A humorous folk tale about deception, unexpected consequences, and the wisdom that comes from experience.
Introduction
Long ago, in a peaceful village surrounded by green fields, bamboo groves, and ancient trees, there lived a poor elderly couple who had no children. They depended on a small piece of land to earn their living. Their life was simple, but their dreams were big. They hoped that one day their crops would bring them enough money to repair their old house and enjoy a more comfortable life.
One day, while planting taro in their field, they encountered a mischievous monkey who claimed to know a secret method of growing crops in a single day. The old man believed the monkey's words, unaware that the clever animal had already begun planning a trick. What followed was a hilarious chain of events that taught the couple an unforgettable lesson.
Chapter 1: The Poor Couple and Their Little Field
Many years ago, in a small village called Shalmara, there lived an elderly man named Hari and his wife, Padumi. The villagers affectionately called them Grandpa Hari and Grandma Padumi.
The couple had no children and owned very little. Their home was a small hut with a thatched roof, bamboo walls, and an earthen floor. Whenever heavy rain fell, water found its way through the roof, forcing them to move their belongings from one corner to another.
Despite their poverty, they were hardworking people. Their only valuable possession was a small piece of farmland near a large banyan tree. They grew vegetables and other crops there, hoping each season would bring enough food and a little money.
Grandpa Hari was kind-hearted but rather gullible. Whenever someone told him an exciting story or promised an easy way to earn money, he was tempted to believe it. Grandma Padumi, however, was practical and sharp-minded. She rarely accepted anything without asking questions.
One morning, as they prepared to leave for their field, Grandpa Hari said, "Padumi, if our taro harvest is good this year, we can sell some at the market. Perhaps we can finally repair our roof."
Grandma Padumi smiled. "That would be wonderful, Hari. But first, we must plant the taro properly, look after it, and wait patiently. Crops do not grow because we dream about them."
Grandpa Hari laughed. "Dreaming costs nothing, my dear!"
"True," she replied, "but cooking dreams for dinner will not fill our stomachs."
They laughed together and continued towards their field, unaware that a mischievous visitor was watching them from the branches of the banyan tree.
Chapter 2: The Clever Monkey
The banyan tree was home to a troop of monkeys. Among them was a particularly clever monkey named Budhu. He was quick, curious, and very good at persuading others to do things that benefited him.
Budhu had a habit of watching the villagers carefully. If someone left fruit unattended, he would find a way to take it. If a farmer spread rice in the courtyard, Budhu would wait until the farmer went inside before helping himself.
That morning, he noticed Grandpa Hari and Grandma Padumi planting taro. Curious about their work, he climbed down and approached the old man.
"Good morning, Grandpa!" Budhu called cheerfully.
"Good morning, Budhu. What brings you here?" asked Hari.
"I was just passing by. Tell me, Grandpa, what are you planting?"
"Taro, my boy," replied the old man.
Budhu examined the planting material and suddenly looked astonished.
"Taro? But, Grandpa, are you planting it raw or boiled?"
Hari stopped working. "Boiled? What a strange question! Of course, I am planting it raw."
Budhu shook his head sadly. "Oh, Grandpa! You have worked in this field for so many years, yet nobody has taught you the secret?"
"What secret?" asked Hari, immediately becoming interested.
Budhu lowered his voice as though he were about to reveal a great mystery.
"I have heard from the oldest monkeys in the forest that boiled taro grows much faster than raw taro. They say that if you boil it lightly before planting, it will grow almost overnight."
Grandpa Hari's eyes widened.
"Really? Are you certain?"
"Absolutely!" Budhu replied confidently. "Why wait for weeks when you can harvest your crop in a single day?"
Grandma Padumi, who had been listening nearby, immediately became suspicious.
"Hari, do not believe everything this monkey says. Plants need proper care, not magical tricks."
Budhu turned towards her with an innocent smile.
"Grandmother, I understand your doubts. But the forest holds many secrets. Perhaps this is one that humans have simply forgotten."
Grandma Padumi folded her arms. "Or perhaps you have invented it to fool my husband."
Budhu pretended to look offended.
"How could you think such a thing? I only want to help!"
Unfortunately, Grandpa Hari was already imagining baskets full of taro, customers at the market, and a new roof over his head.
"Perhaps we should try it once," he said.
Grandma Padumi sighed. "Very well. But if this foolish experiment fails, do not expect me to listen to another farming lesson from a monkey!"
Chapter 3: The Strange Experiment
That afternoon, the couple returned home with their planting material. Grandma Padumi prepared a pot of water and boiled the taro pieces lightly, while Grandpa Hari repeatedly reminded her to follow Budhu's instructions.
"Not too much boiling!" he warned.
"I know how to boil vegetables, Hari," she replied.
"And remember, we must plant half beneath the soil and leave half partly exposed."
