The Old Farmer and His Last Field
In a small village surrounded by golden fields lived an old farmer named Raghunath. His back was bent like the sickle he carried, and his hands were rough from decades of working the soil. People said he was poor, but Raghunath never believed it. To him, the earth itself was his greatest wealth.
Every morning before sunrise, Raghunath walked slowly to his field. His steps were weak, yet his spirit was strong. The land was small and dry, and many villagers had already given up farming such soil. They advised him to sell the land and rest in his old age. But Raghunath only smiled and said, "This land fed me when I was young. I will not abandon it now."
Years ago, Raghunath had a family. His wife had passed away, and his son had gone to the city in search of a better life. Letters came for a while, then stopped. Loneliness sat beside Raghunath every evening, but he never complained. He spoke to his crops as if they were his children, whispering hope into the soil.
That year, the rains were late. The crops began to dry, and villagers laughed quietly at the old farmer's stubbornness. Still, Raghunath worked every day, watering plants with buckets drawn from a faraway well. His body ached, but his faith did not break.
One evening, exhausted, Raghunath collapsed in his field. The village children found him and carried him home. For days he rested, unsure if he would ever return to the land he loved. When he finally stood again, leaning on a stick, he went back to the field.
To his surprise, small green shoots had appeared. Against all odds, the crops had survived.
When harvest time came, Raghunath's field stood golden while many others had failed. The same villagers who once mocked him now praised his patience and hard work. News reached the city, and Raghunath's son returned after many years. Seeing his father and the thriving field, his eyes filled with tears.
"Forgive me, Baba," he said. "You never gave up, but I did."
Raghunath smiled, placing a trembling hand on his son's shoulder. "The land teaches us life," he replied softly. "If you care for it with honesty, it always gives back."
From that day on, the old farmer was no longer lonely. His story spread through the village, reminding everyone that true wealth lies in patience, dedication, and love for one's roots.