Tina - Everything is Beautiful by Akila Martin

In a quaint village nestled among lush fields, a little girl named Tina, just eight years old, found magic in the simplest things. Her father, Suresh, was a farmer, while her mother, Naina, balanced homemaking with helping on the farm. Suresh, despite only studying until Grade 4, was a wellspring of wisdom. Tina cherished their bond, often seeking his knowledge about the world around them.

One bright morning, Suresh set off to work in a neighboring village's sugarcane field. Tina sometimes accompanied him when school was out, relishing the moments spent with her father. On their journey back home, Suresh reminded her not to discard waste on the road, instead encouraging her to place it where it might be useful. They paused under a large tree to rest, where Suresh set down some scraps.

"Appa," Tina asked, looking at the discarded bits, "why put them here? It's just waste."

Suresh smiled and pointed to a bird gathering twigs nearby. "That twig may seem useless to us, but it's essential for that bird. Remember, what's waste to one might be treasure to another."

Intrigued, Tina followed her father as he showed her the bird diligently building its nest. "See how beautiful it is? Everything has a purpose; we just need to look at it differently. Before throwing anything away, think about who else might need it."

From that day on, Tina became mindful of waste, often sharing her father's wisdom with her friends.

One day, news of a fair in a nearby village stirred excitement in Tina's heart. She loved the vibrant stalls, the laughter of children, and the delicious treats. With her father hoisting her onto his shoulders, she felt on top of the world. As they entered the fair, Suresh handed her twenty rupees.

"Tina, spend this wisely. Choose something you really want."

Tina beamed, declaring she would explore the fair before making her decision. They wandered through colorful stalls, but one caught Tina's eye—a shop brimming with creations made from discarded materials: dolls, toy houses, and playful vehicles, all crafted with care.

She rushed over, her eyes wide with wonder. The shopkeeper explained that everything was made from waste. Tina's heart raced as she fell in love with a doll priced at ten rupees and a dollhouse for fifteen. But her total exceeded her budget. After thoughtful consideration, she asked her parents to help choose.

"Buy what you love most," Naina encouraged. But to Tina's surprise, the shopkeeper offered both for just ten rupees, explaining, "It's all because of your father."

Suresh, puzzled, asked, "Do I know you?"

The man smiled. "Not personally, but I know your wisdom. One day, I was feeling hopeless, contemplating giving up. Then I heard you talking to Tina about the value of everything. Watching those birds build nests inspired me. If they could do it with scraps, why couldn't I?"

Suresh was moved by the man's story. "You've done incredible work. Your talent shouldn't fade; you must teach others."

Excitedly, Tina chimed in, "I want to learn! Please let me learn!"

Though the man hesitated to accept money, Suresh insisted, giving him the twenty rupees. Tina joyfully hugged her new doll and house.

As the days turned into weeks, Tina began learning the art of creating from waste. She taught her friends, spreading the message of value in everything. Soon, the village blossomed with creativity as more people joined in, turning trash into treasures, all while making a decent living.

Through his simple lessons, Suresh not only imparted wisdom to Tina but also ignited a wave of change in their community. They discovered that with kindness and creativity, nothing is wasted, and everything is beautiful.

In a world filled with empathy and shared knowledge, they found a richer tapestry of life, woven together by the understanding that even the smallest act can create ripples of change, transforming lives in the most unexpected ways.