Once upon a time, lived an old crane near a small pond which was full of small fishes. Crane was in habit of picking fishes with his beak and eat them. With age it was becoming difficult for him to catch fishes.
Due to drought, water level in pond became lower and still it wasn’t easy for crane to catch and eat fish. However, no matter how many he ate, he was never completely satisfied and thought that may be if he ate all the fishes in pond then he will feel satisfied and happy.
Crane thought of a plan and went to shore and sat down. He remained there quietly in one position just like a holy man in forest. He didn’t attack any fish for whole day and sat there doing nothing.
Seeing this, after some time a fish to came as expected and asked, “What are you thinking?”
Crane replied, “Dear fish, it makes me sad to think of your future, coming miserable disaster.”
Fish questioned, “What kind of disaster?”
Crane replied, “Look around you.. Water in pond is getting lower and lower. You all are also running out of food. This severe drought is really dangerous for all you little ones.”
Fish again question, “What do you think? What can we do to save ourselves from this drought?”
Crane replied, “For that you must trust me. If you allow me to pick you up in my beak, then i will take you one at a time, to another pond which is much bigger than this and filled with water and covered with beautiful lotuses. I will be like a paradise for you.”
Fish became a little suspicious, “How can we believe you? You have been filling your stomach eating fish. Why would you help us?”
Crane then raised his head and made himself look as dignified as he could and said, “Please don’t think such thing. I am changed. If you don’t believe me, send one fish with me and i will show him another pond and bring back too all of you. Then you will know i can be trusted.”
Fish discussed and decided that they will send a little trouble maker fish to check if crane is changed or not. They pushed that little fish toward crane.
Crane bent his head and picked up little one in his beak and spread his wings and flew to big tree on shore of a beautiful pond and then carried it back to its small pond.
Arriving home little fish, descried beauty of another pond. Seeing that crane didn’t eat that fish and hearing all about another pond beauty, other fishes became excited and rushed to go there.
Fish thought that crane has changed and agreed to take crane’s help. First one to go was little trouble maker fish. Crane picked him up and again flew to big tree, as little was waiting for crane to drop him into big pond. Crane suddenly killed him and gobbled up his flesh and let bones fall to the ground near big tree.
Crane returned to pond, bought next fish and ate him same way. No fish in small pond knew what was happening to previous fish and were eagerly waiting for their turn to go to next pond.
Likewise, one by one, he gobbled up every last fish.
Crane was stuffed and flew back to small pond and saw that there was no fish left. Even after eating all the fish, crane was not feeling satisfied. Just then he saw a small lonely crab crawling along he muddy shore.
Crane now wanted to eat that crab and thought of same trick on crab. He walked over to crab and said, “I have carried all fishes to a wonderful big pond not far from here. Why you wish to remain alone. If you simple do as fish did. I will gladly take you there.”
Crab thought that he can’t trust that crane but it would be nice to go to big pond but what if crane tries to eat it.
So crab thought of a plan and said, “My friend, i am afraid i am too heavy for you to carry in your beak. You would surely drop me along the way. Instead if i grab onto your neck with my eight legs and then you can safely carry me.”
Crane agreed thinking that he would get to eat sweet meat of crab and didn’t thought of any harm from crab.
Crane picked up crab and let it hold him with his neck in the clutches of the crab and started to flew to big tree next to pond.
Seeing this crab said to crane, “Have you lost your way? Why are you not taking me to pond?”
Crane laughed and said, “what did you thought i was giving you a free ride? Just look at all those fish bones under tree. I have eaten all the fish and now i am going to eat you too.”
Crab laughed and replied, “Did you think i was foolish enough to trust you? I have your throat locked in my claws. So if one dies, we both dies.”
Crane realized danger and begged crab to leave his neck and promised not to eat him. Crab agreed.
Crane flew down to shore and said, “Now, please release me. Please trust me i won’t eat you.”
Crab realized that crane could not be trusted and knew if he let of that crane, then one day he would be eaten for sure. So he cut through crane’s neck with his sharp claws and crane head fell on ground.
Crab safely crawled into new big beautiful pond.
“The one who lived by Tricks and Lie, No Longer trusted now he Dies.”
Moral:
Story teaches one not to trust anyone blindly and always look for any possible motive. It also teaches one to use one’s brain to get out of problematic situations.
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