Small Story 214

Small Story 214: A Good Gesture Always Helps Muthu had just joined a prestigious export office at Parry's Corner, Chennai. The company specialized in exporting garments to South Asian countries, with manufacturing units based in Tirupur. The owner, Mr. Shankaran Pillai, was a kind-hearted businessman known for helping professionals from all walks of life. Muthu's mother, Maragatham, worked as a cook in Mr. Pillai's house in Anna Nagar. Out of generosity, he had also provided them with a comfortable outhouse to stay in. Muthu's father, Somashekar, was a weaving inspector who had tragically passed away in an accident a few months earlier. He had been a good friend of Shankaran Pillai. Muthu’s education was funded by Mr. Pillai, and after graduation, he offered Muthu a job as an accountant in his company, where Muthu started just the day before. Shankaran Pillai had a daughter, Gayathri, who had lost her ability to speak at a young age. Despite consulting many doctors, her condition remained unchanged. Nevertheless, Gayathri was a brilliant student, earning a gold medal in her M.Com degree. She was also known for her grace and beauty. Mr. Pillai, originally from Tirunelveli, had worked hard to build his business empire and earned immense respect in the industry. Muthu was given a separate cabin in the well-equipped office, reflecting the generous and thoughtful nature of his boss. The workplace had around twenty employees and a comfortable environment. One evening, when Muthu returned home, he found many relatives gathered at the house. His mother informed him that Meenakshi, Mr. Pillai’s wife, had suffered a massive cardiac arrest. She was deeply concerned about Gayathri's future and how she would cope after her demise. With a heavy heart, Meenakshi expressed her wish to see someone trustworthy like Muthu take care of her daughter. She made it clear to Maragatham that she wasn’t pressuring anyone but hoped Muthu might consider marrying Gayathri. When Shankaran Pillai heard this, he was overwhelmed with joy at the thought of such a noble match. To everyone’s astonishment, Muthu readily agreed. He made it clear that his love and commitment were only for Gayathri, not her wealth. A month later, their wedding was celebrated in a grand and heartwarming manner. The guests were astonished by Muthu’s selfless decision. A few months into the marriage, a new doctor named Ramesh examined Gayathri. Through his treatment, she slowly regained her speech. Dr. Ramesh then revealed something incredible — Muthu's father, Somashekar, had helped him during his struggling student days, and this was his way of repaying that kindness. He smiled and said, "You wanted to repay Mr. Pillai, and I wanted to repay your father." Hearing this, Meenakshi was filled with joy and peace. She said, “Maybe my heart attack was destined to bring about all these good things.” Indeed, a good gesture always helps — often in ways one never expects. K.Ragavan 13-4-25