Story:
Once upon a time, in a large pond, there lived a crane and many fish, frogs, and other aquatic creatures. The crane, however, grew tired of his diet of fish and frogs and devised a cunning plan to change his diet.
The crane decided to approach the pond’s inhabitants with a story. He told them, “Dear friends, the pond is drying up, and soon it will become uninhabitable. I have found a new, beautiful pond where there is plenty of water and food. But since it is far away, it is difficult for you all to travel there on your own. I can carry each of you one by one to the new pond.”
The fish, frogs, and other creatures were delighted and agreed to be taken to the new pond by the crane. However, a wise crab was suspicious and decided to stay behind and observe.
The crane began by taking the fish to the new pond. But instead of flying them to safety, the crane ate them. He then returned to the pond and repeated the process with the frogs and other creatures, eating them as well.
When the crane arrived to pick up the crab, the crab said, “I have decided to wait for a while before going to the new pond. It seems safer to stay here for now.”
The crane, frustrated but not wanting to show his true intentions, agreed and left the crab alone. The crab then went to the old pond, which was actually fine, and shared the crane’s deceit with the other creatures. They were grateful to the crab for revealing the crane’s true nature.
In the end, the crane was left with no food and had to go hungry.
Moral of the Story:
The moral of the story is “Be wary of those who offer help but have a hidden agenda.” It highlights the importance of skepticism and caution when dealing with individuals who have something to gain from deceiving others.
This story teaches that wisdom and careful observation can prevent falling victim to deceit and that not everyone who offers help does so with genuine intentions.