Once upon a time, in a quiet little village, there lived a kind weaver named Somilaka. He worked hard every day, weaving colorful cloth on his loom. His hands never rested, and his cloth was always neat and pretty.
But Somilaka was sad. “Oh dear,” he sighed one evening, “I work so hard, but I am still poor. Others who are lazy live in big houses. Why is life so unfair?”
Just then—poof!—a cloud of smoke rose near the old banyan tree. Out came a tall Genie with shiny eyes and a booming voice.
“Weaver, Weaver! Why are you so unhappy?” asked the Genie.
Somilaka was a little scared, but he said politely, “Great Spirit, I work hard every day, yet I remain poor. Why is my life like this?”
The Genie thought for a moment and said, “Sometimes, life doesn’t give wealth just for hard work. But don’t worry—I can help! I will give you a choice. Do you want a small amount of money forever, or a lot of money at once?”
Somilaka scratched his head. “Hmm… if I choose little money, I will always struggle. But if I choose a lot, maybe I can change my life. I want great wealth!”
The Genie waved his hands, and sparkling gold and silver filled Somilaka’s home.
At first, Somilaka was thrilled. He bought new clothes, shared food, and built a fine house. But soon, problems began. His neighbors grew jealous. Some people tried to trick him. Even his old friends stopped smiling at him.
Somilaka sat down sadly. “Oh no… money brought me troubles, not happiness. True joy comes from kindness, wisdom, and good friends.”
The Genie appeared again and smiled. “You are right, Weaver. Gold may shine, but wisdom shines brighter.”
From that day, Somilaka lived simply, shared with others, and found peace in his work and friendships.