Vikram, a wise traveler, was journeying through a region known for its winding mountain paths. To reach his destination, he had to pass through the Great Shadow Forest. People whispered tales of fearsome bandits who lurked in the trees, waiting to snatch the gold and belongings of unsuspecting travelers.
Vikram, undeterred by these stories, stepped into the forest. Soon, a man named Somu approached him, looking nervous. "Sir, I am traveling alone and feel very uneasy in this dark woods. May I walk with you for safety?" Somu asked. Vikram noticed a strange glint in Somu's eyes, but he politely agreed to let him join the journey.
In reality, Somu was no frightened traveler; he was a cunning thief. His strategy was to join travelers, wait for them to fall asleep, and then empty their bags. That night, they stayed at a small roadside inn. In the middle of the night, Somu crept toward Vikram's bag. He unzipped it, only to find it completely empty! Confused and startled, Somu thought, 'I saw him with a heavy bag earlier. Where did the money go?' To avoid suspicion, he quickly climbed back into his bed.
The next day, they rested near a wide river. Driven by greed, Somu tried to sneak into Vikram's bag again. Once more, there was nothing inside. Somu was baffled. He began to wonder if Vikram was hiding his wealth in some magical way.
At lunchtime, they stopped at a small fruit stall. To Somu's absolute shock, Vikram reached into his bag and pulled out several shining gold coins, paying the vendor generously for a meal. Somu's eyes widened. 'How can he pay with gold if the bag is empty?' he wondered.
Vikram, who had been watching Somu all along, smiled calmly. "Is something bothering you, Somu?" he asked.
Somu, unable to contain his curiosity, stammered, "Sir, I saw your bag was empty last night, but now you have gold! Where did it come from?"
Vikram looked him straight in the eye and said, "It is quite simple. When I see you creeping toward my bag at night, I quickly move my money to a hidden pouch. Once you have finished searching and think you have failed, I take the money back out and place it back in the main bag. I wanted you to think you were being clever while I kept my wealth safe."
Realizing that his attempt to steal had been completely outsmarted, Somu felt deeply ashamed and fled into the forest, never to return.
Moral
A clever mind can turn a thief's own greed against them.
