Once upon a time, in a small village nestled beside a sparkling blue river called the Yamuna, lived a little girl named Padmini. Padmini loved to sing, and her voice was as sweet as the honey her father collected from the forest. But Padmini had one fault: she was very proud of her beautiful voice and often boasted about it to the other children.

One day, an old woman named Mai arrived in the village. She was a traveling storyteller, and she carried with her a beautiful, hand-carved wooden flute. The children gathered around Mai in the village square, eager to hear her stories. Mai played enchanting melodies on her flute, captivating everyone, even the birds in the trees.

Padmini, however, stood at the back, arms crossed. When Mai finished playing, Padmini stepped forward and said loudly, “Your flute is nice, old woman, but my voice is far sweeter! Everyone says so!”

Mai smiled gently. “Perhaps,” she said. “But a beautiful voice is not just about how it sounds, but also about how it is used. Why don’t we have a little contest?”

The villagers were excited. Mai explained that the contest wasn’t about who sang the loudest or the highest notes. Instead, they would sing to cheer up old Mr. Gupta, who had been feeling unwell and sad lately.

Padmini went first. She sang a beautiful, soaring song about the river and the mountains. It was technically perfect, but Mr. Gupta just nodded politely and looked away.

Then it was Mai’s turn. She played a simple, soft tune on her flute, one that reminded Mr. Gupta of his childhood and happy memories. Tears welled up in Mr. Gupta’s eyes, and a small smile crept onto his face. He began to hum along with the melody.

Padmini was surprised. She had sung her best, yet Mai’s simple tune had a much greater effect.

Mai saw Padmini’s confusion and explained, “My dear, a truly beautiful voice, or any talent, is a gift to be shared. It’s about making others feel happy and connected, not about showing how good you are. Your voice is lovely, Padmini, but it can be even more beautiful when used with kindness and empathy.”

Padmini understood. From that day on, she used her beautiful voice not to boast, but to bring joy and comfort to others. She sang lullabies to the babies, cheerful songs to the workers in the fields, and soothing melodies to anyone feeling sad or lonely. And that, she found, was far more rewarding than any praise she had received before. She and Mai became the best of friends, filling the village with the shared joy of song and stories.