Grandma Padumi looked at him in disbelief. "If the plants grow according to the monkey's instructions, I shall personally congratulate him. But if they fail, I shall personally remind you of your foolishness."
Once the pieces had cooled, they carried them back to the field. Following Budhu's advice, they buried some pieces in the soil and left others partly exposed.
By sunset, the work was complete. Grandpa Hari was delighted.
"Tomorrow morning, Padumi, we may have a wonderful surprise waiting for us!"
"Let us hope the surprise is not another disaster," she replied.
That night, the couple ate their simple dinner and went to bed early. Before falling asleep, Hari reminded his wife to wake him before sunrise.
"I want to see how much our taro has grown."
"I shall wake you," she answered. "But do not blame me if the plants refuse to obey the monkey."
Soon, the hut became quiet. The old couple slept peacefully, dreaming of their future prosperity.
Meanwhile, Budhu sat high in the banyan tree, waiting for darkness to cover the village.
Chapter 4: The Midnight Feast
When night fell, Budhu called his fellow monkeys together.
"Friends," he announced, "Grandpa Hari has planted taro using a very unusual method. We must investigate his experiment tonight."
A young monkey asked, "Are we going to help him?"
Budhu stared at him. "Help him? We are going to investigate the food supply!"
The troop burst into laughter.
Budhu continued, "We shall visit the field after everyone has gone to sleep. Whatever taro we find, we shall taste. After all, scientific experiments require brave investigators!"
One monkey raised a hand. "What if Grandpa Hari catches us?"
"Old people sleep early," Budhu replied. "By the time they wake up, we shall be safely back in our tree."
Under the cover of darkness, the monkeys crept towards the field. When they arrived, Budhu examined the soil and gave the signal.
"Begin the investigation!"
The monkeys rushed forward. Some pulled up the pieces left above the ground, while others dug into the soil. They ate whatever they could find, tore apart young plants, and scattered the earth in every direction.
Budhu tasted a piece and made a face.
"Not particularly delicious," he muttered. "But food is food!"
The other monkeys continued eating until the planting material was almost completely gone. They then left an unpleasant mess across the field before returning to the banyan tree.
Budhu looked back at the ruined plot and laughed.
"Grandpa Hari wanted a harvest tomorrow. I have saved him the trouble of waiting!"
By the time the first birds began singing, the field was almost unrecognisable.
Chapter 5: The Morning Disaster
At dawn, Grandpa Hari woke with excitement.
"Padumi! Wake up! Today is the day we see our wonderful harvest!"
Grandma Padumi opened her eyes slowly.
"Wonderful harvest? Let us hope it is not a wonderful disaster."
The couple washed their faces, collected their tools, and hurried towards the field.
Grandpa Hari walked ahead, imagining a field full of healthy plants. But when he reached the plot, he stopped in disbelief.
The taro had disappeared.
The soil was disturbed, the planting material was gone, and the ground was covered with broken leaves and an unpleasant mess.
Grandma Padumi arrived behind him and stared at the destruction.
"Hari, where is your magical harvest?"
He rubbed his eyes. "It should be here! Budhu said it would grow quickly!"
"Perhaps it grew legs and walked away," Grandma Padumi replied sarcastically.
"Please, Padumi! This is no time for jokes!"
"I am trying not to cry, Hari. You trusted a monkey instead of your own experience, and now look at our field!"
Suddenly, a familiar voice came from the banyan tree.
"Grandpa! Are you looking for your taro?"
Budhu sat on a branch, grinning from ear to ear.
Grandpa Hari shouted, "You wicked monkey! You told me to boil the taro, and now you have eaten everything!"
Budhu pretended to look surprised.
"Grandpa, I merely told you about a special farming method. I never told you to leave the food unattended!"
Grandma Padumi raised her walking stick.
"Come down here, you dishonest creature! I shall teach you a method of your own!"
Budhu jumped to another branch.
"Grandmother, violence never solves anything!"
"Neither does feeding a monkey!" she shouted.
The other monkeys laughed so loudly that their voices echoed across the field.
Grandpa Hari sat down on a mound of earth. He had lost his crop, his money, and his hopes of buying his wife a new sari.
But as he looked at the ruined field, sadness slowly turned into determination.
"Padumi," he said quietly, "this monkey has fooled us once. I will not let him destroy our next crop."
Chapter 6: Grandpa Hari's New Plan
That evening, the old couple sat outside their hut. Grandma Padumi was preparing dinner, while Grandpa Hari stared thoughtfully into the distance.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked.
"Budhu," he replied. "We must teach him a lesson."
Grandma Padumi sighed. "First, learn to recognise a foolish promise. Then worry about teaching lessons to monkeys."
Hari smiled. "You are right. This time, we shall use our own experience and prepare the field properly."
