Once upon a time, a well-known businessman of the city, Anil Mathur, was traveling in his expensive car for some important work. Suddenly, the car broke down midway. The driver opened the bonnet and tried hard, but the car wouldn’t start. Anil grew restless because he had to reach on time.
Just then, his eyes fell on an old banyan tree by the roadside.
Beneath it stood a shabby rickshaw. On that rickshaw lay a thin, frail young man. His legs rested on the handle, his head was on the back seat, and his lips hummed a soft tune. Eyes closed, he was singing as if there was no worry in the world.
For Anil, this was a strange sight. He thought, “So much hardship, scorching heat, such a broken-down vehicle, yet this man is singing? How can he keep smiling in such poverty?”
He walked over and asked, “Can you take me to the station?”
Young man immediately got up with a smile and said, “Of course, sir, it will be thirty rupees.”
Anil agreed without hesitation. The whole way, the young man kept humming the same tune. Even while pulling the rickshaw, his pace was light and his face radiated contentment.
Anil Mathur began to wonder, “I own millions, yet I can’t sleep peacefully at night. And this young man, who toils day and night for just thirty rupees, is so happy – how is that possible?”
His curiosity grew and he decided he must uncover this mystery. He invited the young man for dinner at his bungalow that evening.
When evening came, the young man arrived. Anil instructed his servants to treat the guest with special care. In the grand hall, a lavish feast was laid out – vegetables, sweets, ice cream, soup, biryani, snacks and countless dishes. The servants served everything with great care.
Young man quietly began eating. On his lips, the same tune, on his face, the same calmness. No surprise, no rush. Anil’s eyes widened.
He thought, “Why isn’t he astonished by so much food? As if he is used to it already!”
Inside, jealousy began to burn. He thought, “Perhaps if I show him the life of a palace, the truth will come out.”
Next day, he invited the young man to stay at his bungalow for a few days. Young man agreed.
Now, servants were at his beck and call. One would put on his shoes; another brought his coat. At the ring of a bell, three servants rushed to attend him. He was entertained on a big screen, and an air-conditioned room was prepared for his rest.
But the young man remained exactly the same. The same easy smile, the same humming. Anil’s amazement turned into irritation.
He thought, “Even such luxury cannot affect him! Why doesn’t it make any difference?”
Finally, one evening he asked directly, “Are you happy?”
Young man instantly replied, “Yes sir, I am very happy.”
Anil asked, “And you like all this comfort, don’t you?”
Young man replied, “Yes, absolutely.”
Anil couldn’t believe it. He thought, “He must be pretending. His real nature will show only when he goes back to his old life.”
He ordered his secretary to drop the young man back to his rickshaw.
When the car stopped by the old banyan tree, the young man got out. From his bag, he pulled out an old cloth, wiped his rickshaw, set the seat and sat down humming the same tune again.
From behind the tinted glass of his car, Anil watched in astonishment. Softly, he said to his secretary, “How is this possible? After experiencing so much luxury, he returned to his old rickshaw just as happy as before!”
Secretary calmly said, “Sir, this is true prosperity. The one who ties his happiness to external things will never be content. But the one who learns to be happy from within – neither poverty nor wealth matters to him.
In every situation, he carries the same tune, the same smile. A truly successful person is the one who enjoys the present in good days and finds contentment in the present during hard days as well.”
Anil Mathur sank into deep thought. For the first time, he realized that true wealth doesn’t come from bungalows, cars, or servants but from the contentment that resides within.
You May Also Like: Three Brothers Wishes..!! Moral Lesson for Happy Life
Search Keywords: Rickshaw Puller Unmoved by Luxury: Lesson on True Happiness, Contentment Story, Inspirational Story, True Wealth Within, Motivational Story On Happiness, What We Have Is Enough, Satisfaction Vs Wealth, Rickshaw Puller Life Lesson, Moral Story In English, Story On Gratitude, Contentment Is True Happiness, Inner Happiness Vs Luxury, Short Story On Satisfaction, Life Lesson Stories, Happiness Comes From Within, Motivational Story Of Businessman And Rickshaw Puller