Loss Of friend

THE THREE FISH

Once, there lived many fish in a pond. One evening, some fishermen were passing by the pond. They suddenly stopped and talked among themselves, 'How come we have never seen this pond? It seems to be full of fish. The sun is setting now. Let's come back at dawn tomorrow and catch as many fish as we can.'

One fish heard what the fishermen said. He called a meeting of all the fish.

'Didn't you hear what the fishermen said?' he asked. 'We must move out of this pond by tonight. As the wise men say, a weak man should flee and seek refuge in a fort when a strong man invades. We have no other alternative. The fishermen will come tomorrow. I think we should not be here for even a single moment,' he said.

"That's true," said another fish. 'I support what you say. Let's go elsewhere. Those who are afraid of foreign lands and are bound to their soil will die in their own country. He who can prosper anywhere doesn't die in his own land, clinging to sentiments.'

Your plans are not good, warned a little fish. Why should we leave this pond, the ancient home of our forefathers? Is it just because the fishermen have evil intentions? If it is destined, we cannot escape death even if we go elsewhere. Everything is in the hands of God. You cannot dispose of what he pro- poses. Without his blessings, people die even if they have protection. With his blessings, nobody can kill them even amidst danger.

The other two fish, unable to convince the little fish, left the pond. The fishermen arrived early next morning and took a big catch of fish from the pond. The little fish was one among them.

The female pheasant resumed.

"That's why I told you that those who foresee the problem and those who deal with the problem when it arises, are always victorious, and those who trust their luck are the ones that suffer.

In that case do you think I'm as foolish as the little fish? the husband asked, 'Wait and see what I can do. I'll drain the sea of all its water and leave it dry!

You must not plan to take revenge on the mighty sea. It will be of no use. It is believed that a weak man's anger hurts only him in the end."

"Don't discourage me. Those who are confident of their abilities can take on stronger men. Doesn't the lion, smaller in size than the mighty elephant, s***h his crown? Doesn't a small wick repel darkness? He who has courage is the stronger person. Wait and watch how I'll drain the sea's water and make it dry!"

'But hundreds of rivers flow into the sea. Your beak is just as big as a drop of the seawater. How can you take in all the water out of the sea? Stop this tall talk, advised the female pheasant.

T'll work day and night to drain the sea of all its water.

'All right,' said the wife. 'If you really want to absorb the sea, call all your friends and try to do the job together. When a band of weak men are united, it is difficult to defeat them. Even blades of slender grass can bind an elephant, if they are woven into a rope. Haven't you heard the story of how the spar- row, woodpecker, fly and frog killed an elephant?'

'Please tell me how they did it, asked the male pheasant.

The wife began the story.