Once upon a time in the kingdom of Vijayanagara, there lived a barber who was known throughout the town for his greediness. He would often cheat his customers, charging them extra money for simple haircuts and shaves. This barber was cunning and always sought ways to make more money, regardless of whether it was fair or honest.
One day, Tenali Raman, the wise and witty court jester, decided to pay a visit to this barber. As he entered the barber’s shop, the barber greeted him with a big smile, hoping to make some extra money from him. Tenali asked for a shave, and the barber happily obliged, thinking of how he could overcharge him.
During the shave, the barber purposefully left patches of hair on Tenali’s face, planning to charge him more to fix it later. But Tenali, being sharp and observant, noticed the incomplete shave and questioned the barber about it. The barber tried to deceive him by saying it was a new style, but Tenali wasn’t fooled. He refused to pay until he received a proper shave.
Frustrated by Tenali’s refusal to be cheated, the barber reluctantly finished the shave without charging extra. However, he was determined to get back at Tenali for exposing his dishonesty.
So, the barber came up with a cunning plan. He offered Tenali a special deal on a haircut, hoping to trick him into paying more later. Tenali, always looking to save money, agreed to the deal and sat down for the haircut.
As the barber cut Tenali’s hair, he deliberately made it uneven, thinking he could charge him extra to fix it. But Tenali noticed the asymmetrical haircut and realized the barber’s deceitful intentions.
Instead of getting angry or refusing to pay, Tenali decided to teach the barber a lesson. He paid the agreed-upon price and left the shop. But he didn’t forget about the barber’s dishonesty.
Soon after, Tenali returned to the barber’s shop with a group of villagers. He told them about the barber’s tricks and demanded justice for his dishonesty. Feeling ashamed and embarrassed, the barber apologized to Tenali and the villagers, promising to change his ways.
From that day on, the barber became known for his honesty and fairness, thanks to Tenali’s cleverness. And Tenali continued to uphold justice and expose dishonesty in the kingdom, reminding everyone that honesty is always the best policy.
IMPORTANT VOCABULARIES:
- Greediness: Having an excessive desire for wealth or possessions.
- Cunning: Having or showing skill in achieving one’s ends by deceit or evasion.
- Obliged: Required or expected to do something because of duty, responsibility, or custom.
- Observant: Paying careful attention to details; noticing things accurately.
- Frustrated: Feeling upset or annoyed because of an inability to achieve a desired goal or result.
- Reluctantly: Doing something with hesitation or unwillingness; not eagerly or willingly.
- Determined: Having a firm or fixed intention to achieve a specific goal despite obstacles or setbacks.
- Hoping: Wishing for or desiring something to happen.
- Deliberately: Intentionally or consciously; with careful consideration or planning.
- Asymmetrical: Not symmetrical; lacking balance or uniformity in shape, arrangement, or proportion.
- Deceitful: Dishonest or misleading; intending to deceive.
- Ashamed: Feeling embarrassed or guilty because of one’s actions or behavior.
- Embarrassed: Feeling self-conscious or uncomfortable in front of others, often due to being caught in a socially awkward or embarrassing situation.
