Charity Never Fades”

in a small village surrounded by fields and dusty roads, there lived an elderly woman named Asha. Her house was a tiny mud hut with a leaking roof and cracked walls, but it was always clean. Asha had lived a hard life. She had lost her husband many years ago and had no children to support her. To earn a living, she woke up early every morning, collected wild flowers from the nearby forest, and sold them beside the road.

Her earnings were very small. Some days she sold all her flowers, while on other days she returned home with unsold bundles. Whatever money she earned was barely enough to buy rice and vegetables for one simple meal a day. Yet, despite her poverty, Asha was known in the village for her kind heart and gentle smile. She never complained about her life and always believed that helping others was the greatest form of wealth.

One evening, as the sun was setting and the sky turned orange, Asha was packing up her flower basket. She noticed a young boy sitting under a tree not far from her stall. He looked weak and tired, with dusty clothes and bare feet. His eyes were fixed on the food in Asha’s small cloth bundle. Asha realized that the boy was hungry.

At first, she hesitated. That food was meant to be her dinner, and she had not earned much that day. But when she looked at the boy’s thin face and trembling hands, her heart softened. She walked up to him, smiled, and asked gently, “Child, have you eaten today?”

The boy shook his head. In a quiet voice, he told her that he had been traveling for days in search of work after losing his parents. He had no money and no place to go.

Without thinking twice, Asha sat beside him and opened her food bundle. She shared her meal with the boy, giving him the larger portion. She also handed him a few fresh flowers and said, “These are for hope. Never lose it.”

The boy’s eyes filled with tears. He thanked her again and again, promising never to forget her kindness. After finishing the food, he stood up, bowed respectfully, and walked away down the long road, carrying not just flowers but new hope in his heart.

Years passed quietly. The village slowly changed, but Asha’s life grew harder. Age weakened her body, and she could no longer walk long distances to collect flowers. Her hands shook, her eyesight faded, and her earnings became almost nothing. Eventually, she stopped selling flowers altogether and stayed inside her hut most days, surviving on the kindness of a few neighbors.

One rainy afternoon, when the wind howled outside, Asha heard a knock on her door. She struggled to her feet and opened it. Standing outside was a well-dressed man holding bags of food, medicine, and warm clothes. His face looked familiar, yet she could not remember where she had seen him before.

The man smiled warmly and said, “Do you remember me?”

Asha looked closely at him, confused. The man then gently reminded her of the hungry boy she had helped many years ago by the roadside.

Suddenly, her eyes widened. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she realized that this man was the same boy. He explained that her small act of charity had given him strength to continue his journey. He had worked hard, studied, and eventually became a teacher. Inspired by Asha’s kindness, he had dedicated his life to helping others.

“I searched for you for many years,” he said softly. “Today, I am here to repay the kindness that changed my life.”

From that day on, the man made sure Asha never lacked food, medicine, or care. He visited her often, listened to her stories, and treated her like family. Asha spent her remaining years in peace and comfort, her heart full of joy.

She realized that true charity does not require wealth. Even the smallest act of kindness, done with a pure heart, can change lives and return in ways we never expect.

Moral: True charity comes from the heart, and its rewards last a lifetime.