Ravi and the Kalpavriksha: A Lesson of Contentment
In an ancient city of Dwandwa, known for its lush green fields and sapphire-blue waters, lived a humble shoemaker named Ravi. Although small-scale, his trade was renowned throughout the city. However, Ravi's life was marked by an intense longing for something missing, something unbeknownst to him.
Ravi had a regular visitor, an old and saintly looking man named Vishnu who traded textiles. Textiles fascinated Ravi because of its diverse designs imprinted. The imperfections in the handmade fabrics intrigued Ravi, and he always wondered how such little glitches could create an ornamenting effect.
On a warm summer afternoon, while Ravi was engrossed making footwear, a particular piece of fabric in Vishnu's basket caught his eye. It was a melodious symphony of colors crafted on a canvas of wool. Teal, gold, and burnt sienna wove into each other in an enchanting dance of colors. Smitten by its beauty, Ravi promptly traded his best pair of shoes for the fabric.
Late that night, under the faint glow of the moon, Ravi unraveled the fabric, revealing its full glory. To his astonishment, hidden within the enchanting colors and patterns was a map. The map had an 'X' marked at the place where a legendary tree, the 'Kalpavriksha,' was believed to exist. According to folklore, the tree was a divine entity, fulfilling any wish asked underneath its cool shade.
Now, Ravi, although a simple man, was not devoid of dreams. The dreams of his shoemaking skills extending beyond his small shop, of prosperity entering his humble life. The tree's legend ignited his latent ambition. He, hastily, prepared for the expedition of a lifetime, following the map.
Despite the rigorous journey, his spirits were high. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, but the unwavering determination reflected in Ravi's eyes did not waver. Fighting fierce storms, scorching heat, he finally reached a mesmerising meadow where 'Kalpavriksha' was standing tall, exuding divine grace.
Ravi, moved by an inexplicable happiness, rushed under the tree, exclaimed his deepest desires out loud. He wished for wealth, a larger shop, fame renown across the lands. Suddenly, a deep soothing voice echoed, 'Your wish is granted, Ravi'. A wave of exhilaration swept over him seeing his dreams turning into reality.
The tale of the humble shoemaker who acquired immense wealth and fame spread throughout the land like wildfire. His life transformed overnight. Customers flooded into his grand new shop, his shoes became the symbol of high fashion. Ravi reveled in his newfound prosperity.
However, days turned into weeks and then months, and a deep sense of unease started to gnaw Ravi's heart. The frills of wealth and fame brought solitude, detachment from his old friends, and an unexplained emptiness. The joy of crafting footwear lost in the constant hum of chatter and clink of coins.
Ravi realised, he was much happier in his smaller shop, Whistling his beloved tunes, while crafting each piece with love. His dreams were already fulfilled in those tiny components of his past life. So, he decided to revisit the tree.
Standing under the ‘Kalpavriksha’ once again, he said: 'All I wish for is to reclaim my old life, the joy of crafting shoes, contentment, and my small shop filled with my friends’. The same soothing voice echoed, 'your wish is granted, Ravi’. And, instantly, everything returned as it was. Ravi’s heart filled with sheer contentment, he realised, he was indeed rich all along.
In the end, Ravi learned that happiness could be found in the simplest of things, and that getting lost in the pursuit of excess could lead to profound unhappiness. Thus, our humble shoemaker continued his crafting shoes, with a heart full of joy and a lesson of a lifetime.