Near a quiet village, there stood a large granary belonging to a hardworking farmer. Every season, the farmer would store his precious grains and pulses there to ensure his family's future. However, a large group of mice had made the granary their home. They didn't just eat the food; they chewed through the sacks and wasted much of the harvest. The farmer was heartbroken to see his hard work going to waste.
To solve this problem, the farmer brought home a swift and agile cat. At first, the plan worked perfectly. The cat prowled through the dark corners, and the mice scurried away in fear. The mice were now facing a serious threat.
Chintu, the leader of the mice, was a very observant and clever fellow. He realized that they couldn't fight the cat, so they had to outsmart it. One afternoon, while the cat was resting nearby, Chintu began talking loudly to the other mice, making sure the cat could hear him.
"Do you see that cat?" Chintu whispered loudly. "She doesn't want to be a hunter. She dreams of becoming a giant forest beast! She thinks if she eats nothing but these sweet grains every day, she will grow so large and powerful that no one can stop her."
The cat, hearing this, crept closer. "Is it true?" she asked, her eyes wide. "Do I really have a chance to become a great beast?"
Chintu nodded convincingly. "Of course! Just stop chasing us and focus on eating these delicious grains. The more you eat, the bigger and stronger you will become!"
Driven by greed, the cat stopped hunting the mice altogether. Instead, she spent her days feasting on the farmer's precious grain. Because she ate only grains and nothing else, she grew incredibly heavy and round. Soon, she became so fat that she could barely move, let alone jump or chase a tiny mouse.
As the mice stayed safe in their holes, the cat grew hungrier for real food, but she was too clumsy to catch anything. In her desperation, she continued to eat the stored grain, destroying the farmer's entire supply. When the farmer saw the cat sitting amidst the ruined sacks, he realized the cat was now the problem! He chased the greedy cat away immediately. The mice were safe once again, thanks to Chintu's quick thinking.
Moral
Greed leads to downfall, but intelligence can overcome even the strongest foe.
