Empty Drums

Two friends, while traveling across a foreign land, took shelter for the night in the house of a drummer. The villagers gathered around, eager to hear the stories of their homeland.

One of the friends was a notorious yarn-spinner, known for his tendency to exaggerate. When the drummer asked him about the drums in their country, he responded, “Oh no! Our drums are much bigger— as big as the banyan tree yonder!”

“Good gracious!” exclaimed the drummer in disbelief.

Then a cowherd joined the conversation, inquiring, “What about the cows in your country?” This time, the other friend quickly chimed in, “Well, they are just huge! As huge as that bridge over the river!”

The next morning, as the two friends continued their journey, the first friend challenged the second, saying, “You irresponsible fellow! How could you speak such a gigantic lie about our cows?”

“You fool! Don’t you realize that it was for your sake?” retorted his friend. “If we did not have cows as huge as the bridge, from where could you get the hide to make the drums as big as the banyan tree?”