Optical for the headman of Adoni village
There are a few tips on how to take care of your eyes.
Do not read with your back to the light. Keep whatever you are reading, at least an arm’s length away. Do not let your hair fall over your eyes. If you get something in your eyes, do not rub them- splash water on them instead. If it still hurts go to an eye doctor. If you wear spectacles, see that the glasses are clean. Eat plenty of fresh vegetables, especially carrots.
Royappa of Adoni village had a shop. He sold optical in the shop. He tried them out on his customers before he sold them. He made them put on the glass and read the letters of the alphabet on a board. If one pair of spectacles did not help, he tried another. He kept trying until he found the right optical for them.
The headman of Adoni heard of Royappa’s spectacles. ``They are excellent for reading,’’ said everyone.
``If that is so,’’ said the headman, ``I must buy a pair,’’
He came to Royappa’s shop. Royappa got him a special chair. He fetched the alphabet board. He put a pair of glasses on the headman’s nose. ``Can you read the letters, sir?’’ he asked.
The headman frowned. ``No,’’ he replied. ``Not a word.’’ Royappa put a second pair on his nose. ``Try these,’’ he said. The headman started, blinked and stared again.
``Not good at all!’’ he snapped.
``Don’t worry, sir,’’ answered Royappa. ``I have different kinds of optical.’’ He took down another pair.
``Try these,’’ said.
The headman peered at the letters on the board.
``No, these aren’t any good, either,’’ he complained.
Royappa handed him a fourth pair and a fifth and a sixth and a seventh. ``No ‘’, the headman shouted, ``none of your pairs in any good. You are a cheat.’’
``I am not, sir,’’ Royappa answered. ``My glasses have helped thousands of people to read.’’
``They haven’t helped me!’’ the headman was shouted.
Royappa didn’t answer. He scratched his chin thoughtfully. Then he said, ``Sir, may I ask you something?’’
``You may’’, replied the headman.
``sir,’’’ said Royappa, ``Do you know how to read?’’
``If I knew how to read,’’ replied the headman, ``I would not buy spectacles, would I? The optical are to help me to read, aren’t they?
Royappa wanted to laugh. But he said politely, ``oh, sir. It is only if you know how to read that spectacles can help you. Spectacles don’t teach you to read!’’
``No one told that!’’ said the headman. ``And now it looks as if I will have to learn to read! But who I will teach me?
``We can arrange for teacher,’’ Royappa told him. He found him a teacher the very next day.
The teacher taught not only the headman but also his family. Very soon the headman had school in Adoni to which all the village people came.
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