In the beautiful village of Thiruvihi lived a master sculptor named Karikalan. His statues were so lifelike that people traveled from far away to see them. Karikalan was known not just for his art, but for his kind heart; he always helped the elderly and the poor. One afternoon, while he was working on a grand statue for the village festival, his friend Somu came to visit. Somu had been struggling with his own small business lately. In a moment of thoughtlessness, Karikalan looked up and said, 'Why do you even bother, Somu? You can't seem to do anything right!'
The words hit Somu like a physical blow. He left silently, his eyes filled with tears. From that day on, Somu stopped visiting, and the warmth in their friendship vanished. Even though Karikalan continued to do great deeds and help the village, people began to whisper, 'He is a great artist, but his tongue is sharp and unkind.' That one careless sentence had overshadowed a lifetime of goodness. Realizing his mistake, Karikalan went to Somu, apologized sincerely, and vowed to master the art of gentle speech.
