English :
In a growing town lived an old carpenter named Shankar. For more than 40 years, he had built doors for homes, schools, and temples. His work was known for strength and fine finishing. People trusted his craftsmanship blindly.
As age caught up, Shankar decided to retire. He went to his contractor and said,
“I want to stop working now and spend time with my family.”
The contractor respected him but requested one last favour “Please build one final door for me.”
Shankar agreed reluctantly. But since his heart was no longer in the work, he began cutting corners. He used average wood, rushed the polishing, and didn’t give his usual attention to detail. For the first time in his life, he worked without pride.
When the door was ready, he handed over the keys. The contractor smiled and said,
“This door is my gift to you for your new home.”
Shankar stood frozen. His hands trembled.
He realized the door he had built carelessly was now part of the house he would live in. The weak joints, rough finish, and poor quality would be his daily reality.
That day, Shankar understood a lifelong lesson. Every piece of work we do becomes a part of our own life, whether we realize it or not.
Always give your best even in the last task, the smallest duty, or the unseen effort because you may one day live inside what you build today.
Source Credit: Google
Marathi :
एका वाढत्या शहरात शंकर नावाचे वृद्ध सुतार राहत होते. ४० वर्षांहून अधिक काळ त्यांनी घरे, शाळा, मंदिरे यांसाठी मजबूत दरवाजे बनवले होते. त्यांच्या कामावर लोकांचा पूर्ण विश्वास होता.
वय वाढल्यावर त्यांनी निवृत्तीचा निर्णय घेतला. ठेकेदाराला त्यांनी सांगितले की आता कुटुंबासोबत वेळ घालवायचा आहे. ठेकेदाराने मान्य केले, पण शेवटचं एक काम करण्याची विनंती केली.
मन नसतानाही शंकर कामाला लागले. यावेळी त्यांनी दर्जा कमी ठेवला, घाई केली, फिनिशिंगकडे दुर्लक्ष केलं. आयुष्यात पहिल्यांदाच त्यांनी अभिमानाशिवाय काम केलं.
काम पूर्ण झाल्यावर ठेकेदाराने किल्ली देत सांगितलं,
“हा दरवाजा तुमच्यासाठी तुमच्या नव्या घरासाठी भेट.”
शंकर स्तब्ध झाले. त्यांनी स्वतःच्या घरासाठीच निकृष्ट दरवाजा बनवला होता.
त्या दिवशी त्यांना उमगलं आपण जे काम करतो, ते शेवटी आपल्याच आयुष्याचा भाग बनतं.
प्रत्येक काम सर्वोत्तम करा शेवटचं असो, छोटं असो किंवा कुणालाही न दिसणारं असो कारण उद्या तुम्हालाच त्यात राहावं लागू शकतं.
Source Credit: गुगल