The story of a businessman

The train was pulling out of the Trichy junction. Manikandan iyer, a 65 year old man was looking at his emotionally driven co-passengers waving hands to their friends and relatives those who were standing in the platform.Many of them had last minute messages like call me as soon as you reachChennai , take good care of the child, see you next week and so on. The train started moving fast and slowly the station went out of the sight.

Mr.Iyer comfortably leaned towards the window and enjoyed the view of the passing fields and fertile lands. As the train was moving, he had taken a ride down his memory lane. A tenth passed-out, mani iyer started his life as a delivery boy . He was employed in a food colors and essence manufacturing agency for a meagre salary. Hailing from a middle class family, Mani iyer learned to lead a simple life. But with the virtue of hardwork and persistence,he had grown to become a propriator of a food color manufacturing company when he turned just twenty-five.

He was married to Padmavathy, a good natured and simple girl. They also had two sons and one daughter. After several years, they got their daughter, Janani married and had put their elder son,Seetha Raman in a medical college. Their younger son Rajesh was studying in school.Because of the twist of the fate, his wife Padmavathy left this world leaving behind a 20-year old and a ten-year old sons and her forty-year old husband Manikandan. Helpless Manikandan was greif-ridden for several months and his attention was completed diverted from his business, due to the sudden demise of his dear wife and added family burden. Unable to see him juggling too many roles, his widow sister, Alamelu offered him a helping hand in managing the home. Poor Manikandan had to face the vagaries of life and forced to get back to his business.

His troubles did not stop there. His ten-year old son, Rajesh was diagnosed with mental illness and shock due to the sudden loss of his mother. Manikandan was clueless .He had a tough time in both home and business fronts. At this juncture, Alamelu came up with a suggestion. She suggested Manikandan to remarry. Only it will bring all the troubles to an end. Though Alamelu could manage the home, she felt that a bride could only give a new lease of life to her poor brother and his home. so, in a strict tone, she said that she needs assistance in managing home and only a new bride could fill the place of his wife and not her. Manikandan had no other choice and he paid heed to his sister.

In a month's time, Alamelu found 28-year old Pushkala, daughter of a widowed woman, Dhanalakshmi. Pushkala's family was struggling to make the ends meet. Her mother was working as a cook to win the daily bread for her family. Pushkala was the second child to her parents and had a elder sister, two younger brothers and a younger sister.Though her elder sister was married, her husband was also not economically forward to support this family. Alamelu who understood the state of Pushkala's family, offered to support the family on the account of Pushkala marrying her brother. Dhanalakshmi had already heared of Manikandan, a budding businessman, who was known for his hardwork and discipline. So she came to a conclusion that she can bring her family out of poverty only by marrying Pushkala to this middle-aged widow man.Also Pushkala was well past her marriageable age and Dhanalakshmi had no hope of getting her daughter married with her meagre income. Pushkala was too innocent to even understand the sacrifice that she was making for the well-being of both the families.

Pushkala and Manikandan got married. In few years, Manikandan had opened an eponymous chain of stores across three towns.Pushkala and Manikandan had four sons and one daughter for them. As Alamelu promised,Pushkala's family was completely supported by Manikandan. All her siblings were married and after their marriage, Manikandan and Pushpa assumed the role of their parents. Manikandan became a big business magnet and Pushpa and Manikandan lived happily ever after.