The True Treasure

In a peaceful village lived two friends, Karthik and Rohan. Karthik was content with his modest life, tending to his small garden and cattle. Rohan, however, was always looking at what others possessed. He felt that his life was incomplete because he didn't have the grand house or the gold that his neighbors had. One summer, the village elders distributed grain and coins to every family. Karthik received his share and celebrated with a simple meal. Rohan, seeing his neighbor receive a slightly larger bag, felt a burning jealousy. Driven by greed, Rohan waited until nightfall and stole a small pouch of coins from a neighbor's porch. But as he lay in bed that night, he couldn't sleep. Every rustle of a leaf sounded like someone coming to catch him. His heart raced with fear. The next morning, feeling heavy with guilt, Rohan went to the village square and returned the stolen coins. Karthik saw him looking sad and said, 'Rohan, wealth isn't about how much you grab from others; it's about the peace you keep by not wanting what isn't yours.' Rohan realized that his greed had stolen his sleep, while Karthik's contentment gave him strength. From then on, Rohan lived happily with what he had.