The summers in southern India are terrible. The place undergoes three climatic changes during this time; hot, hotter, hottest. This did not stop Vaidyanathan from his job.
His employment was considered to be one of the most privileged in his community. The long tuft of hair, his long complicated white gown like dhoti and topless hairy chest easily made him the most old fashioned man available in the city.
Riding his Honda Activa , he was the vedic scholar of the place. The new moon days were always busy for him, as the so called Brahmin families of the city performed special ceremonies for their ancestors on the new moon day. Along with cow dung cakes, ghee, and other ceremonial requirements, a vedic scholar was also an important part of the ceremony. The scholar was considered to be the supervisor of the ceremony and had the duty of conducting the ceremony properly. He also performs the duty of reciting vedic hymns for the welfare of the family and of the world. His salary was, what the family pleased to give him.Sometimes it would be a thousand if the family he visits was poor, and sometimes it would be just a hundred if the family he visits was rich. After all rich families believed, they did not need a vedic scholar for prosperity.
Vaidyanathan stopped his bike in front of a bungalow. His client today was a rich Brahmin businessman who did not want his status in his community to deteriorate and so was deliberate to perform the ceremony unwillingly.
Vaidyanathan entered the bungalow and was received by the rich man and his wife. The smile on their faces showed their disrespect for him. He assembled all the materials and began the ceremony by lighting the holy fire. The rich man was losing his temper as the ceremony progressed for a long time. The smoke from the fire was allergic to his wife and therefore the ceremony was irritating for his wife too. As Vaidyanathan started praying for the welfare of the world the mobile of his client started to ring.
" Yes Mr Steve, It will be my pleasure. Definitely all right sir." the halfway conversation was not new to Vaidya and he understood that some international client of the man was to visit him.
"Vaidya, my client is visiting me in another half an hour. so, please make it quick" the rich Brahmin said openly.
Vaidya cut off most of the prayers and prayed only for the welfare of the family halfheartedly. The ceremony ended up in fifteen minutes and the place was instantly cleared off. To clear Vaidya, the rich man used a thousand rupee note instead of a broom. Vaidya got the money in his hands and went out of the place after thanking the 'business Brahmin'. On his way out, he heard the wife saying "waste of time" clearly, but was powerless to question her. He started his bike and went out of the bungalow gate.
Within a few yards, a beggar was lying on the platform. Vaidya called him and the beggar came there expecting a couple of rupees. Vaidya took out his purse and dropped the thousand rupee note he had received, on the beggars plate. Before the beggar could utter a word Vaidya started his bike and moved away in search of the house of his next client.
After-all the least privileged scholars of the society who have no reservations, privileges, political contacts or money, have something which their rich counterparts don't. The word simple but meaning strong is what we call as; Dignity.