In a small village near a sparkling river lived a fisherman named Ravi. Every morning, Ravi would set out with his nets and fishing rod, hoping to catch enough fish to sell at the market and support his family. He was a hardworking man, but some days were harder than others.
One particularly hot afternoon, Ravi felt very discouraged. He had been sitting by the river for hours, but not a single fish had bitten his hook. His stomach growled, and he began to worry about how he would buy food for his children that evening. 'Perhaps today is just not my day,' he sighed heavily.
Determined to try just one last time, Ravi cast his line into a deep, quiet pool. Suddenly, the rod jerked violently! Ravi pulled with all his might and, to his surprise, caught a tiny, shimmering golden fish. It was beautiful, but so small that it would hardly make a meal.
To Ravi's amazement, the little fish began to speak. 'Please, kind fisherman!' the fish pleaded. 'Do not take me. I am too small to satisfy your hunger now. If you let me go, I will grow into a massive, delicious fish. When I am big, you can come back and catch me, and you will have a feast!'
Ravi looked at the tiny creature and shook his head gently. 'Little fish,' he said calmly, 'your promise is tempting, but I cannot gamble with my family's hunger. I do not know if you will truly grow, or if you will even be here tomorrow. This small fish in my hand is a certainty, while your promise is just a dream. This small catch will feed us today.'
Ravi took the fish to the market and sold it. It wasn't much, but it was enough to buy bread and vegetables for his family. He learned that it is better to value what you have right now than to chase a promise that may never come.
Moral
A small certain gain is better than a large uncertain promise.
