manickam finally found Damodaran's place. Damodaran welcomed him and seemed to take a liking to Manickam. He then explained his condition for the loan: he would deduct 12.% annual interest in advance. Manickam needed ₹40,000 for three years, but if Damodaran deducted ₹14,400 upfront, Manickam would only receive ₹25,600, which wouldn’t be enough for the wedding. He tried to negotiate, suggesting that he would pay the interest monthly, but Damodaran refused, stating that it was his rule. Frustrated, Manickam called Venu to ask for advice. Venu was surprised too, as Damodaran had never acted this way before. Venu reassured Manickam, telling him not to worry, as God would find a way to help. The next day, Manickam went to pick up a foreign guest, Sophia, from the airport. After dropping her off at her hotel, he realized that she had left a small bag in the back seat of his car. He immediately called her and returned the bag to the hotel. Sophia was extremely grateful and explained that the bag contained important documents. She insisted on giving him a token of appreciation, offering him $500 as a gift. Manickam was deeply moved and politely accepted. When Manickam shared the story with Venu, he understood why Damodaran had acted strangely the previous day. The financier had lost a potential customer because of his greed. Manickam returned home full of happiness, knowing that his honesty had not only brought him a reward but also saved him from the loan and the worries about the wedding. K.Ragavan 26-2-25