Ramesh was selling baskets in the market. An old man approached and carefully examined the baskets. He asked Ramesh, “How sturdy are these baskets?” Smiling, Ramesh replied, “Very sturdy, Grandpa. They’ll last for years.”
The old man picked up a basket and asked, “If I take it to the riverbank, will it hold up?” Ramesh, giving a typical shopkeeper’s response, said, “Riverbank? No, Grandpa. The moisture there will ruin it.”
Disappointed, the old man said, “Then it’s no use to me,” and walked away.
Later, Ramesh felt bad. He thought, “Why didn’t I listen to him? Maybe he really needed it for the riverbank.” He went looking for the old man and found him by the river, placing fish in a basket.
Feeling ashamed, Ramesh apologized. The old man smiled and said, “It’s alright, son. Everything has its use. What matters is understanding it.”
Moral of the story: Understand others’ needs before giving advice. Hasty opinions can cause harm.