In a peaceful village, a young boy named Kannan lived with his parents. One year, a terrible drought hit the land, and food became very scarce. Kannan's family was poor, and his father, a hardworking man, struggled to find any work.
In the same village lived a wealthy man named Manickam. He was known for his immense kindness; he would never refuse anyone who came to him for help, always giving with a bright smile. Kannan's father felt tempted to go to Manickam's house and ask for food or money. He thought, 'Why struggle when help is so close?'
However, Kannan looked at his father and said softly, 'Father, we are hungry, but if we ask for help every time we face a problem, we will lose our strength to work. Let us find work instead of asking for charity.'
Moved by his son's wisdom, the father decided to seek labor instead of alms. They spent days looking for small tasks, eventually finding work in a local farm. By the end of the day, they earned enough to buy a meal. The food tasted much sweeter because they had earned it themselves. Through hard work and dignity, the family slowly rebuilt their lives, never once relying on the kindness of others to survive.
