The Crane and the Crab

Dadi: "Guddu beta, today I'll tell you a story about a wicked crane, a clever crab, and the importance of not believing everything you hear."

Guddu: "A crane and a crab? Are they friends?"

Dadi: "They become unlikely heroes in this story, beta. Listen carefully. Near a big lake lived an old crane - but this crane was too old and weak to catch fish anymore. Day by day, he grew thinner and more hungry."

Guddu: "Poor crane! But wait... if he's the bad guy, why do I feel sorry for him?"

Dadi: "*laughs* Because the story tricks you at first, just like the crane tricked the fish! Instead of trying harder to catch fish honestly, the crane made a wicked plan. He sat at the edge of the lake and started crying loudly where everyone could see him."

Guddu: "Crying? Why?"

Dadi: "A kind crab saw him and asked, "Uncle, what's wrong? Why are you crying instead of catching fish?" And the crane said dramatically, "Oh, my child, I could never eat another fish! I've given up worldly things. I'm fasting until death.""

Guddu: "That sounds suspicious..."

Dadi: "Very! But the crane wasn't done. He told the crab that a great astrologer had made a terrible prediction - a severe drought was coming! For twelve years, there would be no rain. The lake would dry up completely. All the creatures would die!"

Guddu: "Oh no! Was it true?"

Dadi: "Not at all! It was a complete lie. But the crab believed him and ran to tell all the other water creatures. Everyone panicked! They went to the crane and begged, "What should we do?""

Guddu: "And the crane had a "solution," didn't he?"

Dadi: "*nods* The crane said, "There's another lake not far from here, full of beautiful lotus flowers and so much water it won't dry up even in twenty-four years of drought. I can take you there one by one on my back.""

Guddu: "Let me guess - there was no other lake?"

Dadi: "You're catching on, beta! Every day, the crane would carry one fish on his back, fly a short distance to a big rock, smash the fish against it, and eat them! Then he'd return and tell the others how happy their friends were in the "new lake.""

Guddu: "That's horrible! How many fish did he eat?"

Dadi: "Many, many fish, beta. For days and days, this went on. Until one day, the crab said, "Uncle crane, you've helped everyone else. Please take me to the new lake too!""

Guddu: "The crab was the crane's first friend! He trusted him the most!"

Dadi: "And the crane was delighted - he thought, "I've been eating fish every day. A crab will be a nice change!" So he put the crab on his back and flew toward the rock."

Guddu: "What happened?"

Dadi: "As they flew, the crab looked down and saw something terrible - a huge pile of fish bones and skeletons near a big rock. Instantly, he understood what the crane had been doing. All his friends hadn't gone to a beautiful lake - they had been murdered!"

Guddu: "What did the crab do?"

Dadi: "Here's where being clever saved him. The crab stayed calm. He didn't panic or scream. As the crane prepared to smash him against the rock, the crab grabbed the crane's neck with his powerful claws and squeezed!"

Guddu: "The crab killed the crane?"

Dadi: "The crane died instantly. Then the crab slowly, painfully made his way back to the lake, dragging the crane's head as proof."

Guddu: "Did the other fish believe him?"

Dadi: "When they saw the crane's head, they knew the truth. The crab said, "This crane deceived us all with lies about a drought and a beautiful lake. He ate our friends. But now he's dead, and we can live in peace.""

Guddu: "The crab was a hero!"

Dadi: "He saved everyone who was still alive. But many had already died because they believed the crane's lies without checking if they were true."

Guddu: "What's the lesson, Dadi?"

Dadi: "Several important lessons, beta. First - don't believe everything you hear just because someone sounds trustworthy. The crane seemed kind, crying and offering help. But his intentions were evil."

Guddu: "Second?"

Dadi: "Second - when in danger, stay calm and think. The crab could have panicked and been killed. Instead, he stayed cool and found a way to fight back."

Guddu: "Third?"

Dadi: "Third - always try to verify information, especially if someone is asking you to do something drastic. The fish should have sent someone to check if the "other lake" was real before following the crane."

Guddu: "Dadi, this is like fake news! Someone spreads a scary story, and people believe it without checking!"

Dadi: "Exactly, beta! The Panchatantra was written thousands of years ago, but its lessons still apply today. Whether it's a crane lying about a drought or someone on the internet spreading false information - we must always ask: "Is this true? How do I know?""

Guddu: "And we should look for the bones!"

Dadi: "*laughs* What a way to put it! Yes, beta - look for evidence. Look for what doesn't match up. The crab saved himself by seeing the truth."

Guddu: "I'll be more like the clever crab, Dadi!"

Dadi: "That's my smart boy. Now, shall we go feed the fish in our little pond? I promise there are no wicked cranes around!"

Guddu: "*giggles* Just dadi-cranes who tell true stories!"

Dadi: "*laughs* Dadi-crane only serves love and wisdom, beta!"