Once upon a time, in a small village surrounded by lush forests and flowing streams, lived a man who was neither wealthy nor poor. His modest home sat at the edge of the settlement, where the bustling sounds of village life gradually gave way to the whispers of nature.

This man had two constant companions in his life – a tiny Sparrow and a vibrant Parrot. The Sparrow had been with him since he first built his home. Small and unassuming with its brown feathers, the Sparrow made its nest in the eaves of the man's roof. Each morning, it would chirp a greeting as the man stepped outside, and each evening, it would flutter nearby as he returned home. When seasons changed and the man occasionally moved to follow work, the faithful Sparrow would always find him, rebuilding its simple nest wherever the man settled.

The Parrot came into the man's life differently. During a journey through the dense forest, the man spotted an unusual flash of brilliant colors among the trees. With patience and skill, he managed to capture a young Parrot with feathers of emerald, ruby, and sapphire hues. The man carefully brought the exotic bird home and tended to it as it grew.

As the Parrot matured, its plumage became increasingly magnificent. The man, who had some skill as a craftsman, carefully collected the Parrot's molted feathers over time. With these vibrant treasures, he created an elaborate headdress of such remarkable beauty that it caught the attention of a wealthy merchant passing through the village.

The merchant offered a substantial sum for the feathered creation. With this unexpected windfall, the man's circumstances changed dramatically. He was able to build a better home and, most importantly, pay the bride price for a woman he had long admired from the neighboring village. They married and established a warm household together. In time, the couple was blessed with daughters who grew into capable young women. These daughters eventually married kind and hardworking men, who joined the growing family. Before long, the patter of grandchildren's feet filled the man's home, and his final years were spent surrounded by three generations of a loving family.

Throughout all these changes, both birds remained part of the household. The Sparrow, ever constant, continued its quiet presence, moving wherever the man moved, adapting to each new circumstance without complaint. The Parrot, with its brilliant colors and clever mimicry, became something of a family treasure, entertaining the grandchildren with its antics and inspiring more beautiful creations from its continuously renewing feathers.

Then one day, after a long and fulfilled life, the man passed away peacefully in his sleep. As was the custom in the village, all his possessions needed to be distributed among those who had rightful claims to them.

To everyone's surprise, the matter became complicated when both the Sparrow and the Parrot came forward claiming the right to inherit the man's property.

Before the village elders, the humble Sparrow spoke first. "I lived my whole life with the man," it said in a soft, melodious voice. "Where he moved, I moved. Through winter storms and summer heat, through times of plenty and times of want, I always stayed with him. My loyalty never wavered, not once in all these years. Surely this devotion should be recognized."

The Parrot, with a flash of brilliant feathers, stepped forward indignantly. "That's nothing!" it squawked, its voice carrying across the gathering. "The man took me from the tree-tops when I was young. When my feathers grew, he made a headdress of such beauty that it brought him fortune. He sold it for money that bought him a wife, who had daughters, who got husbands, who gave them children. I am the cause of the wealth of this family; therefore, I should inherit everything he owned."

The village elders listened carefully to both claims. They conferred among themselves, weighing the value of constant companionship against transformative impact. After much deliberation, they faced the two birds and the assembled family.

"Both birds have contributed to this man's life," announced the eldest among them. "But we must consider the source of what we see before us today." He gestured to the large family and comfortable home. "Without the Parrot, none of this would exist. He is the source; he must inherit."

And so it was decided. The Parrot was granted the man's property, while the Sparrow flew back to the eaves, where it would continue to build its simple nest, watching silently as life in the household carried on below.

Some say that on quiet evenings, you can still hear the Sparrow's soft song at twilight – a gentle reminder that not all contributions are recognized equally, though each shapes the story in its own way.