The Farmer and the Clever Mouse

 

In a quiet little village, surrounded by green fields and golden crops, lived a kind-hearted farmer named Ramesh. He worked hard every day, plowing his fields and tending to his crops, but despite his efforts, he was always struggling to make ends meet.

One evening, as Ramesh was closing his barn, he noticed a small gray mouse nibbling on a sack of grain. "Ah, so you're the little thief stealing my food!" he said, frowning. He picked up a broom to chase it away, but the mouse, instead of running, looked up and squeaked, "Please, kind farmer, spare me! If you do, I promise to help you one day."

Ramesh laughed. "How can a tiny mouse help me?" he asked.

"Even the smallest creatures can do great things," the mouse replied.

Amused by the mouse’s bravery, Ramesh decided not to harm it. "Alright, little one. But no more stealing my grain!" The mouse nodded and scurried away.

Days turned into weeks, and one day, disaster struck. A heavy storm flooded the village, ruining Ramesh’s crops. He had no food and no money left. Sitting outside his empty barn, he sighed, "What will I do now?"

That night, the little mouse returned. "Farmer, you were kind to me, and now it's my turn to help you," it said.

Ramesh shook his head. "What can you possibly do?"

The mouse smiled and disappeared into the fields. By morning, it had gathered hundreds of its mouse friends, and together, they ran into the granaries of the rich landlords, collecting the grains that had fallen and been forgotten. They brought back sack after sack, filling Ramesh’s barn.

When Ramesh saw the barn full of grain, he was overwhelmed with gratitude. He had enough to survive and even to plant new crops. "You were right, little one," he said, smiling. "Even the smallest creatures can do great things."

From that day on, Ramesh never underestimated anyone, no matter how small. And as for the mouse, it remained his loyal friend, proving that kindness always finds a way to return.