1. The plaintiff in the original suit O.S.No.2184/1998 on the file of the I Additional District Munsif, Coimbatore is the appellant in the second appeal. The defendant therein is the respondent in the second appeal. The appellant filed the above said suit for recovery of a sum of Rs.19,500/- from the respondent on the premise that he had paid a sum of Rs.15,000/- towards rental advance on 28.8.1987 while taking a shop in door No.507, Trichy Road, Singanallur, Coimbatore measuring 8' x 16' for rent from the respondent; that the lease arrangement was for 10 years and at the end of the lease period he surrendered possession of the said shop on 28.8.1997; that the defendant, who ought to have returned the said amount on 28.8.1997, failed to do so and that therefore, the respondent/defendant was liable to pay interest on the said amount at the rate of 24% per annum from 28.8.1997.

2. The suit was resisted by the respondent herein/defendant contending that though there was a negotiation between the appellant and the respondent for letting out the said shop portion to the appellant and an agreement came to be executed, since the appellant had prepared it for a period of 10 years