In a peaceful village, there lived a farmer named Somu. Behind his house was a lush garden, and at its heart stood a magnificent, ancient mango tree. Somu had grown up under its branches. He vividly remembered the sweet, golden mangoes he used to pluck and eat as a young boy. To him, the tree wasn't just a plant; it was an old friend that had shared his childhood summers.
As the years passed, Somu grew old, and the tree grew weary too. It stopped bearing fruit, and its massive, spreading branches began to overshadow the smaller plants in the garden. Somu started to view the tree as a burden. "It provides no fruit anymore, and it takes up too much space," he thought grumpily. "I should cut it down to make room for something more useful."
One bright morning, Somu picked up his heavy axe and headed toward the tree. The birds living in its canopy chirped in terror. "Please, sir, don't hurt our home!" cried a pair of koels. Squirrels scurried down the trunk, squeaking, "If you cut this tree, where will we go? Please, have mercy!"
Somu, focused on his task, ignored their pleas. He sharpened his axe and swung it against the thick trunk. As the bark split, a tiny droplet of golden honey seeped out from a small hollow in the tree. Curious, Somu tasted the drop. The sweetness was overwhelming. As the honey touched his tongue, a flood of memories rushed back—the laughter of his friends in the shade, the cool breeze under the leaves, and the joy of his youth.
He realized that while the tree no longer fed him with fruit, it was feeding and sheltering many other living souls. The tree had transformed from his childhood companion into a sanctuary for the forest creatures. "What a foolish thing I was about to do!" he whispered, feeling a deep sense of regret. He dropped his axe and decided to protect the tree instead of destroying it. The mango tree remained, standing tall as a home for many.
Moral
Nothing in this world is truly useless; everything has a purpose, even if it is not immediately visible to us.
