In a peaceful village lived a farmer named Somu. He worked very hard in his fields to grow grains and store them safely in his granary. However, one day he was heartbroken to see a large group of mice nibbling away at his precious harvest.
To protect his hard work, Somu brought a large, swift black cat into his home. The cat was a very skilled hunter. As soon as it arrived, the mice began to hide in the darkest corners, terrified of being caught. The mice were constantly on edge, never knowing when the cat would strike.
The mice held a secret meeting to find a solution. "The problem is that we never know when the cat is approaching," whispered an old mouse. "If we could tie a small bell around its neck, we would hear it coming and have plenty of time to hide!"
While the idea was brilliant, it was also incredibly dangerous. Who would be brave enough to go near the sleeping predator? Just then, a tiny but spirited mouse named Chinnu stepped forward. "I will do it!" Chinnu declared with courage.
One afternoon, while the cat was deep in a nap, Chinnu crept toward it. With trembling paws, Chinnu used a piece of silk thread to carefully fasten a small silver bell around the cat's neck. Just before the cat stirred, Chinnu scurried back to the safety of the mouse hole.
The mice cheered, feeling safe at last. However, the plan backfired. Whenever the cat tried to sneak up on a mouse, the bell would go 'ring-a-ling!' The sound alerted every mouse in the house, allowing them to vanish into their holes instantly. The cat, unable to catch a single mouse despite its speed, became frustrated. Eventually, Somu realized the cat was no longer helping him and sent it away.
Moral of the Story
Do not accept gifts or solutions without first thinking about the potential consequences.
