The Monkey and the Crocodile’s Trap

Once upon a time, in a forest that stretched along a wide, shimmering river, there lived a clever monkey named Manik. He spent his days swinging among the branches of a tall fig tree, feasting on the sweetest fruits in the forest. His fig tree grew right next to the riverbank, where he could see fish swimming and birds diving.

One day, a crocodile named Kalia swam to the base of Manik’s tree. “Hello, dear monkey,” Kalia said, flashing a toothy grin. “I’ve been watching you enjoy those figs every day. They look so delicious! Could you spare a few for a poor crocodile like me?”

Manik, kind at heart but sharp of mind, plucked a few figs and tossed them down. “Here you go, Kalia. I’m always happy to share!”

Kalia gobbled up the fruits with delight. “These are incredible! My wife would love them too. May I take some to her tomorrow?”

Manik agreed, and this routine continued for several days. Soon, Kalia and Manik became friends—or so Manik thought.

But Kalia had a sinister plan brewing. His wife, greedy and cunning, wanted to eat Manik’s heart. “The monkey eats these sweet fruits every day,” she told Kalia. “His heart must be the sweetest of all! Bring it to me, or don’t come home.”

The next day, Kalia arrived with a scheme. “Dear friend,” he said, his voice full of false warmth, “you’ve been so kind to share your fruits with me. My wife would like to meet you and thank you in person. She has made a feast for us by the riverbank. Will you join us?”

Manik, always cautious, hesitated. “How will I get across the river? I can’t swim.”

“Don’t worry,” Kalia said with a sly grin. “Climb onto my back. I’ll carry you safely to the other side.”

Trusting his so-called friend, Manik leapt onto Kalia’s back. Halfway across the river, Kalia’s tone changed. “Monkey,” he said, licking his lips, “I should confess something. My wife doesn’t want to meet you. She wants your heart to eat. You’ve been such a generous friend, and now you’ll be even more useful as dinner!”

Manik’s heart raced, but he quickly composed himself. “Oh, Kalia,” he said with a calm laugh, “why didn’t you say so earlier? I would have gladly helped you. But you see, I don’t carry my heart with me. I left it back in the fig tree for safekeeping!”

Kalia was startled. “You left your heart in the tree?”

“Of course!” Manik replied. “We monkeys are very careful creatures. If you take me back to the tree, I’ll fetch it for you.”

Kalia, thinking himself clever for tricking Manik, turned around and swam back to the riverbank. The moment they reached the tree, Manik leapt off Kalia’s back and climbed to the highest branch.

From his safe perch, he called down, “Oh, foolish crocodile! How could anyone leave their heart behind? You betrayed my trust, and now you’ll leave with nothing!”

Kalia stared up at Manik, his pride shattered. He slunk back into the river, defeated, while Manik laughed and continued to feast on his figs, wiser than before.

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Moral of the Story: Trust is precious, but not everyone deserves it. Stay alert, and use your wits to outsmart those with bad intentions.