The next morning, they returned to work. They prepared the soil carefully, planted fresh taro using proper methods, and watered the plants regularly.
They also decided to protect their field from animals.
From the banyan tree, Budhu watched everything.
"Interesting," he murmured. "The old man has not given up."
A young monkey asked, "Should we steal the new crop too?"
Budhu shook his head. "Not yet. Grandpa Hari is planning something. We must discover what it is."
That afternoon, Budhu approached the old man again.
"Grandpa, what are you planting this time?"
Hari smiled mysteriously. "Something special."
"Is it delicious?"
"Perhaps."
"Will it grow in a single day?"
"Faster than you can imagine."
Budhu's curiosity grew. He tried to persuade Hari to reveal the secret, but the old man refused.
For the first time, the monkey wondered whether his own tricks might be used against him.
Chapter 7: The Monkey Falls into His Own Trap
That night, Budhu decided to investigate the field alone. He believed that if he could discover Grandpa Hari's secret, he could outsmart the old man again.
The moon was hidden behind clouds as Budhu crept along the narrow path. He moved quietly, stopping whenever a twig snapped beneath his feet.
When he reached the field, he found the taro plants growing well. He searched for something unusual but saw nothing that appeared especially valuable.
Then he noticed a patch of disturbed soil near the edge of the plot.
Curious, he stepped closer.
Suddenly, his foot slipped into a concealed snare.
"Help! What is this?" he cried.
Before he could escape, Grandpa Hari emerged from behind a bush, holding a lantern.
"Well, well! Who has come to inspect my field in the middle of the night?"
Budhu tried to smile.
"Grandpa! What a pleasant surprise! I was only checking whether your plants needed water."
Hari raised an eyebrow.
"With your hands ready to steal?"
Grandma Padumi appeared beside her husband.
"Budhu, you have returned to inspect our farming methods again! How thoughtful of you!"
The monkey lowered his head.
"Grandmother, I admit that I made a mistake last time."
"A mistake?" she replied. "You destroyed our crop, ate our food, and left a mess behind. That was an entire collection of mistakes!"
Grandpa Hari looked at Budhu seriously.
"Tell me, why do you steal from others when you have the intelligence to find food for yourself?"
Budhu hesitated before answering honestly.
"Because stealing is easier than working, Grandpa. When I see food in someone else's field, I think only about my stomach. I never think about the person who planted it."
Hari nodded.
"At least you understand the problem now."
He released the snare carefully.
"Tomorrow, you will help us in the field. You will clear weeds, carry water, and protect the plants. If you want to enjoy the harvest, you must learn what it takes to grow it."
Budhu stared at him.
"Work? Me?"
"Yes, you. You have spent so much time using your intelligence to steal that you might as well learn to use it for something useful."
For the first time, Budhu wondered whether being clever meant more than finding ways to avoid work.
Chapter 8: The Monkeys Learn to Farm
The next morning, Budhu returned with several members of his troop. Grandpa Hari showed them how to remove weeds without damaging the young plants, while Grandma Padumi explained how to carry water carefully.
At first, the monkeys were terrible workers.
One threw weeds into the wrong pile. Another spilled half the water before reaching the plants. Tinku spent most of the morning chasing butterflies, while a lazy monkey named Peku sat beneath a tree and claimed that he was supervising everyone.
Grandma Padumi finally lost patience.
"Peku! If you are supervising, supervise your own hands into carrying that bucket!"
The monkeys burst into laughter.
Budhu, however, worked seriously. He discovered that farming required patience, attention, and effort. It was much easier to steal a piece of taro than to prepare the soil, plant it, water it, and protect it for weeks.
As the days passed, the monkeys became more helpful. They chased away pests, warned the couple when cattle approached the field, and gathered fallen leaves to protect the soil.
Gradually, the plants grew stronger.
One morning, Grandpa Hari looked across the field and smiled.
"Look, Padumi! This is what happens when we work patiently."
Grandma Padumi nodded.
"And what happens when we believe every monkey who gives us advice?"
Hari laughed. "We lose our taro!"
Even Budhu laughed at that.
But he had begun to think about something new. He wanted his entire troop to become self-sufficient.
"Friends," he announced one afternoon, "we have spent too many years stealing from the villagers. From now on, we shall grow some food ourselves."
Tinku stared at him.
"Grow food? Where will we get the land?"
Budhu pointed towards a small clearing near the banyan tree.
"We can begin there. We shall plant seeds, collect fallen fruit, and protect the young plants."
Peku groaned.
"And who will do all that work?"
Budhu grinned.
"Everyone."
Peku sighed so deeply that the leaves above him trembled.
"This is the worst day of my life!"
"No," Budhu replied. "The worst day was when you tried to steal a coconut and it fell on your own head!"
The troop laughed, and even Peku could not help smiling.
