"THE IRON MAN"

"THE IRON MAN" 

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                I always talk about people, interacting, networking with people. Because we really don’t know what such experience can offer, what impact it may take on us hopefully positive.

                I would like take one such amazing connection in this blog.I don’t know his name. I got introduced with him 2 years back. He owns a laundry shop located at the corner of our street, 20 steps of walking. He is married, has two children a little girl studying 8^th standard and a boy at 6^th standard. They are studying in tamil medium.

I am not sure how much he earns but sure under 10,000/month  He runs his family with it. He has cycle to commute to his home located at a distance of 2-3 kms from shop.

Whenever I take my clothes to iron it, I just have a short chat with him. He would ask about my work.  I say I am working in MNC, etc, How I got into this field, How I studied?. How I made it from very much middleclass backround to now, 10^th, +2 marks, my hobbies?, etc.  He admires it but I used to say nothing, it is similar to every work and it has its own pros and cons.

He raised cost/cloth from 4 to 5/-. But I still manage to him because I know he has a family, he is dependent on usual customers like me and that I that I took it as an opportunity help. The raise in Electricity rates is understandable and justified.

When we were having a chat, he had a requirement to get a new electric iron box as the existing is using coal with lot of weight. He knows my family that my brother is working in central Govt bank. He asked about loans, etc to buy a new iron box.

He met my brother, my brother arranged loan for him to get new iron box. My brother got a cheque and he received with happiness. He thanked us for helping on loans. He used to say ‘ I am gonna buy a new iron box soon”…….. Though my brother arranged it, I didn’t ask the details of loan.

Usually I don’t count the no.of clothes I give. One day I gave 2 full bags of clothes and left office@sholinganallur, Chennai. Evening he called our mom over phone, intimated the clothes are ironed and that to come and receive it.

He handed over the clothes and asked 275/-  total. Surprisingly he handed over 500/- note, said it was in the pant pocket. I was bit surprised but thought he is good person. This keeps happening it may be 50 or 500/- he hands it over, I receive it on my hand with those rupees shrinked as it is given after drying from washing machine.

Ok. Whats  about it? Is the question.

One day, He came to our home handed over the ironed clothes and asked whether my brother is there?  I said he is yet to come. He gave around 275/- to me and said

“Please give this to your brother as it is the EMI amount”.

I was bit shaken and surprised. I said sure and I would do that. He left.

My brother came home, I gave the money. Then I asked what his loan amount? It was 9000/- with EMI amount of around 275/- per month. My brother also said it was quiet satisfying helping such people such little amount counts lot to them as he is quiet used to give loan money worth some crores at times for industries.

For example,  Putiing the scenario into his shoes,  I own a flat with EMI around 20,000/month..If I have to equate, I got around 40000/- in a pocket equivalent to 2 EMI, Will I return it? Yes will return it without doubt but If I have serious demand and I have no choice may be don’t know……

The amount he returned say 500/- is equivalent to 2 EMI amount for him. He managed to give it to us everytime. I admire his genuinity. I everyday talk to people here in IT earning thousands/lakhs per month yet still manage to fake bills. Even some managers deprive /deny facilities to provide which company provides too. Have seen in my early stage, HR's faking recruitments for money, faking relationships too. Money, Money, Money!!!! Nothing is enough. Its a drug....

This laundry man is simple, humble, happy with what he gets everyday. He has family even he wants his children to come-up, he wants to climb-up the  ladder but...

Anything which is quick - be it LOVE, MONEY,FAME, GROWTH  is temporary.

Even last week when I left bangalore, he returned  more than 300/-. Though we check before giving, it  just happens sometimes but we are sure of the correctness of the connectivity.

I solute his honesty. True inspiration. I understand Its not the money that drives man who created it, It’s the human mind should drive it.

He won everytime when he is put into test inspite of his poverty.

He is one of the great personality I have seen….

So Special to me……Simply Great!!!

He is not only iron man- He is “THE IRON MAN”  mentally.

Money tried its best to buy him, but failed in every attempt…………………….

“Happiness is not running towards what we want, Its all about What we enjoy being One !!!”

 Remembered Albert Einsteins words
 "Try not to become man of success but man of Value".

Happy New Year- 2014 to Everyone !!!!

Endrum Natpudan,

Dhana