The Wedge-Pulling Monkey

Dadi: "Guddu, come quickly! I have a very short but very important story for you tonight."

Guddu: "Short story, Dadi? I like long ones!"

Dadi: "Sometimes the shortest stories teach the biggest lessons, beta. This one is about a curious monkey."

Guddu: "Monkeys are always funny!"

Dadi: "This one wasn't so lucky. A merchant was building a temple in his garden. Every day, workers would come, work until lunch, then take a break and return."

Guddu: "Like Papa going to office?"

Dadi: "Exactly! One day, a carpenter was sawing a huge log of wood. He was halfway done when lunch time came. So what do you think he did?"

Guddu: "He left the log?"

Dadi: "Yes, but he was smart. He put a wooden wedge - like a fat stick - in the crack so the log wouldn't snap shut. Then he went to eat."

Guddu: "Then what happened?"

Dadi: "A group of monkeys came down from the trees! They started jumping around, playing with the tools. One particular monkey saw that wedge stuck in the log..."

Guddu: "Uh oh..."

Dadi: "He got curious. He sat right on top of the half-split log, legs dangling in the gap, and started pulling at the wedge."

Guddu: "Dadi, that sounds dangerous!"

Dadi: "Very dangerous, beta. But the monkey didn't think. He just pulled and pulled, curious about what would happen if he removed it."

Guddu: "Did he remove it?"

Dadi: "Yes. Suddenly, the wedge came flying out, and SNAP! The log closed shut like a crocodile's mouth - with the monkey's legs trapped inside!"

Guddu: "Oh no! Did it hurt?"

Dadi: "Very badly, beta. The poor monkey was severely injured. All because he couldn't resist meddling with something that wasn't his business."

Guddu: "But he was just curious, Dadi..."

Dadi: "Curiosity is wonderful, Guddu. It helps us learn! But there's a difference between curious learning and poking at things you don't understand. The carpenter knew why that wedge was there. The monkey didn't."

Guddu: "Like when I tried to "fix" Papa's computer and deleted all his files?"

Dadi: "Exactly like that! If you don't know how something works, and it's not yours to touch, leave it alone. Or ask someone who knows."

Guddu: "The monkey should have waited for the carpenter to come back."

Dadi: "Now you understand. Some things aren't mysteries to solve - they're boundaries to respect. The wedge was doing an important job. The monkey thought it was a toy."

Guddu: "I'll remember, Dadi. Don't pull the wedge!"

Dadi: "That's my boy. And if you're ever curious about something, come ask me or your parents. We'll explore it together safely. Much better than trapped legs, yes?"

Guddu: "Much better!"