One day, a curious student approached his teacher with a perplexing question: “Why do people often marry someone different from the one they truly love?” The teacher pondered the question and said, “To understand this, go to the apple orchard and choose the finest apple. But remember, you can only pass through the trees once and cannot go back.”
The student entered the orchard, immediately spotting a beautiful, shiny apple in the first row. However, he thought to himself that perhaps a better one awaited him further along. As he continued, he saw another apple that seemed even more perfect. He kept moving, convinced there might be an even better choice ahead.
After passing many trees, he realized that the apples were not as appealing as the ones he had let go. Ultimately, he returned to the teacher empty-handed, regretful for not choosing the best apple when he had the chance.
The teacher listened to his tale and said, “You searched for something better, neglecting the best option right in front of you. This is the common mistake made by those in love, who often lose the best person in their lives due to indecision.”
The student, still contemplative, asked, “So, does that mean we shouldn’t fall in love?” The teacher replied, “Not at all. Anyone can fall in love if they find the right person. But once you do, hold onto them tightly and never let go due to pride, anger, or comparisons with others.”
The student then asked, “How do people end up marrying someone other than their true love?” The teacher instructed, “To answer that, go to the orange grove and choose the largest orange, following the same rules as before.”
The student approached the orange grove with newfound caution. This time, he selected a medium-sized orange that felt just right and returned to the teacher. He recounted his decision-making process.
The teacher smiled and said, “This time, you returned with something! You made a choice based on what felt right at that moment, which is similar to how one chooses a partner for marriage.”
Still perplexed, the student asked, “What troubles me is whether it’s better to marry the one you love or to learn to love the one you marry.” The teacher replied, “The answer is simple, but you must be honest with yourself to see it clearly.”
Moral:
Life presents us with choices, like a basket of fruits. You can either choose the fruit you love or select one that is healthy and satisfying. Choose wisely, for you may spend a lifetime wondering about the choices you didn’t make. As long as you remain true to yourself and honest, you cannot go wrong with either path.
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