The Monkey and the Fish – A Tale of True Friendship

The Monkey and the Fish – A Tale of True Friendship

Once upon a time, in a lush green forest bordered by a wide sparkling river, lived two unlikely but best friends—a clever monkey named Miko and a kind-hearted fish named Fin.

Miko lived in the tall trees, swinging from branch to branch, while Fin swam happily in the clear river below. Even though they were different in many ways, they loved spending time together. Every day, Miko would climb down to the riverbank to chat with Fin, and Fin would leap out of the water to greet him with splashes of joy.

One summer, the forest was struck by a terrible drought. The trees began to wither, and the river’s water started to dry up. Miko, who lived in the trees, could still find a few fruits to eat, but Fin was in trouble—the water level was dropping fast, and he had less space to swim.

Seeing his friend in danger, Miko became worried. “Don’t worry, Fin,” he said. “I’ll help you. I’ll find a deeper part of the river for you to stay safe.”

Miko swung from tree to tree, looking along the river for a spot with deeper water. Finally, far down the river, he found a shady, deep pool that still had cool, clean water. He rushed back to Fin.

“I’ve found a place! Climb onto this big leaf, and I’ll carry you there,” Miko said.

Fin flopped carefully onto the big, wet leaf Miko had prepared. Gently, the monkey pulled the leaf along the edge of the river, guiding it to the deep pool. It took all day, but finally, Fin arrived at the safe spot.

“You saved me, Miko,” Fin said gratefully. “I’ll never forget this!”

Months later, when the rains returned and the river flowed strong again, another problem arose—heavy storms and floods. One day, Miko got caught in a sudden flood while climbing a tree near the river. A strong gust knocked him off the branch, and he fell into the raging water. Miko didn’t know how to swim and began to panic.

Just then, Fin spotted him. “Hold on, Miko!” he shouted.

Fin swam quickly to his friend, letting Miko grab onto his back. With strong strokes, Fin carried Miko to a nearby tree where he could climb to safety.

Both friends were tired, but safe. They hugged each other tightly—one with his arms, the other with his fins.

From that day on, the monkey and the fish were known throughout the forest as the best of friends—because they always helped each other, no matter how different they were.

A Famous Story

 “Birbal’s Khichdi” 

On a cold winter day, Emperor Akbar and his advisor, Birbal, were walking by a lake. Akbar dipped his finger into the freezing water and remarked, “I don’t think anyone could spend an entire night in this cold water.” Birbal confidently replied, “I am sure I can find such a person.” Akbar, intrigued, challenged Birbal to find someone willing to endure the cold night in exchange for a reward of a thousand gold coins.

Birbal searched and found a poor man who agreed to the challenge. The man stood in the lake overnight, enduring the cold. The next morning, he was brought before Akbar. When asked how he managed, the man explained, “I focused on a street lamp burning 200 yards away, and its light kept me warm.” Akbar, believing the man had been warmed by the lamp’s light, decided he was not deserving of the reward. The disappointed man sought Birbal’s help.

The following day, Birbal did not attend the court. Concerned, Akbar visited Birbal’s home and found him sitting near a small fire with a pot of khichdi hanging five feet above it. Amused, Akbar asked, “How can the khichdi cook if it’s so far from the fire?” Birbal responded, “Just as the man was warmed by a lamp 200 yards away.” Akbar realized his mistake and rewarded the poor man.

Moral:

This story teaches that understanding the context and the means by which someone achieves something is crucial before making judgments.