Mango Grove

A group of mischievous monkeys lived near a river. They all loved to eat fruits. But most of the trees near the river did not bear fruits.

One day, one of the monkeys spied a mango grove at some distance from the river. Every tree in the grove was full of sweet and juicy mangoes. He stealthily jumped over the fence and climbed the nearest tree. Greedily he started picking and eating the mangoes. The mangoes were very delicious.

Back in the group, he told everyone about the delicious mangoes.

Every monkey wanted to rush to the grove but an old monkey cautioned them. “Let’s not be greedy and let’s us not all rush to that grove. I have seen that grove. I know that it is very well protected. There are many guards and they are all fearsome. Anyone who gets caught stealing the mangoes gets a good thrashing.”

“But there must be some way to get those mangoes?” asked Ruskee, a young monkey.

“I suggest only six of us should go there around noon time when guards normally take their lunch. Two monkeys should keep an eye on the guards and the remaining should quietly pick the . Once you have picked about thirty mangoes you should leave that place quietly. Every one will get one mango to eat.”

Some monkeys were not happy with this scheme and they started grumbling. Ruskee looked at the old monkey angrily.

“You will repent if you are not careful,” said the old monkey.

Six monkeys including Ruskee went to mango grove. Ruskee and Minnti decided keep an eye on the guards and the remaining four started plucking mangoes.

But Ruskee was not keeping an eye on the guards. He had climbed a mango tree. He plucked a mango and started eating it. It was very juicy and sweet. He could not resist saying, “This is the finest mango I have ever eaten.” And he had said these words so loudly that the guards heard him.

“Monkeys!” shouted one guard. All the guards jumped at once and started chasing the monkeys.

The monkeys dropped the mangoes and ran away. But Ruskee was very greedy. He did not drop the mangoes. He was holding one mango in each hand and one in his mouth.

Of course, he could not run and jump over the fence. Other five monkeys managed to escape.

The guards caught Ruskee and gave him a sound thrashing and then threw him into a filthy ditch.

The old monkey was watching from a distance. He took pity on Ruskee and helped him to get out of the filthy ditch.

“Greed always causes misery and pain.”

Ruskee was in tears. But he had learnt his lesson.

*****