“Ramu, I have good information for you. You may join our company, as a clerk, if you are interested. But you have to discontinue your studies” Rangan told Ramu. Ramu, one of the six siblings, had just finished his pre-university certificate course and was about to join a college for pursuing a B.com degree. His family was struggling to meet the ends with his six siblings and parents. Ramu’s father had retired as a school teacher and was getting a nominal amount of pension. One of his elder brothers was pursuing a bachelor’s degree and the other one had just then completed a degree and was employed for a meager salary in a small company. He got two sisters; one of them graduated and was making efforts to get employment while the younger sister and brother were pursuing their schooling. The green patch was the family lived in their own house.
Rangan and his wife were staying in Ramu’s house as tenants. Rangan was working as a senior executive in a reputed private sector organization. By virtue of his position and track record with the company, he had credibility and influence in the top management of the company. He had a good liking for Ramu for his well-behaved manners and spontaneous humor. Rangan’s company needed clerks to work in different departments. It struck Rangan why not provide employment to Ramu in his company. Rangan’s family knew that Ramu’s family was not quite comfortable with finance due to the larger number of family members and the family’s lavish spending nature for food.
Ramu, although, wanted to pursue his bachelor’s degree as a day scholar, the economic scenario at home compelled him to take up employment in the pipeline. Ramu's earnings at that juncture would be of immense value to his family. Ramu knew he could pursue his graduation through distance education. But Ramu did not inform his parents or others about his decision to take up his first employment and requested Rangan to keep it secret when Rengan informed him it would take a month time to complete the formalities before he was offered the appointment letter.
Rangan wanted Ramu’s bio-data in the next couple of days. Ramu consulted Rangan and compiled his bio-data. He got it typed neatly and gave it to Rangan the next day.
A day, after the above incident, his dearest friend Madhav, who also completed his pre-university course along with Ramu met him. In the course of the conversation, Madhav told Ramu that he badly needed employment. When Ramu asked why he should seek employment before obtaining a degree, Madhav poured his heart. He said he happened to hear the conversation between his parents about the serious financial problems they were facing due to the marriage proposal of his sister and also the higher education of his elder brother. Madhav’s father retired early from services in the postal department due to chronic lung-related illness. Not much medical support was available from the postal department after his retirement. His father’s health required money for buying medicines, which were costlier. When Ramu told Madhav about his intention to take up employment, Madhav too was surprised and asked him why. Ramu told Madhav about his present family’s finance and also about the offer made by Rangan. On hearing this, Madhav almost fell at the feet of Ramu saying that he would be grateful if Ramu helped him to get a job in Rangan's organization. Though Ramu was not inclined to make any obligation with Rangan, as a matter of his principle, he told Madhav that he would make an attempt.
The next day Ramu met Rangan and brought the topic of employment to Madhav. Rangan somehow did not have a good opinion of Madhav. He told Ramu that the management would consider only one candidate through him and as such it would not be possible for him to accommodate Madhav. That day night Ramu did not sleep well. He thought “As compared to Madhav, I am certainly better placed in the financial front at this stage. So why not I withdraw my application and request Rangan to accommodate Madhav in his place”
The next day morning, while Rangan was leaving for his work, Ramu dashed into his house and sought two minutes urgent appointment with him and got it. He just told Rangan “Sir, I would like to withdraw my application for employment in your company and in my place please accommodate Madhav, whose family is struggling to meet their ends. They are seeking an alliance for his elder sister and need decent money to perform her marriage. His father took voluntary retirement on due to acute health conditions.”
Though Rangan was not happy with the decision of Ramu and his recommendation for Madhav, he felt moved by the great gesture on the part of Ramu. He told Ramu to think over it again and tell him finally the next day.
Ramu stuck to his decision. With reluctance Rangan got Madhav's application processed and in a month’s time after a formal written test and interview, Madhav was offered the position of Clerk in his company on a regular pay scale. The probation period was six months.
Madhav came to Ramu’s house with the appointment letter, first thanked Rangan profusely, and later went to Ramu’s house. There he cried loudly, thanking Ramu for his sacrifice. On hearing the episode from Madhav, Ramu’s parents were overwhelmed with emotion at the magnanimous act of compassion by Ramu.
After a year, Ramu was glad to note that Madhav’s father recovered remarkably from his illness and was about to take up a part-time job. In the meantime, Madhav completed his probation successfully and retained the job with more pay. Ramu was pursuing his bachelor’s degree as a day scholar with all the constraints in the family.
When Ramu entered his second year of his bachelor’s degree, two good things happened. His eldest brother got an appointment in a national bank and the other elder brother got employment in private garments exporting company after completing his bachelor’s degree.
Even today Madhav’s family keeps talking about the good-hearted Samaritan Ramu. Rangan’s family moved to their own house but Rangan was always Ramu. He used to tell his subordinates and others that Ramu was a living example of selflessness who valued his best friend and friendship.


© Joyram