Right tools of life

The kitchen tap was leaking again. With a sigh, I called a plumber._

_A few minutes later, a middle-aged man walked in — calm, steady, carrying a faded toolkit._

_I watched him at work. He pulled out a wrench - it was cracked at the handle._

_“How will he fix anything with that?” I wondered silently._

_He didn’t seem bothered. With a quiet focus, he began loosening the pipe. A rusted portion needed to be cut off. He reached into his bag again and pulled out a small saw - half of it was missing!_

_Now I was sure. I’ve called the wrong man for the job. But within ten minutes, the leak was gone. The tap was shining, and not a single drop escaped._

_When I handed him a hundred-Rupee note, he shook his head. “No, Sir. Half of this is enough.”_

_I stared at him, surprised. “Who refuses extra money these days?”_

_He smiled - a calm, grounded smile._

_“Sir, every job has a fixed worth. If I take more today, I’ll expect more tomorrow. When that doesn’t come, I’ll be unhappy. So I prefer to take only what’s fair. It keeps me content.”_

_I nodded slowly. “At least buy yourself a new wrench and saw. They’ll make your work easier.”_

_He chuckled softly. “Ah, Sir… tools are meant to wear out. That’s their destiny. But even when they’re chipped or cracked, they still do their job. Just like senior people - a few scars don’t make us useless.”_

_He paused, then added, “When you write in your office, does it matter which pen you use? Expensive or ordinary - if you know how to write, you’ll write well with anything. But if you don’t, even the costliest pen won’t help. The skill lies in the hands, not the tool.”_

_I stood there speechless. His words sank deep. The satisfaction on his weathered face was something rare - something money can’t buy._

*A Thought to Treasure*

_In our endless race for wealth and comfort._

 *we often forget the true “tools” of life* -

 *honesty*, 

*hard work*, 

*gratitude*, 

and *contentment*.

_When these are intact, even broken tools can create miracles._

_But when they’re missing, no riches in the world can fix the leaks within us._

Dedicated to 

*All senior citizens*