The Musical Donkey

Dadi: "Guddu, do you know anyone who thinks they're really good at something but... well... they're not?"

Guddu: "*thinking* Maybe. Why, Dadi?"

Dadi: "*chuckling* Tonight's story is about a donkey named Uddhata who thought he was a wonderful singer!"

Guddu: "A donkey who sings? *giggling* Donkeys make that weird HEE-HAW sound!"

Dadi: "Exactly! But Uddhata didn't think so. Let me tell you what happened. This donkey belonged to a washerman. During the day, he worked hard carrying clothes. But at night, the washerman would let him roam free to find food."

Guddu: "That sounds fair."

Dadi: "Now, instead of eating grass nearby like a good donkey, Uddhata would sneak into farmers' fields and steal vegetables! He made friends with a jackal, and together they would raid farms - the donkey eating vegetables while the jackal stole chickens."

Guddu: "They were partners in crime!"

Dadi: "For many nights, this worked perfectly. But one beautiful full moon night, Uddhata looked up at the glowing sky and sighed, "Nephew jackal, my heart is full of music! I feel like singing!""

Guddu: "*already laughing* Oh no..."

Dadi: "The jackal said very carefully, "Uncle, perhaps this is not the best time. We are thieves in a farmer's field. Thieves must be quiet! And... forgive me for saying this... your voice sounds like a conch shell being blown. The whole village will wake up!""

Guddu: "*laughing harder* He called the donkey's singing a conch shell blast!"

Dadi: "But Uddhata was offended! "You wild animals know nothing about music! I will show you what real singing sounds like!" The jackal quickly said, "If you must sing, wait until I go hide outside the fence.""

Guddu: "Smart jackal - he knew trouble was coming!"

Dadi: "The moment the jackal was safely hidden, Uddhata lifted his face to the beautiful moon and sang with all his heart - "HEE-HAWWWW! HEE-HAWWWW!""

Guddu: "*holding his stomach laughing* That's not singing!"

Dadi: "The farmers certainly didn't think so! They woke up startled, saw the donkey in their field in the moonlight, and chased him with sticks and stones! They beat him black and blue!"

Guddu: "Poor Uddhata... but also, he deserved it!"

Dadi: "And to make sure he didn't come back, they tied a heavy wooden mortar around his neck as punishment! He limped out of the field, bruised and humiliated."

Guddu: "What did the jackal say?"

Dadi: "The jackal came out of hiding and said, "Uncle, that was very nice singing! I see the farmers have rewarded you well with a beautiful necklace!""

Guddu: "*gasping through laughter* The jackal made fun of him!"

Dadi: "*wiping her own laughing tears* Poor Uddhata finally understood his mistake. He should have listened to good advice instead of being proud."

Guddu: "Dadi, the donkey was wrong in so many ways!"

Dadi: "Tell me what you noticed, beta."

Guddu: "First, he was stealing, which is wrong. Second, he thought he was a good singer when he wasn't. Third, he didn't listen to his friend's warning."

Dadi: "Very observant! And there's another lesson - there's a right time and place for everything. Even if Uddhata WAS a good singer, singing while stealing vegetables at night is not the right time!"

Guddu: "Like how I shouldn't play video games during homework time?"

Dadi: "*smiling* Exactly! And also, when someone gives you honest advice, don't get angry. The jackal was trying to help, but the donkey's pride wouldn't let him listen."

Guddu: "I'll try to listen when people give me good advice."

Dadi: "And be honest about your own abilities, beta. It's okay to not be good at everything. The donkey could have been content being good at carrying things - that was his real talent! But he wanted to be a singer too, and that's what got him in trouble."

Guddu: "*yawning* Dadi, I promise I won't sing in the middle of stealing vegetables."

Dadi: "*bursting out laughing* Beta, I hope you won't be stealing vegetables at all! Now sleep, my clever boy. And remember - listen to good advice, know your strengths, and always pick the right time for your talents!"

Guddu: "Goodnight, Dadi! HEE-HAWWW!"

Dadi: "*laughing* Sweet dreams, my little musical donkey!"