The Monkey’s Clever Heart

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In a sun-dappled forest, a playful monkey lived atop the largest mango tree, feasting on its sweet fruits and sharing them with friends. One day, he spotted a tired crocodile resting beneath his tree. Welcoming the stranger, the monkey offered the juiciest mangoes, which the crocodile delightedly carried home to his mother.

When she tasted the mangoes, her eyes gleamed with greed. “If the fruits are so sweet, imagine the sweetness of the monkey’s heart,” she demanded. The crocodile, torn between loyalty and fear, reluctantly devised a plan to bring the monkey to her.

As they reached the river’s center, the monkey’s eyes widened at the vast waters. Sensing his fear, the crocodile confessed the truth. The monkey chuckled. “You need not worry. My heart is always safe in the hollow of my tree. Only in dire need do I carry it with me.”

Panicked, the crocodile turned back. The monkey leapt to the topmost branch, safe once more, and called down, “Friendship works one way—trust. Break it, and even my heart can’t help you now.”

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Moral: True friendship thrives on trust, not fear or deceit.