The Friendly Crows
Journey of a Lonely Boy
Once upon a time, there lived a lad named Kishan. His mother had died when he was young, and his father had gone blind in both eyes. Poor Kishan led a lonely life, fending for himself.
Every day, he cooked his meals and, at lunchtime, tossed a few morsels to the crows that crowded the verandah of his tiny hut. The crows were his constant companions, sitting on the mud walls of his verandah, looking sideways at Kishan and chattering incessantly.
A Difficult Dilemma
One day, Kishan cooked a little less than usual. After feeding his blind father, he discovered that nothing was left for the crows. He felt heavy-hearted at the thought of disappointing his feathered friends.
As the crows flew in at the appointed hour and settled on the low wall, Kishan stood and watched them sorrowfully, unable to feed them.
An Unexpected Gift
Noticing his dispirited demeanour, one of the crows flew away and soon returned with an object in its beak. The crow dropped it before Kishan, who recognized it as the king’s signet ring. Determined to return it, he sought his father’s advice. His father said, “Kishan, it will take many days to reach the capital and hand the ring to the king. Better to give it to the Head Constable of this village, who is sure to deliver it.”
The Head Constable’s Error
When the Head Constable saw the ring, he exclaimed, “This is the ring that was stolen from the palace! The king has ordered that the thief be arrested and brought to him. So, as you are the suspected thief, I must take you to the king.”
Poor Kishan pleaded his innocence, but no one listened. With his hands bound behind him, he was heavily guarded as they set out for the capital.
A Clever Escape
After travelling some distance, the Head Constable stopped his horse to rest under a tree, telling his guards to proceed with Kishan and that he would rejoin them later. The guards moved ahead and soon fell asleep in the shade of another tree.
Just then, some crows flew in and began pecking at the ropes binding Kishan’s hands. Finally freed, he took a shortcut through the fields and reached the capital well before the snoozing guards. He went straight to the palace, and luckily for him, was ushered into the presence of the king without much difficulty.
Honesty Rewarded
Kishan recounted how he had acquired the ring and what had happened to him at the hands of the Head Constable. The king marvelled at the boy’s story and declared, “Well, lad, here are a thousand gold Mohurs. Go home and live happily. This is your reward for honesty.”
Just then, the Head Constable arrived, huffing and puffing. He said pompously, “Sire, we captured the notorious thief who stole your ring, but he somehow escaped our grasp. However, here is your ring.”
The king smiled and said, “You need not search for Kishan. This is he. He was honest enough to give you the ring so that it could be sent to me. Does that not prove that he did not steal it? If you had used your brain, you would have seen it immediately. Now you will escort him home safely. I have rewarded him with a thousand gold Mohurs; ensure he comes to no harm.”
A Grateful Heart
At the king’s words, the Head Constable became crestfallen, but he escorted Kishan home safely. Kishan praised the king for his generosity and kindness, and with the reward money, he bought some land which he cultivated carefully. He built a modest house but did not forget his friends, the crows. He constructed a specially raised platform in front of his house, which became known as the “Crow Platform,” because the birds came flying there to eat the food he offered them. Throughout his life, Kishan remained grateful to the crows who had made his fortune possible.