In a peaceful village lived a young man named Ashok. He owned a small, thriving sheep farm. His sheep were healthy, and his business was doing very well. Ashok felt very proud of his success.
One afternoon, his friend Ravi came to visit. While looking at the farm, Ravi noticed something. 'Ashok, look at the fence near the meadow. There is a tiny gap in the wooden planks. You should fix it before it gets bigger,' Ravi advised.
Ashok laughed it off. 'It’s just a tiny crack, Ravi! The sheep are too big to fit through that. I have more important things to do right now,' he replied dismissively.
Days passed, and Ashok continued to ignore the small gap. He thought he had plenty of time. However, a heavy storm hit the village that night. The wind and rain widened the small gap into a large hole. In the darkness, a hungry wolf, which had been lurking nearby, spotted the opening.
By morning, Ashok was heartbroken. The wolf had entered through the broken fence and taken away most of his sheep. His source of income and happiness was gone in a single night.
Ashok sat by the empty pen, realizing his mistake. He had ignored a small fault, and that small fault had destroyed his prosperity. He learned that neglecting small problems is like leaving straw near a fire; eventually, everything burns down.
