Mukkam, Kozhikode: It was a moment of reckoning. A person, who grew remorseful after hearing a sermon on repentance, atoned for a robbery he had committed more than three decades ago.

The 2-sovereign gold chain of Iayathu, a 55-year-old native of Kodiyathur in Kozhikode, was stolen 36 years ago.

The guilty individual turned over a new leaf after listening to the sermon of Mahallu Khasi M A Abdu Salaam on Friday. The sermon was on repentance and penance.

The man then informed the Khasi about his offence through a friend. Based on Khasi's instructions, the value of Iyathu's gold chain was handed over to her. The friend acted on behalf of the guilty, who also confessed that he was forced to commit the offence as he was reeling under abject poverty then. He also pleaded for Iyathu’s forgiveness.

Iyathu was more than happy to receive the money. She forgave the offender and also prayed for his well-being.

Iyathu's mother, a daily wage labourer, had given her the gold chain for her wedding. When the chain was stolen from the then 19-year-old Iyathu's house, the price of gold was Rs 1,600 per sovereign.

Two-sovereigns of gold will now cost more than Rs 72,000.

Though remorseful, the man did not have that much money to give to Iyathu. But he still managed to give a reasonable amount.