(156) The cravings!

Once upon a time, in the land of Silbaripuram, there was a period when small streams and rivers used to flow into a vast backwater. In one of those streams, a large group of similar fish lived together.

Within that group, there were not only small and big fish but also some very old ones. One day, a very active and lively fish said to the others, "We have been living in the same place for a long time. There are many hardships here. It is full of rocks, and occasionally, there are flash floods, landslides, and whirlpools."

At that moment, another fish supported this, adding, "Moreover, the children who come to catch us with fishing rods are also a nuisance."

However, the oldest fish in the group said, "Everything you say is true. Still, God has given us the ability to overcome all these difficulties."

Despite this, after a few days, as a result of the majority's decision, they all went along with the current and reached the river below.

Just then, they noticed a man dumping food waste from a tea shop into a part of the river where the current was slow. They all rushed towards it.

Immediately, a few older fish expressed their doubts: "Why should we eat human food? Nature has provided us with our traditional food here."

However, all the other fish started eating the waste.

Days passed by. The fish stopped going anywhere else to hunt for food.

However, the older fish did not touch any of it. One day, the man dumped the waste into the water and left.

The fish, as usual, greedily devoured it. Within a few hours, they all died and floated to the surface!

The reason was that the man's enemies had mixed poison into the food from a wedding feast, and he had disposed of it there.

Then, only a few fish remained. They said, "Staying here is dangerous. Evil-minded humans have the potential to make this entire river water poisonous."

They swam back to their old stream.

Moral: Even when others point out the problems caused by cravings, some people choose to ignore them. Misery can be the result!