A Stinging Remedy- A good story

 

A Stinging Remedy- A good story

Many years ago there lived in 4 small Village, in the heart of India, a great scholar named Gowri Shankar. He loved the Village where his father and grandfather had lived, and was well respected, both for his wisdom and readiness to help others in times of distress.

A. close neighbour was Manilal, who was quite affluent, but money meant everything to Manilal and some of his methods to acquire more, were extremely subious. Yet the scholar and Manilal were good friends and Gowri Shankar always cherished the hope that ‘one day his friend would mend ‘his ways,

That year, in a nearby town, the wedding was celebrated of & rich man’s son and as Gowri Shankar had been the youth’s tutor, he was invited to the wedding as a guest of honour The rich man in a grateful frame of mind, presented the scholar with a silk shawl and a costly diamond ring.

 

Everyone in the village was delighted when they saw the scholar’s gifts, except Manilal, who looked at the ring with greedy eyes, thinking why should a scholar who. scorns, riches, possess such a ring, when it would look so good on my hand, Sitting in aon Shankar's house that eveni Manilal could think of nothing bat that sparkling ring and he watched every movement when the schalar picked up the ring and put it in a small box on a shelf,

When they said goodnight, Manilal could not resist taking aw backward glance at that box, and wended his way home filled with evil thoughts.

In the middle of the night, when all the village was wrapped in slumber, Manilal stole cautiously along the strect and when he reached the scholar’s. house, he looked around to make sure he was not observed, Knowing that his friend never bolted his door, Manilal quietly lifted the latch ‘and peering in the door, could Just make out the figure of the scholar safe in bed asleep. Without a sound, Manilal tiptoed across the room and gently lifted the box off the shelf. Opening the box, Manilal felt inside for the ring. Suddenly he dropped the box and let 0ut agreat howl “Help! Help!” he shouted. “1 have been bitten by snake. lam dying.”

The scholar who had only been feigning sleep, sat up and smiled at Manilal, who was hopping around holding his hand and screaming blue murder,

"You are not badly hurt,” he said to Manilal, "It was only a scorpion 1 caught last night. But tell me, what are you doing here, and why are you taking that box?"

Manilal, now looking very crestfallen, had to confess that he intended to steal the diamond ring. The scholar said sharply, *Lknew you planned to. steal the ring, that is why 1 put the scorpion in the box, You have Jearned 4 good lesson, my friend.”

From then onwards Manila! changed in character. He no longer had an insatiable greed for money, and found a greater enjoyment in the company of his friend, the scholar.