Once, there was a village at the edge of a forest. The village had many children who loved to go to the forest and watch many birds. Their favourite birds were the Peacock and the Crane.
The Peacock had beautiful feathers. His royal blue feathers were very attractive. All the children used to come to see the Peacock.
Now, the Peacock knew that all the children found him beautiful. Whenever he would hear the children in the forest, he would open his feathers and begin to dance. The children were amused by the colours in his feathers.
After seeing the Peacock dance, the children would usually go to the lake in the forest and see the Crane catch fish with his beak. They would clap every time the Crane caught a fish. Then the Crane would spread his gorgeous white wings and fly high in the sky.
One day, as the Crane was passing by the Peacock’s house, the Peacock said to him, “Look who is here! He is the children’s second favourite bird. How does it feel to have plain ugly white wings? Look at my feathers. They are colourful and beautiful.”
The Crane replied, “O sly Peacock, you might have beautiful feathers. But when I open my wings, I take flight and touch the sky. I can dive through the clouds. Can you do that?” The jealous Peacock opened his feathers and started dancing. But in the haste, he slipped and fell into the dirt. All his feathers were dirty and broken.
The Crane said, “You must always be respectful to others, Peacock. See what has happened to you.” He spread his white wings and flew away.
