How can we be HAPPY? - Short Story

Once a group of 50 people was attending a seminar.

Suddenly the speaker stopped and decided to do a group activity. He started giving each one a balloon. Each one was asked to write his/her name on it using a marker pen. Then all the balloons were collected and put in another room.

Now these delegates were let in that room and asked to find the balloon which had their name written, within 5 minutes. Everyone was frantically searching for their name, colliding with each other, pushing around others and there was utter chaos.

At the end of 5 minutes no one could find their own balloon. Now each one was asked to randomly collect a balloon and give it to the the person whose name was written on it.

Within minutes everyone had their own balloon.
The speaker began— Exactly this is happening in our lives. Everyone is frantically looking for happiness all around, not knowing where it is.

Our happiness lies in the happiness of other people. Give them their happiness, you will get your own happiness. And this is the purpose of human life. Is this not what you are looking for?

Surprised Shop Keeper

Once there was a person called Rangaiah. He had a shop in Singaram village. He sold many things including spectacles although he was not an eye doctor.

He used to collect old spectacles and sold them to customers. He asked them to read the alphabet board. If one set was not useful, Rangaiah used to give another, and changed them until the customer could read and buy one.

One day an old man came to his shop. Rangaiah tried almost all sets of spectacles to make him read but failed. Rangaiah became very angry and shouted. “What’s the problem?” The old man replied coolly “I can’t read.”

The merchant was stunned to hear this. He had no word to say.

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The Clever Tiger And Foolish Traveller

One day a traveler goes through a forest. He comes to a pond. On the other side of the pond he sees a tiger. The tiger is old. He greets the traveler. He says that he has become pious and does not kill others. He also says that he spends time in prayers.

The tiger offers him a gold bangle. The traveler is tempted. But he has one doubt that whose bangle it is. He hesitates to cross the pond and go near the tiger. But he is greedy. His greed overcomes his fear.

He crosses the pond and goes within the reach of the tiger. The tiger springs on him and eats him up.

Moral: Don’t go near cruel animals. (or) Greed brings grief.

The Greedy Soldier

One day a flower seller goes to King’s palace. He wants to show and sell his beautiful flowers to the king. There is a soldier at the gate.

The soldier stops the seller. He comes to know that the seller is going to get some money. He demands half of what the seller gets by his sale of flowers. Then only he will allow the man to go into the court. The seller agrees.

The seller gets in. He shows the flowers. The king is impressed. He asks him what he wants for the flowers. The seller says that he wants fifty lashes. The king is stunned. From the seller he comes to know about the greediness of the soldier. He orders the soldier to be given twenty-five lashes. He rewards the flower-seller.

Moral: Dishonesty shall be punished sooner or later.

A Clever Traveller - A Selfish Friend

One day two travellers were going through a forest. They were talking with each other if they were friends. Half way down they met a bear. One of the travellers, who was lean, was selfish. He left the other one in trouble and climbed up the nearest tree. He was safe.

The second traveller was fat. He could not climb up any tree. He laid down on the ground. He pretended as if he was dead. He held his breath.

The bear came near and smelt him. It thought that he was died. So it went away. The first traveller climbed down the tree and came to the second traveller. He asked him what the bear had told him. The second traveller said that the bear had warned him to be away from those who leave their friends in danger.

Moral: A friend, who does not come to our help in need, is not a true friend.

A Wise Hare - Children's Stories

Once there lived a lion. He was the king of the forest. He was the ruler of all the animals. He used to eat many animals a day. Animals were worried and sad. One day they met the lion and appealed to eat one animal a day. The lion agreed.

The animals sent an animal by turns. On day the turn of a hare came. The hare was very clever. She went late to the lion. He asked her the reason for her late coming. The hare gently said that another lion stopped her on the way. The lion grew furious. He asked the hare to take him to place where the other lion was.

The hare took the lion to a deep well. He said that the other lion was in the well. The lion looked into the well. He saw his own reflection. He thought that there was another lion in the well. He jumped into the well to kill the other lion. He drowned in water and died. All the animals thanked the hare. They got rid of the lion. They lived happily.

Moral: Wisdom can save one’s skin.

The Foolish Bulls

Once there lived four bulls in a field. They were very good friends. They were strong. They remained united. Even the lion, the king of the forest, was afraid to go near them. But he wanted to kill and eat them up.

The lion thought of a plan. He met each bull separately and said bad words against the other bulls. He repeated the same trick with all the four bulls. The foolish bulls believed his words. They looked at each other as an enemy.

The bulls got separated. They grazed separately. Taking the opportunity, the lion chased, killed and eat them up.

Moral: United we stand, divided we fall.

Who is Happy? - Short Story

A crow lived in the forest and was absolutely satisfied in life. But one day he saw a swan. “This swan is so white,” he thought, “and I am so black. This swan must be the happiest bird in the world.”

He expressed his thoughts to the swan. “Actually,” the swan replied, “I was feeling that I was the happiest bird around until I saw a parrot, which has two colors. I now think the parrot is the happiest bird in creation.” The crow then approached the parrot. The parrot explained, “I lived a very happy life until I saw a peacock. I have only two colors, but the peacock has multiple colors.”

The crow then visited a peacock in the zoo and saw that hundreds of people had gathered to see him. After the people had left, the crow approached the peacock. “Dear peacock,” the crow said, “you are so beautiful. Every day thousands of people come to see you. When people see me, they immediately shoo me away. I think you are the happiest bird on the planet.”

The peacock replied, “I always thought that I was the most beautiful and happy bird on the planet. But because of my beauty, I am entrapped in this zoo. I have examined the zoo very carefully, and I have realized that the crow is the only bird not kept in a cage. So for past few days I have been thinking that if I were a crow, I could happily roam everywhere.”