By Fr Bruno FERRERO 
Reading time: 2 min.
A wise man from India had a close friend who lived in Milan. They had met in India, where the Italian had gone with his family on a tourist trip. The Indian had acted as a guide for the Italian, taking them to explore the most characteristic corners of his homeland.
Grateful, the Milanese friend had invited the Indian to his home. He wanted to return the favour and introduce him to his city. The Indian was very reluctant to leave, but then gave in to his Italian friend’s insistence and one fine day he disembarked from a plane at Malpensa.
The next day, the Milanese and the Indian were walking through the city centre. The Indian, with his chocolate-coloured face, black beard and yellow turban attracted the gaze of passers-by, and the Milanese man walked around proud to have such an exotic friend.
Suddenly, in Piazza San Babila, the Indian stopped and asked, “Do you hear what I hear?” The Milanese, a little bewildered, strained his ears as much as he could, but admitted that he heard nothing but the great noise of the city traffic.
“There is a cricket singing nearby,” the Indian continued, confidently.
“You are wrong,” replied the Milanese. “I only hear the noise of the city. Besides, there can’t be crickets around here.”
“I am not mistaken. I hear the song of a cricket,” retorted the Indian and resolutely started searching among the leaves of some shrunken saplings. After a while he pointed out to his friend, who was watching him sceptically, a small insect, a splendid singing cricket, which was cowering and grumbling at those disturbing his concert.
“Did you see that there was a cricket there?” said the Indian.
“It’s true,” admitted the Milanese. “You Indians have much sharper hearing than us Whites…”
“This time it is you who are wrong,” smiled the wise Indian. “Be careful….” The Indian pulled a coin out of his pocket and pretending not to notice, dropped it on the pavement.
Immediately four or five people turned to look.
“Did you see that?” the Indian explained. “This coin’s jungle was more thinner and fainter than the cricket’s trill. Yet have you noticed how many Whites heard it?”
“Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”