Plumber
Water was leaking from the tap in the kitchen, so I called a plumber. I was watching him work.
He took out a wrench from his bag. The handle of the wrench was broken. I quietly watched how he would work with this wrench.
He detached the tap from the pipe. The part of the pipe that was corroded needed to be cut. He then put his hand into the bag and took out a thin spanner. Even the spanner was partly broken.
I was silently wondering whom I had called. If his tools were not in proper condition, how would he work?
He slowly grabbed the spanner in his fist and started working on the pipe. His hands were skilled. He worked the spanner back and forth for a few minutes, and the pipe broke into two pieces. He removed the corroded part and fit the tap into the remaining part of the pipe. He took about ten minutes to complete this task.
When I gave him 100 rupees, he said that it wasn’t enough, and I should give him half.
I was quite surprised by his response. I asked him, “Why brother? Does no one leave any money?”
But his answer made me realize the truth in such a way that I was astonished.
He said, “Sir, every job has fixed rates. If you pay more today, I’ll be happy, but I won’t get this much everywhere, and that would be a problem.
Every job has its rate. You should pay as much as is fair.”
I slowly told the plumber to buy a new spanner and wrench. It would make the work easier.
Now, the plumber laughed.
“Oh no, sir. Tools often break while working, but work doesn’t stop because of that.”
With surprise, I asked him, “If the wrench is right, and the spanner is fine, won’t the work become easier?”
“It might,” he said. “But sir, what pen you use in the office, does it make any difference? You should know how to write. If you know how to write, you can use any pen. If you don’t know how to write, no matter what pen you have, you won’t be able to write.”
“Skill lies in the hand, not in the machine. Sir, this is called a tool. It’s nothing more than that. Just like you have a pen for yourself, this is my tool. These have broken a bit, but they’re still working. I’ll buy new ones, and the same part will break again.”
Since these broke, there’s nothing left to break in them.
Now, the work is going smoothly. I was silent. The satisfaction I saw on the face of the hardworking, honest earner after working hard all day was truly astonishing.
I felt that we spend the whole day running after money. But when we have the tool of hard work and honesty with us, then the need for a lot of money really doesn’t remain.
We have a lot to learn from many people. These people don’t study in schools or teach. They come into our lives at any time during the journey of life. It’s necessary to recognize such people, to learn from them, and to respect their thoughts.
I didn’t say anything. I asked the plumber, “Will you have tea?” He said, “No, sir. I have a lot of work. Water is leaking in many houses. I have to fix them.”
“Sir, let’s all pay attention so that water is not wasted.”
And then he left. I kept thinking for a long time. If only we were all plumbers like him!
Always stay happy.
What is obtained is sufficient.