The Lion and the Hare

Dadi: "Guddu, tonight I'll tell you about a tiny hare who defeated a mighty lion!"

Guddu: "A hare beat a lion? But lions are so big and strong!"

Dadi: "*tapping her head* Size isn't everything, beta. What matters most is what's up here - your brain! In a jungle long ago, there lived a ferocious lion named Bhasuraka. He was so powerful that he would kill animals every day, far more than he needed to eat."

Guddu: "That's mean! Why kill more than you need?"

Dadi: "Exactly what the other animals thought. One day, all the animals - deer, buffaloes, boars, hares - gathered together for a meeting. They went to the lion and said, "O mighty King, please stop killing so many of us. We'll send you one animal every day for your food. In return, promise that the rest of us can live peacefully.""

Guddu: "Did the lion agree?"

Dadi: "He thought about it and said yes. Every day, the animals drew lots, and the unlucky one had to go to the lion. This went on for many months."

Guddu: "That's so sad for whoever got picked..."

Dadi: "One day, it was a small hare's turn. The other animals pushed him toward the lion's den, but the little hare walked slowly, thinking hard. Suddenly, he saw a deep well, and when he looked inside, he saw his own reflection!"

Guddu: "Like a mirror?"

Dadi: "Exactly! And that gave him a brilliant idea. He arrived at the lion's den very late. Bhasuraka was furious with hunger. "Where have you been? And where are the other hares that should have come with you?""

Guddu: "There were supposed to be more?"

Dadi: "That was the hare's clever lie! He said, "Your Majesty, five of us were sent today. But on the way, another lion stopped us! He claimed HE was the true king of this jungle and took the other four hares. He let me go only to challenge you!""

Guddu: "*gasping* But there was no other lion!"

Dadi: "Exactly, beta. But Bhasuraka didn't know that. He roared with rage! "Take me to this impostor immediately! I will tear him apart!""

Guddu: "So the hare took him to the well?"

Dadi: "Smart boy! When they reached the well, the hare pointed inside. "There, my Lord! The enemy is hiding in his fortress!" The foolish lion looked down and saw... his own reflection! He thought it was another lion!"

Guddu: "*giggling* He saw himself!"

Dadi: "And when Bhasuraka roared, the echo from the well roared back! Thinking his enemy was challenging him, the angry lion leaped into the well to attack - and drowned in the deep water."

Guddu: "*clapping* The hare won! The tiny hare beat the big lion!"

Dadi: "The hare went back to the jungle and told everyone what happened. From that day, all the animals lived peacefully, free from the tyrant. They celebrated the small, clever hare who had saved them all."

Guddu: "Dadi, the lion was strong but stupid, right?"

Dadi: "He was blinded by his anger and pride, beta. He didn't stop to think - "Wait, why would another lion live in a well?" When we're angry, we don't think clearly."

Guddu: "And the hare was small but smart!"

Dadi: "Intelligence can defeat strength, always remember that. In your life too, you'll meet bullies who think they're powerful. But if you stay calm and think cleverly, you can outsmart them without fighting."

Guddu: "Like solving problems instead of punching?"

Dadi: "*laughing* Exactly! The hare didn't fight the lion with teeth or claws. He fought with his brain - and won completely. That's true power, beta. Now, shall we go to sleep? You can dream about being as clever as that little hare."

Guddu: "Goodnight, Dadi! I'll always use my brain first!"

Dadi: "That's my wise grandson. Sweet dreams, mera bachcha."