Kural #127

Story behind this kural

In a small village nestled beside a whispering river, lived two brothers, Arun and Bala. Arun was a skilled craftsman, his hands deft, his heart kind. Bala, however, possessed a sharp tongue, quicker to speak than to think. One day, a wealthy merchant commissioned Arun to build a grand gate for his mansion. Arun toiled diligently, but a sudden storm damaged the nearly-completed work. The merchant, upon seeing the ruin, flew into a rage, accusing Arun of incompetence. Arun, stung by the unfair words, remained silent. Bala, however, erupted. He hurled insults at the merchant, defending his brother with fiery words. The merchant, equally enraged, cancelled the commission and spread rumors throughout the village, damaging both brothers' reputations. Arun, though disappointed, found new work. Bala, however, was shunned. His harsh words had brought them both hardship. Arun, witnessing his brother's isolation, continued to work hard and said nothing negative about his brother's behavior. The villagers slowly came around again, but Bala was alone with his regret.