Long Long Ago

One day on old man was going to Market, called Santha to sell out his goat. It was black in color. He was walking through a forest to reach the market. He tied his goat with a small rope and driving it in his direction.

Four thieves had watched this. They wanted to steal this goat from that old man. They can beat him to steal the goat. But they didn’t like to do so as if might become a remarkable crime.

Hence they thought about a strategy. According to that, one of the thieves approached the old man and said “Hello! Grand father, why are you dragging this street dog, by tieing it with rope? Are you mad?” the old man got surprised and said “No child, you are mistaking. This is black goat, not a dog.” The thief argued, “No grand pa, your sight might become weak.” By saying this, he left the place.

The old man watched keenly his animal, by confirming it as goat, he continued his journey. But after some distance, the second thief approached him in opposite direction to the previous thief and repeated the same drama, but with prolonging script. He argued continuously with the old man and tried to convince him as his goat was black dog. The old man was reluctant to accept it.

While leaving the place, the second thief played a powerful strategy as “Okay grand father. As you believe, it is goat. But take care. It may be a dog and it can bite you if you stress it to move along with you. Okay. Bye.”

The old man got severe wonder and checked once again his animal. It was 100% goat but not dog. He continued his journey to market. But on the way, he was thinking why those two men, who were quite unknown to him as well as to each other, that to met him from opposite ways, argued with him like that? There was nothing benefit for them by saying his goat as dog at par his vision. Then, why they tried to convince him?

When he was in this dilemma, the third thief approached him with the same drama and added some essence to it as “May it is a mad dog, and it can bite you.” the old man bluntly opposed this and continued his journey. But the suspect in his brain was getting increase. He started to suspect his ability of sight and common sense.

At this juncture, the fourth thief met him and said “Hi old man! Why are you taking this black dog with you? Are you mad? Or did your old age get you blindness?”

By losing confidence on himself, the old man left the goat in forest and returned home with empty hands. The four thieves happily captured the goat and enjoyed its meat.

Note: To read the application of this story to our life, click here: Mother’s Lap