Deep within a lush, green forest, a sparkling stream flowed steadily. To cross this stream, the forest animals relied on a single, narrow wooden bridge. The bridge was so slim that only one animal could walk across it at a time.
One sunny morning, a sturdy goat named Somu began crossing the bridge from the east side. Somu was quite proud of his strength. At the exact same moment, from the west side, another goat named Kapilan started his journey across the bridge.
As they reached the very middle of the bridge, they stood face-to-face. Neither was willing to move. 'I was here first! Step back!' Somu bellowed, puffing out his chest.
Kapilan shook his head defiantly. 'I am in a hurry, and I will not move an inch for you!' he replied stubbornly.
Instead of finding a way to pass each other, their pride took over. They began to butt heads, trying to push the other away. In the heat of the struggle, their horns became tightly locked together. As they struggled to break free, they lost their footing on the slippery wood. With a loud splash, both goats tumbled into the rushing water below.
The current swept them downstream until they finally managed to scramble onto the muddy bank. Soaked, tired, and bruised, they looked at each other with regret. Their refusal to yield had turned a simple crossing into a dangerous disaster.
Moral
Stubbornness leads only to unnecessary trouble.
