YOU TAKE HOME ONLY WHAT YOUR ‘DESERVE’

Pic.: Anima D'Cunha

Years ago, when I had decided to do something about my poor English, one of the things I did – and found very effective – was telling a nice story in two tenses… the Present and the Past. Over the years, I have helped hundreds of people, who were earnest about improving their English, with the same method… Yes, write a nice story down in both the tenses… and, then, tell it to someone!

Every time the thoughts of my future uncertainty come to haunt me, this childhood fable comes to my rescue…

YOU TAKE HOME

ONLY WHAT YOUR ‘DESERVE’

PAST:

In a village, there lived a milkman. Every day, he walked near and far to sell milk in the village. With whatever money he earned, he was content and lived a simple yet happy life with his family. And, as years passed by, a thought began to trouble him: “I am getting older and tired… I won’t be able to go around the village like this for long… The family needs are increasing… my daughters have to be married… and, at this rate, it would be harder for me to face my future.”

Thus, with the hope that he could make some quick money and secure his future, the milkman started adding some quantity of water in the milk, which went unnoticed in the beginning. As time went by, the water quantity in the milk began to increase, and, his customers began to complain. But, by now, the greed had taken strong roots in this milkman… He could not live with the thought of earning less. Insecurity had taken over him… and, he continued to live like that despite the bad name he had now earned for himself…

One afternoon, while returning home, the tired milkman decided to take a short nap under a tree. He placed next to him his money pouch. When he was fast asleep, a monkey picked the pouch, sat on the tree branch, and started doing something interesting: he dropped one coin on the ground and another into the deep well below. Monkey kept doing it till the pouch became empty… When the milkman woke up, he was shocked to see what the monkey was doing. But, by then, the monkey-job was already finished… Milkman’s half the booty had gone into the deep well… while the other half was lying there on the ground!

As he bent down, heart-broken, to collect whatever was lying before him, the milkman heard a voice inside his heart: “Fool, become wiser now… The money that you had earned by adding water in the milk, has gone where it belonged – into the well; the money that you deserve is lying before you…Gather it and go home.”

The milkman paid heed to this voice… and he did not have to worry any more about his future… All was taken care of, including his old age and daughters’ marriage!

PRESENT:

In a village, there lives a milkman. Every day, he walks near and far to sell milk in the village. With whatever money he earns, he is content and lives a simple yet happy life with his family. And, as years pass by, a thought begins to trouble him: “I am getting older and tired… I won’t be able to go around the village like this for long… The family needs are increasing… my daughters have to be married… and, at this rate, it would be harder for me to face my future.”

Thus, with the hope that he can make some quick money and secure his future, the milkman starts adding some quantity of water in the milk, which goes unnoticed in the beginning. As time goes by, the water quantity in the milk begins to increase, and, his customers begin to complain. But, by now, the greed has taken strong roots in this milkman… He cannot live with the thought of earning less. Insecurity has taken over him… and, he continues to live like that despite the bad name he has now earned for himself…

Then, one afternoon, while returning home, the tired milkman decides to take a short nap under a tree. He places next to him his money pouch. When he is fast asleep, a monkey picks the pouch, sits on the tree-branch, and starts doing something interesting: he drops one coin on the ground and another into the deep well below. Monkey keeps doing it till the pouch becomes empty… When the milkman wakes up, he is shocked to see what the monkey is doing. But, by then, the monkey-job is already finished… Milkman’s half the booty has gone into the deep well… while the other half is lying there on the ground!

As he bends down, heart-broken, to collect whatever is lying before him, the milkman hears a voice inside his heart: “Fool, become wiser now… The money that you had earned by adding water in the milk, has gone where it belonged – into the well; the money that you deserve is lying before you…Gather it and go home.”

The milkman pays heed to this voice… and he does not have to worry any more about his future… All is taken care of, including his old age and daughters’ marriage!

GERALD D’CUNHA

Pic.: Anima D'Cunha