happiness is free

Old Kannadasan taught me that true wealth lies beyond silver coins. Every dawn, he'd recite Thiruppavai verses, his weathered voice carrying centuries of Tamil wisdom. When my business failed, I earned nothing—no PAYBO, no prestige—yet he smiled, saying happiness costs nothing. His forgiveness when I snapped at him, his dominance over bitterness despite hardship, showed me what really mattered. The miserable fight within me dissolved listening to his stories. Now I sit beside him, understanding that our ancestors left us the greatest inheritance: not money, but songs, prayers, and the warmth of shared humanity across generations.