Fragrance of Empathy

A beggar was sitting on the road, asking for something to eat. A man who was passing by saw him and gave him some chapatti (bread). There was a shop at a distance, where fresh food was being prepared. The shop owner saw that the beggar was sitting holding out his chapatti in his hands and eating them, near the place where vegetables were being prepared.

When the owner saw that he got angry again and asked him, "What are you doing?" Beggar replied, "I am eating my food by imagining the taste of vegetables from its fragrance."

The owner said, "You have to pay for it." In a frightened voice, the beggar said, "But I didn't take anything." Dispute got bigger, and was taken to the village chief.

Chief listened to the whole story and said to the shop owner, "I will pay for the fragrance of your vegetables." After this chief took out a bag of coins from his pocket shook it for a bit and then put it back in his pocket.

The shop owner was surprised to see this. He asked the chief, "Where is the payment?" Chief said, "I just paid you in full."

He asked, "But.. I didn't get anything." Chief replied, "Fragrance of your vegetable was taken by this beggar. That's why I paid you with the clicking sound of coins."

Hearing the chief answer, the owner walked away from there.

Flash: A beggar, savoring the scent of freshly cooked vegetables near a shop, faces the wrath of the owner for 'stealing' the aroma. Taken to the village chief, a surprising resolution unfolds: the chief pays for the fragrance, not with coins, but with understanding. In this simple act, empathy triumphs, bridging the gap between the beggar and the shop owner, leaving behind a lingering sense of harmony.

Moral: Never underestimate the power of perspective. What may seem insignificant to one person could be of great value to another. Empathy and compassion can bridge gaps and resolve conflicts, leading to mutual understanding and harmony.

"Empathy is the fragrance that sweetens the atmosphere of human interaction."