In a far away kingdom,
there was a river. This river was home to many golden swans. The swans spent
most of their time on the banks of the river. Every six months, the swans would
leave a golden feather as a fee for using the lake. The soldiers of the kingdom
would collect the feathers and deposit them in the royal treasury.
One day, a homeless bird
saw the river. “The water in this river seems so cool and soothing. I will make
my home here,” thought the bird.
As soon as the bird settled
down near the river, the golden swans noticed her. They came shouting. “This
river belongs to us. We pay a golden feather to the King to use this river. You
cannot live here.”
“I am homeless, brothers. I
too will pay the rent. Please give me shelter,” the bird pleaded. “How will you
pay the rent? You do not have golden feathers,” said the swans laughing. They
further added, “Stop dreaming and leave once.” The humble bird pleaded many
times. But the arrogant swans drove the bird away.
“I will teach them a
lesson!” decided the humiliated bird.
She went to the King and
said, “O King! The swans in your river are impolite and unkind. I begged for
shelter but they said that they had purchased the river with golden feathers.”
The King was angry with the
arrogant swans for having insulted the homeless bird. He ordered his soldiers
to bring the arrogant swans to his court. In no time, all the golden swans were
brought to the King’s court.
“Do you think the royal
treasury depends upon your golden feathers? You cannot decide who lives by the
river. Leave the river at once or you all will be beheaded!” shouted the King.
The swans shivered with
fear on hearing the King. They flew away never to return. The bird built her
home near the river and lived there happily forever. The bird gave shelter to
all other birds in the river.
From A Short Story : The Arrogant Swans
