Story 2: The Well That Belonged to Everyone
In the same village, not far from the banyan tree, there stood an old stone well.
It had no owner.
It was older than the houses, older than the fences, and everyone used its water—farmers, travelers, children, and animals.
People said,
“The well belongs to the village.”
And for many years, that was true.
One summer, the rains failed.
The river thinned, ponds dried, and only the well remained steady.
That was when a wealthy farmer placed a fence around it.
“This well is on my land,” he announced.
“From today, only those who pay may draw water.”
Anger spread quickly.
“How can water belong to one man?” people shouted.
The farmer shrugged.
“The land is mine. The well is on it.”
The dispute reached the banyan tree.
Villagers spoke one after another.
Some begged.
Some threatened.
Some argued law.
The farmer stood firm.
The village judge listened quietly and then asked for silence.
He walked slowly to the well.
He looked down into it and asked the farmer one question:
“When rain falls, whose clouds fill this well?”
The farmer frowned.
“The clouds belong to no one.”
“And when water rises from the earth,” the judge continued,
“whose ground does it come from?”
Again, the farmer stayed silent.
The judge turned to the crowd.
“This man owns the land,” he said,
“but he does not own the rain, the earth, or the thirst of others.”
Then he faced the farmer.
“You may fence your land,” the judge declared.
“But the well will remain open.
In return, the village will guard it, clean it, and protect it—
so no one takes more than they need.”
The fence came down.
The well stayed open.
And that summer, no one went thirsty.
🌟 Moral
Some things cannot be owned, only shared wisely.
Continue Story 3 / Back to Story 1
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