Shon Mehta

He was enchanted with the place since the day he read about it. He spent his childhood dreaming of the place. He fancied living with the people there. He learned their language. He learned to cook their food. He even learned to dress like them. Then, one day, he got a job, and moved to the place of his dreams. It was more beautiful than he had ever imagined. The people were friendly - they asked him about his place, his culture, and his people. He made many friends. Soon after, he met a nice local girl. He fell in love, and they married. Now, he knew that he belonged to this place. This was his home. Months passed. Then years passed. His kids grew up, and moved away. His wife died. Then, just like that, he too was no more. People gathered at his house. Everyone was sad. There was silence. Someone said "The foreigner was a good person. Almost one of us." Everyone nodded. Image: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pointillist-Self-Po...

Looking for the updated version?  > This story has been completely revised, polished, and integrated into the official  Jivavarta Universe . Read the new definitive text and view the official 6-panel comic strip adaptation here:  Microfables of Jivavarta: Hadwin's Gift (Updated Version) . One day Hadwin asked his new friend, "What do want for your birthday?”  The friend thought for a moment, and then said "I don't know. I can never decide, what I want."  "But then, what should I give you on your birthday?" asked Hadwin.  "Why don't you surprise me?" said the friend.  “Sure, I will try." said Hadwin.  After his friend left, Hadwin sat there thinking.  A stranger, who was listening to the conversation, got up, and walked towards Hadwin.  "Don't choose the gift for your friend, it will make you unhappy?” Said the stranger  Hadwin was little surprised — rather, annoyed — by the stranger’s advice.  He dec...

A man went to meet a monk. “I need your help.“ “What is it?” the monk asked. “I spent all my life helping others. I tried to do good, as much as I could. But then, just once, I did a bad deed. Now everyone has forgotten my good deeds, and they think that I am a bad person." The monk thought for a while, and then picked a large vessel and started pouring water in it by using a small mug. Every time monk poured a mug of clear water in the vessel, he said “See, you did a good deed.” After ten-fifteen mugs, suddenly the monk picked some mud and dropped it into the water, saying “See, now you did a bad deed.” Water in the vessel was now all muddy. “You did good, you did good again. But then, you did bad, and suddenly you were never any good.” Said the monk. The man understood. He was disappointed. “So, there is no solution. Everyone is going to think I am a bad person, forever. Just because of my one act.” The monk did not  answer. He kept pourin...

Ilitsa was a compassionate and kind girl. She always helped others. As a token of their appreciation, many tried to give her money. But Ilitsa always declined, saying "I don't take money, as money makes a person evil." One day, the grandmother gave two seeds to Ilitsa, and told her to plant and water them. Ilitsa obediently planted the seeds, and watered them every day. In a few weeks, one seed bloomed in to small plant full of pretty little flowers with a pleasant fragrance, while the other grew into a thorny shrub. Grandmother came visiting again one day, and looked at the second plant. "Ilitsa, what has water done to that plant? It has become all thorny!" Ilitsa looked at her grandmother curiously. "The water didn't make the plant thorny. The seed was of a thorny plant, so it bloomed into thorny plant. Look, here is a plant from the other seed you gave me. It has such beautiful flowers.” Grandmother chuckled. "So, now you understa...

Pepil always dreamt of giving a great speech. This dream was born ever since he saw the well-known orator Mefil giving a speech in front of the large crowd. People were eager to listen to Mefil’s every word. Mefil had an absolute power over his audience. Pepil craved for that power. Pepil often dreamt of winning an award and giving a great acceptance speech. Unfortunately, he never won an award. He even prepared his best man speech which could have left the crowd spellbound. But none of his friends ever thought high enough of Pepil, to make him a best man. Pepil was getting old now, and he had not given his great speech yet. His life could have passed just like this; but it changed one day. That day, the local errand boy Nobu came running to Pepil's house. "Lyard is no more" Nobu declared. At first, Pepil could not place that name. "Who the hell is Lyard?” “Lyard! Lyard, your cousin. He died this morning. They are asking for you.” gasped Nobu...

In a village, there was a pond. It was a big pond with many fish, and was the main source of food for the villagers. One morning, someone spotted a huge crocodile in the middle of the pond. Scared, the villagers rushed to their chief, and asked for a way to rid the pond of the calamity that was going to eat their fish. After much discussion, village chief said, "Let us empty the pond. The crocodile will have to run away, or die of dehydration." Immediately, the villagers dug up a channel and started releasing the pond water. By the evening, the pond was half empty. The crocodile was alive, but was getting desperate. Looking forward to the next day, the villagers went home. Next morning, the pond was empty. There was no sign of the crocodile; it had left the pond. All that remained were hundreds of small fish, lying dead in the empty pond. —- Reflection: Have you ever solved a problem only to realize the solution cost more than the problem itself? Lexicon of Ji...

'When poor, overdress. When rich, underdress.' — Shon Mehta There  was a young man. He had started a new shop selling merchandise. However, the business was not doing as well as he had hoped. One day, he complained to his father. "Father, my goods are excellent, and the pricing is competitive. But whenever I try to meet new people for business, either they refuse or they don't pay much attention. Because of this, I don't have business connections. What should I do?" The father was a shrewd man. He looked at his son. "Don’t dress so simple. Start dressing well. You need to appear rich and powerful, for people to gain confidence in you." advised his father. The son followed his fathers advice. He started getting better attention, and his business started to flourish. Time passed by, and the young man became a wealthy merchant. But something was still missing. He went back to his father, and asked him, "As a wealthy person, I get a l...