In a peaceful village lived a young woman named Maya. Her husband, Arjun, worked in a distant city and could only visit once a month. Maya missed him dearly. One afternoon, her friend Sara came to visit. Sara was a cheerful person who never seemed to miss anyone.
Seeing Maya looking lonely, Sara asked, "Why the long face, Maya? Is Arjun still away? How can you stand being alone all day?"
Maya smiled softly and replied, "Even when he isn't here during the day, Arjun visits me in my dreams every single night. Seeing his smile in my sleep brings me peace."
Sara laughed, "That's just a dream, Maya! It's not the same as him being here in person. You shouldn't be so satisfied with just dreams!"
Maya looked at Sara gently. "Sara, you are happy because you don't have anyone you long for so deeply that you seek them even in your sleep. Because you don't find your loved ones in your dreams, you cannot understand why it hurts so much when someone doesn't visit in the waking world."
Sara fell silent. She realized that because her own heart was never searching for someone in her sleep, she had judged Maya's longing without understanding the depth of her love.
