In a lush green forest, there lived a fox named Somu and a donkey named Mani. They often traveled together looking for food, but Somu was a cunning creature who only thought of himself. One afternoon, while wandering deep into the woods, they suddenly encountered a mighty lion.
The lion let out a thunderous roar that shook the trees. Terrified, Somu realized he couldn't outrun the predator. In a desperate attempt to save his own skin, he decided to trick the lion. "Great King!" Somu cried out. "If you eat me now, you will be hungry again by sunset. But if you let me go, I can bring you a much larger feast!"
The lion, intrigued by the idea of a bigger meal, asked, "How can you promise such a thing?"
Somu lied smoothly, "My friend Mani is very strong and well-fed. If I call him, he will come running to help us!"
The lion decided to give the fox a chance. Somu quickly dashed back to Mani. "Mani, help! A lion is coming! If we go to him together, we can show him how brave we are!" he shouted. Mani, trusting his friend, followed Somu back to the lion's den.
As soon as they arrived, Somu hid behind a thick bush, watching with a wicked grin. The lion immediately lunged at Mani. Seeing the chaos, Somu stepped out and mockingly said, "See, Great King? I told you I would bring a feast!"
The lion's eyes flashed with anger. "You foolish fox! You tried to sacrifice your friend just to save your own life. A person who betrays a friend can never be trusted. You deserve to face the consequences of your deceit!"
Instead of a feast, the lion turned its fury on Somu. The fox learned too late that treachery only leads to a lonely and dangerous end.
Moral
Betraying a friend for self-interest will eventually lead to your own downfall.
