In a peaceful village lived an elderly man named Arul. He was not only known for his great wisdom but also for his vast wealth. However, Arul did not see his money as something to be locked away in a chest; he saw it as a way to help others.
One summer, a terrible drought hit the village. The local lake, which everyone relied on, began to dry up. The crops withered, and the villagers grew worried. Seeing the distress, Arul decided to act. He used his savings to dig new wells and to deepen the village lake so it could hold more rainwater.
His neighbor, a man named Mani, approached him one day. "Arul, why are you spending so much of your gold on these wells? You could live like a king with that money!" Mani asked.
Arul smiled gently and replied, "Mani, think of a great city lake. When it is full, it doesn't hold the water for itself; it provides for every thirsty soul in the city. A wise man's wealth is exactly like that. It is only truly valuable when it flows out to serve the world."
Because of Arul's kindness, the lake was restored, and the village flourished once again. Arul realized that his wealth didn't decrease by giving; instead, his heart and his reputation grew as vast as the lake itself.
