The Boy Who Wanted to Know Everything

There was once a boy named Arjun. He lived in a small village surrounded by hills, trees, and quiet roads. Arjun was different from other kids. He always asked questions. “Why is the sky blue?” “How do birds fly?” “What happens when we sleep?”

Sometimes, people laughed at him. “You ask too many questions,” they said. But Arjun didn’t stop. He loved learning. He wanted to know everything.

One day, Arjun saw an old man sitting under a tree near the school. The man had white hair, big glasses, and a kind smile. He was reading a book. Arjun walked up to him and said, “Sir, what are you reading?”

The old man looked up and smiled. “It’s a book about stars,” he said. “Do you like stars?”

“Yes!” said Arjun. “I always look at them at night and wonder what they are.”

“Then sit down,” the old man said. “Let’s talk.”

From that day, Arjun came to the tree every afternoon. The man’s name was Mr. Iyer. He was once a teacher in the city but now lived in the village. He told Arjun stories about space, animals, great people, and big ideas. Arjun listened with wide eyes.

One day, Mr. Iyer gave Arjun a notebook. “Write one new thing you learn every day,” he said. “Small or big, just write it down.”

Arjun did just that. He wrote about ants, clouds, plants, planets, and even words he heard for the first time. His notebook slowly filled with ideas and drawings. He didn’t even realize that while writing and learning, his brain was growing stronger.

As time passed, Arjun’s love for learning grew even more. When it rained, he would sit by the window and read. When the power went out, he would ask his parents to tell him stories from their childhood. He even asked the village doctor how medicines worked and watched how the carpenter built furniture. Every little thing made him curious.

Years passed. Arjun grew older. His friends started working in shops or helping on farms. But Arjun wanted to study more. His parents were poor, but they believed in him. They sold some of their crops and saved money to send him to a school in the nearby town.

In the town, everything was new. There were tall buildings, busy roads, and big schools. At first, Arjun felt scared. Many students in the school spoke English and seemed smarter. Arjun was quiet in class and sat at the back. But he remembered what Mr. Iyer had once told him: “Never stop asking questions. That’s how your mind stays alive.”

So Arjun slowly started asking questions again. His teachers began to notice him. “This boy thinks differently,” they said. Arjun worked hard. He spent time in the library, helped others with their homework, and never stopped writing in his notebook.

After some years, Arjun went to college in the city. It was hard, but he was used to working hard. He met people from all over the country. He joined clubs, read many books, and even started teaching younger students in his free time.

One day, during a college holiday, Arjun returned to his village. He was now a young man with bright eyes and a big smile. He walked to the tree where Mr. Iyer used to sit, hoping to see him again.

But a farmer nearby told him, “Mr. Iyer passed away last year. But he always talked about you. He said you would do great things.”

Arjun felt a lump in his throat but smiled. “He taught me the most important thing,” he said. “To keep learning and never be afraid to ask.”

That day, Arjun went to the village school. It was still small and simple. He saw children running and playing. Some of them looked at him with wonder. “Are you the boy who went to the city?” one asked.

Arjun nodded. “Yes. And I came back to help you.”

He decided to start a learning center in the village. He brought books, computers, and games that made learning fun. He told stories, just like Mr. Iyer had done for him. The children loved it. They began to ask questions—lots of them. Just like Arjun used to.

Arjun became a teacher, a mentor, and a friend. People in the village said, “He never forgot where he came from.”

And Arjun always remembered what started it all—his questions, his curiosity, and one kind man who took the time to answer.

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Moral of the Story:

Never stop asking questions. Keep learning every day. The more you learn, the stronger your mind becomes—and one day, you can use your knowledge to light the way for others.