The Jackal and the Wardrum

Dadi: "Guddu beta, I told you about Gomaya the jackal, remember? Let me tell you the complete story tonight, with all the details!"

Guddu: "Yes yes, the one with the scary drum sound!"

Dadi: "*settling into her chair* Exactly! So there was this clever jackal named Gomaya, wandering through the jungle. His stomach was growling like a little tiger! He searched behind every bush, under every tree, but not a morsel of food anywhere."

Guddu: "The jungle had no food?"

Dadi: "It had been a dry season, beta. So Gomaya walked and walked until he reached a very strange place - an old battleground where a great war had been fought. Now it was completely empty, with broken chariots and torn flags scattered about."

Guddu: "Like the Mahabharata battlefield?"

Dadi: "*smiling* Just like that, clever boy! And suddenly - BOOM! BOOM! A tremendous sound shook the ground. Gomaya's heart nearly jumped out of his chest! Chills ran down his spine."

Guddu: "*eyes wide* What was it, Dadi?"

Dadi: "Gomaya didn't know! His first instinct was to run as fast as his four legs could carry him. But then a thought came to his mind: "No! I won't run like a coward. I will be brave and find out what is making this noise.""

Guddu: "That's so brave!"

Dadi: "Very brave indeed. So he crept forward carefully, his paws barely making a sound. And what did he find? A big old war drum lying near a tree! The wind was blowing the branches, and they were hitting the drum - BOOM BOOM!"

Guddu: "*giggling* Just branches and wind!"

Dadi: "But wait, the story has a funny twist! Gomaya looked at that drum and thought it was a huge animal! He thought, "Such a big creature must have lots of delicious meat inside!""

Guddu: "*laughing* He thought the drum was an animal?"

Dadi: "Yes! So he worked very hard, scratching and biting, until he made a hole and squeezed inside. And what did he find?"

Guddu: "What?"

Dadi: "Just wood and leather! Nothing to eat at all! He felt so foolish, stuck inside an empty drum!"

Guddu: "*laughing hard* Poor Gomaya!"

Dadi: "After struggling to get out, he sat there laughing at himself. But then he thought - "What a fool I would have been if I had let a silly old drum cheat me of finding real food!" So he looked around the battleground properly this time."

Guddu: "Did he find food?"

Dadi: "He found a whole tent full of food and fresh water! Soldiers had left it behind. Gomaya ate until his tummy was perfectly round and satisfied!"

Guddu: "So even though the drum was empty, he still won in the end!"

Dadi: "Exactly, beta. You see, the real lesson is this: sometimes we let fear stop us, and sometimes we get fooled by appearances. But if we keep our courage and keep looking, we always find what we need."

Guddu: "Like how I was scared of my maths test but when I tried, I got good marks!"

Dadi: "*hugging him* Perfectly said! Fear makes things look bigger and scarier than they are. And sometimes what looks valuable is empty inside - like that drum! But the brave ones who don't give up always find real treasures."

Guddu: "Dadi, I want to be brave like Gomaya!"

Dadi: "You already are, mera beta. Every time you try something new despite being scared, you're being brave. Now sleep well - tomorrow's adventures await the courageous!"