WORK HARD TO WIN THE HEARTS!

Malaiyanur was a village with fertile green fields, orchards, and flower gardens. The Monkey family lived in an orchard there. Whenever the mother went in search of food, the two little baby monkeys used to accompany her. One of the baby monkeys would jump and try to pick the fruits along with the mother.

“My sweet boy, Kumara! Look at your brother! He always comes along with me and plucks the fruits. Why don’t you come as well?” asked the mother. She also said, “Go and pick the fruits from that branch.”

“No, Mummy. Don’t you remember that I fell down yesterday while playing? I have severe pain in my legs from that moment. I am not able to jump or move my legs,” said Kumaran.

With the fruits collected by his dad, mom, and younger brother, Kumaran ate satisfactorily. Whenever there was a temple festival, the family would go to the trees near the temple. Even in that atmosphere, Kumaran would idly sit on one of the branches. His brother, Sokkan, would be active. He would jump from branch to branch. The whole family could eat to their hearts’ fill just with the fruits and food given to Sokkan by the devotees.

One day, the mother called both the brothers.

“My dear ones, both of you have grown up well. Hereafter, you should search for your food by yourselves. Do you understand? Let it be fruits or any other food, you should arrange for yourselves,” said the mother.

“That’s fine, Ma,” said Sokkan and happily started jumping from one branch to another.

Kumaran did not move at all. He was sitting in the same place. It was the season of mangoes in Malaiyanur. There were many mangoes in the gardens. Sokkan played throughout the day around the trees. He picked mangoes from trees and ate well. He returned to his home in the evening with a bag full of mangoes.

Kumaran did not go anywhere. He did not search for his food. He looked dull and tired as he had not eaten anything. Looking at his sad face, Sokkan offered him some fruits.

“Anna! Here are the mangoes! Eat them!” said Sokkan to Kumaran.

“No,” thundered his mother. “You should not give him any fruit.”

“Amma! I am hungry. Let me eat the fruit,” prayed Kumaran.

“Mom, he is my brother. He does like this always. He never thinks of collecting food,” said Sokkan.

“True, Sokka. But we should not allow him to be like that forever. How many gardens are there in Malaiyanur! How many delicious fruits! Little effort is enough. Can he not happily hop from branch to branch and collect his food?” shouted the mother.

The aroma of the ripe mangoes filled the air. Sokkan ate one or two fruits as he felt hungry. He did not offer any fruit to Kumaran as per the instructions of the mother.

“I too want to eat such tasty mangoes. I will not sit idly like this hereafter. From tomorrow onwards, I will go to the orchards. I will collect good and tasty fruits,” whispered Kumaran to himself.

Next morning, even before the rays of the sun became stronger, Kumaran started moving in search of his food. He was appreciated by his mother.

“You have won my heart, dear,” she said, hugging Kumaran.