In a peaceful valley lived a young farmer named Arjun. Arjun was hardworking, but he had one big flaw: he always believed he could handle problems only when they actually arrived. He never planned for the future.
One afternoon, his friend Vikram came to visit. Vikram was known for his wisdom and foresight. 'Arjun,' Vikram warned, 'the monsoon clouds are gathering. You should build small drainage channels in your fields now. If the heavy rains come and the water stays in the fields, your crops will rot.'
Arjun laughed it off. 'Why worry about rain that hasn't fallen yet, Vikram? I'll deal with it when I see the clouds!' Vikram shook his head and said, 'A wise man prepares the shield before the arrow is shot.'
A few weeks later, the clouds burst. It rained heavily for three days straight. Arjun’s fields turned into small lakes. He watched in despair as his precious crops began to drown in the muddy water. He felt helpless and alone.
Suddenly, Vikram appeared at his gate, leading a group of strong, capable workers. 'Don't lose hope, Arjun!' Vikram shouted. They didn't just stand there; they immediately began digging deep trenches to lead the excess water away from the crops. Because Vikram had anticipated the problem and brought the right people to solve it, the damage was minimal.
Arjun, with tears in his eyes, realized his mistake. 'Vikram, you tried to stop the trouble before it happened, and when it did, you helped me fix it. I realize now that I need people like you by my side always.'
