Once there lived an old crane by the side of a lake in a
forest.
The crane was old and weak. Hence, it was unable to prey fish
for its food.
One day the crane was severely starved, having no eaten for
few days together. So it cried pitiably due to hunger.
A crab who lived nearby, saw the crane crying and asked,
"Friend, you are an apt predator. Why are you not hunting for food?"
The old crane replied sadly, "I am now old and feel
guilty for killing fishes. So I have taken a vow to starve to death and not to
harm fishes any more".
The crab was surprised to hear the crane and asked her why
she was so thoughtful in this age.
The crane continued, "I have heard that the astrologers
have predicted that the rain Gods is anger and there will be no rains for
twelve years. It would create havoc and creatures will die. I am worried that
I'll be left alone".
The crab was worried when he heard the crane. He went back to
the lake and told all other fishes and animals about the ill fate set to fall
on the. The fishes were alarmed to know this and went to the old crane. The
fishes said, "O old crane, show us a way to escape from this ill
fate".
The cunning crane smiled at the pleading innocent fishes. She
said, "I will surely help you all.
There is a large lake nearby. It has
water throughout the year and never dries up. I can take you one by one to that
lake".
The fishes and other animals who came to crane were happy to
hear the crane's suggestion. They all trusted her and decided to go with her to
the other lake.
So the crane started carrying one fish everyday to take them
to the other lake. But she would fly to a lonely place and peck the fish for
its food.
One day the crab came to the crane and said, "You have
been taking the fishes to other lake everyday. This time take me. I want to
reach there soon as possible since this lake has started drying up".
The crane was happy to hear the crab. She thought she would
enjoy new food today.
The crab mounted the crane's back and they few to reach the
large lake. The crane flew close to the place where she ate all the fish.
Seeing the scattered fish bones, the crab grew suspicious and alarmed. He asked
the crane, "We have come a long distance. Where is the lake?"
The crane revealed her lies and said, "There is no large
lake around. Fish is my food and so are you now. I killed them and now I will
kill you for my food".
The crab was very angry to hear this. He said, "We were
wrong to trust you. I will punish you for this...”, sating this the crab caught
the crane's neck with his claws and killed her.
The crab took the crane's neck to the lake and showed it all
his friends. He told them how the crane breached their trust and killed their
fellow fishes. There was ample rain after few days and the lake was full of
water. The creatures lived happily after.
Moral: Do not trust anyone blindly.
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