Foresight
It was scorching heat in summer. Lakes and pools were drying up.
Look! The pool is drying. If this little water too evaporates, it would become impossible to go to another place. So, let us go away to a better pool with water right now,” said Deerghadarshi (who plans ahead).
“Why do you fear always? If such a dire situation arises, we will think about it then,” said Praaptakalajna (who decides on the spot).
“Well spoken! Our friend Deerghadarshi is always like that. He gets panicky easily and makes us anxious. This pool we live in is like an ocean. There is no trouble now. Should some dire calamity befall on us, we will see to it when it happens, “said Deerghasutra (who acts only after event takes place).
“Right, then remain here. Certainly I am leaving,” said Deerghadarshi. He had much foresight. He had been living a long while with his friends Praptakalajna and Deergha sutra in that forest pool. Since they were his friends, he forewarned them about the possible imminent danger in their best interest. What could be done if they chose to ignore? After all, they were fish! Ever bound to live in water! The summer is very severe. The pool would dry up tomorrow if not today. If the water began to evaporate would fisherman let us off or allow us to go to another place? Instead of getting caught in the stampede then holding on for dear life, wouldn’t it be better to precaution now? They don’t listen to my suggestion. What can I do? Thinking thus, with sigh, Deerghadarshi slowly made his way to another, much bigger pool.
Just as Deerghadarshi had predicted water in the pool began to dry up. Fisher men too came with their fishing nets. These fisher men were catching fish not only with tackles and nets but also with bare hands. What shall we do, Deerghasutra?-asked Praptakalajna. “We should have listened to our friend Deerghadarshi. Now I too cannot think of a way out, “said Deerghasutra jumping aimlessly in sheer panic.
One fisher man saw them. He caught Deerghasutra with his bare hands, killed him and threaded him. Seeing this Praaptakalajna‘s heart missed a beat. He trembled. He thought deeply and worked out a plan. He sidled up to the threaded fish and clamped his jaws on the thread. He stayed thus, motionless, as if dead. After the fish hunting was over, the fisher man dipped the garlands of threaded fish in a fresh water pool to wash off the slush. Praaptakalajna quickly dived deep into the pool and joined the other living things of the pool, with a prayer of thanks for the providential escape.
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