WASHERMAN AND A SHINNING STONE -ZEN STORY // SOFT SKILLS BY EZHILARASAN

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A washer-man was once washing the clothes in the river. Suddenly, he saw a very shinning stone in the riverbed. He picked it up and tied it on his donkey's neck. When he came back to the town for returning the washed clothes, a jewelry merchant noticed the glittering stone hanging from the donkey's neck. He called the washer-man and wanted to purchase the stone. He offered one Rupee for the stone. But the washer-man demanded five Rupees. The merchant did not agree, he was persistently bargaining with him. He was slowly increasing the bidding value rupee by rupee.

Noticing this, another merchant from a nearby shop came near and said, "Okay, man, I will give Rs.1000 for this and it is the final price. No bargain. What you say?" For this, the washer-man immediately agreed. The merchant gave away Rs.1000 got the stone and went away hurriedly. 

After this the first merchant came near the washer-man and told, "You fool! It was a diamond. It is worth a lakh and odd rupees. You had been stupid in selling it for just Rs.1000. For this, the washer-man replied, "What you say might be true. For me, it was just an ordinary stone, so getting Rs.1000 was a great profit. But, you knew very well that it was a diamond. And still you did not have the generosity to pay even Rs.5 for it. Now decide for yourself who is a fool." 

EZHILARASAN VENKATACHALAM
SALEM, SOUTH INDIA.