The Gift of the Heart

In a small, bustling village lived a young boy named Arjun. Arjun loved collecting shiny marbles and sweet candies. Whenever he shared his candies with his friends, he always looked forward to them sharing their toys with him in return. It was like a little trade. One evening, while walking home, Arjun saw an old man sitting under a large banyan tree. The man looked tired, his clothes were worn out, and he seemed to have nothing. Arjun reached into his pocket to give the man a candy, just like he did with his friends. But then he stopped. He realized that a candy wouldn't truly help a man who had nothing to eat. Instead, Arjun ran home, took a warm bowl of rice and some lentils his mother had prepared, and brought it to the old man. As the man ate, a look of pure peace and gratitude washed over his face. Arjun realized something important: when he gave to his friends, he was secretly waiting for a return. But with the old man, there was no return, no trade, and no expectation. That, he learned, was what it truly meant to give.