Chapter 9: The Harvest and an Unexpected Friendship
Weeks passed, and the taro plants grew larger. The old couple worked diligently, while the monkeys helped whenever they could.
At last, harvest day arrived.
Grandpa Hari and Grandma Padumi went to the field early in the morning. They carefully dug around the plants and lifted the taro from the earth.
The harvest was good.
Grandma Padumi held up a large taro corm and smiled.
"Look at this, Hari! We shall have enough for ourselves and some to sell at the market."
Grandpa Hari nodded proudly.
"This time, we earned it honestly."
Budhu and the other monkeys watched from the edge of the field. Their mouths watered at the sight of the fresh taro, but none of them rushed forward.
Grandpa Hari noticed their restraint.
"Budhu, come here."
The monkey approached cautiously.
"You and your friends helped us protect this crop. Take some taro for your troop."
Budhu was astonished.
"Are you serious, Grandpa?"
"Of course. Food tastes better when it is earned, and friendship grows stronger when it is shared."
Grandma Padumi added, "But remember, you must prepare taro properly before eating it. Never assume that raw or improperly cooked taro is safe."
Budhu nodded solemnly.
"We shall remember."
The monkeys carried their share back to the banyan tree. For the first time, they enjoyed food obtained through cooperation rather than theft.
That evening, the old couple sat outside their hut, watching the sunset.
Grandpa Hari said, "Padumi, do you know what I have learned?"
She smiled.
"Let me guess. You have learned not to boil taro before planting it?"
Hari laughed.
"That too! But I have also learned that a clever person is not necessarily a wise person. Wisdom begins when we stop believing every attractive promise and start thinking carefully."
Grandma Padumi nodded.
"And I have learned that even a mischievous monkey can change, provided he is willing to learn."
Chapter 10: Budhu's Final Question
The following morning, Budhu arrived at the couple's hut carrying a small basket of wild fruits and seeds.
"Grandpa, Grandmother, I have brought you something."
Grandma Padumi looked inside the basket.
"What are these for?"
"They are a gift," Budhu replied. "You could have chased me away forever after what I did to your first crop. Instead, you taught me to work."
Grandpa Hari smiled.
"Remember, Budhu, the world is full of people who want easy rewards. But those who work patiently will always have something valuable to offer."
Budhu nodded. Then he leaned closer and whispered, "Grandpa, there is just one more thing I have been wondering about."
"What is it?" asked Hari.
"Suppose someone really discovered a way to make taro grow in a single day. Would you try it?"
Grandpa Hari stared at him.
Grandma Padumi slowly turned towards her husband.
"Hari, do not even think about it!"
Budhu burst into laughter and jumped onto a nearby branch.
"I was only asking!"
Grandpa Hari shook his head.
"Go and plant your own garden, you troublesome creature!"
Budhu leapt from branch to branch, laughing as he disappeared into the banyan tree.
Chapter 11: The Lesson That Lasted a Lifetime
From that day onwards, Grandpa Hari and Grandma Padumi continued their simple lives. They worked hard, looked after their crops, and saved a little money from every harvest. Their hut was eventually repaired, and they no longer worried about every passing shower.
The monkeys also changed. They began collecting fruit, searching for food responsibly, and planting seeds around their home. Budhu remained mischievous, but he learned that there was a difference between using intelligence to deceive others and using it to solve problems.
The villagers soon heard the story of the old couple and the clever monkey. Some laughed at Grandpa Hari for believing that boiled taro could grow in a day. Others praised Grandma Padumi for her sharp tongue and practical wisdom. Many admired the way the couple had turned a troublesome encounter into an opportunity to teach a lesson.
Years later, whenever someone in the village promised an easy way to become rich, people would smile and ask, "Are you sure this is not another boiled-taro trick?"
And whenever a farmer discovered a missing fruit or a disturbed patch of earth, he would look towards the old banyan tree and mutter, "Budhu must be up to something again!"
From somewhere among the leaves, a familiar laugh would often answer him.
Whether Budhu was guilty or innocent on those occasions, nobody ever discovered.
But one thing was certain: Grandpa Hari never again believed a promise simply because it sounded wonderful.
Whenever he was tempted by an easy shortcut, Grandma Padumi would look at him with a knowing smile and ask:
"Tell me, Hari, are we planting taro today—or are we boiling it first?"
The old man would sigh, the grandmother would laugh, and somewhere in the banyan tree, Budhu would probably be laughing too.
Moral of the Story
Never believe every attractive promise without thinking carefully. Cleverness can deceive others, but true wisdom comes from experience, honesty, patience, and the willingness to learn from mistakes. Hard work may take time, but it brings rewards that tricks and shortcuts cannot guarantee.
And so, the tale of Grandpa Hari, Grandma Padumi, and Budhu the monkey continued to be told from one generation to the next, reminding everyone that a little common sense can save a great deal of trouble.
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