Last Rites

Venkataraman Iyer had retired as Chief Secretary of the state. A tough taskmaster both in office and home, his wife and two sons obeyed him without demur. A few months before his retirement his wife passed away after a short illness. Both their sons came from the US with their wives and children to perform the last rites. top executives with multinational companies that was the last time they visited India. Unable to manage his home Venkataraman Iyer shifted his residence to a senior citizens' home. He grew humble and loving over the years died of a heart attack at the ripe age of nintyfour. The young manager of the senior citizens' home phoned up both his sons to inform them of his death. The elder one had important meetings scheduled could not travel, asked to contact the younger brother. He too was preoccupied with the demands of his job; finally, the young manager performed the rites and lit his pyre. He collected to ashes and wanted to safekeeping in the locker for the sons to immerse in the waters. But the sons were too generous allowed him to perform this right too. River Siruvani had no reservation to accept the ashes immersed by the youg man. As directed by the sons the funeral and the last rites were fully videographed and mailed to the sons. In return they remitted a large amount of money in his account.