Tenali Raman looked out to find that the plants in his garden needed watering. But as he looked out, he saw some strange men creeping stealthily in the bushes. They were thieves. He had to think fast.
He called out loudly to his wife, “There are thieves in the kingdom, my dear. We must hide all your jewellery and the valuables. I am bringing the big trunk. Just help me.”
His wife was completely puzzled, but she knew her husband always had some purpose in his crazy actions. So, she went along with him. Once they were inside, he quickly whispered his plan to her. She smiled as she ran to obey him. She took a lot of smaller stones while her husband brought in big stones and put them all in the trunk.
The thieves had overheard Tenali Raman talking to his wife and they waited in the bushes. As evening fell, they saw Tenali Raman and his wife dragging a heavy trunk out of the house. They dragged it up to the well and pushed it over the side into it. It fell into the well with a great splash. Then all was silent as they went in.
Tenali Raman and his wife locked the doors and the windows and went to sleep. Night fell. After some time, when the thieves thought everyone was asleep, they crept out and went to the well. Peeping in, they could see the trunk under the water.
“How do we get it out?” they wondered.
“Let’s empty the well first,” suggested one of them.
“That’s a good idea! Come on; let’s start,” agreed the others.
They began drawing water out of the well and throwing it into the garden. The water level in the well dropped. Soon the trunk could be seen. One of them went down into the well and tied some ropes around the trunk. Then they all heaved the trunk out of the well.
Once it was out, they opened it eagerly. Stones! Nothing but stones inside it! It was almost dawn and Tenali Raman had watched them all the time from his window. He strolled out and the frightened thieves stood up to run.
“Hello, gentlemen! Lovely morning, isn’t it? Thank you so much for watering all my plants. I’ll call you again when I need you!” he laughed. The thieves, shivering with fright, fell at his feet and begged his forgiveness. None had learnt to trick Tenali Raman yet!
