In a lush, green forest filled with chattering monkeys, playful deer, and colorful birds, there lived a mighty lion named Raja. Raja was the king of the forest, but he had one big problem—he was always grumpy! Every day, he would stomp through the forest, growling at anyone who crossed his path. The animals were terrified of him and tried their best to stay out of his way.
One day, Raja decided he was tired of hunting for his food. He called all the animals to a meeting under the great banyan tree. When the animals gathered, Raja roared, “From now on, you will bring me my food every day! One of you must come to my den each morning, or I will hunt down all of you!”
The animals were too scared to argue. They agreed to send one animal to Raja’s den every day. It was a sad time for the forest, as no one wanted to be the lion’s meal.
One day, it was the turn of a clever little rabbit named Chintu. Chintu was small but very smart. He didn’t want to be Raja’s lunch, so he came up with a plan. He hopped slowly toward Raja’s den, taking his time. By the time he arrived, Raja was furious.
“Why are you so late?” Raja roared, his eyes blazing with anger.
Chintu bowed low and said, “Oh mighty Raja, it wasn’t my fault! On my way here, I met another lion in the forest. He said he was the true king and wouldn’t let me pass. I barely escaped with my life!”
Raja’s ears perked up. “Another lion? In MY forest? Take me to him at once!”
Chintu nodded and led Raja to a deep, dark well at the edge of the forest. When they reached the well, Chintu said, “The other lion is hiding in there, Your Majesty. He’s very fierce and says he’s stronger than you.”
Raja growled and peered into the well. To his surprise, he saw his own reflection staring back at him. Thinking it was the other lion, Raja roared as loud as he could. The “lion” in the well roared back. Raja was furious! He leaped into the well to attack his rival, only to realize too late that it was just his reflection.
Splash! Raja fell into the water and couldn’t get out. The well was too deep, and no one came to help him.
Chintu hopped back to the forest and gathered all the animals. “Raja is gone!” he announced. “We don’t have to be afraid anymore!”
The animals cheered and celebrated their freedom. From that day on, the forest was peaceful, and the animals lived happily ever after. Chintu became a hero, and the animals learned that even the smallest among them could outsmart the biggest bully with a little cleverness and courage.
Moral of the Story:
“Wisdom and cleverness are stronger than brute force. Even the smallest can overcome the biggest challenges with a sharp mind and a brave heart.”
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