114.Short Story: Nip the Evil in the Bud

An Arab in his tent……….. his camel outside his tent …………bitterly cold ……….the camel comes in by and by ………..throws out the kind-hearted Arab……….. saying the place inside the tent is too small for both of us.

Ans:- NIP THE EVIL IN THE BUD

Once an Arab was crossing a long desert. He was on the back of his camel. It was the winter season. During one night he was sleeping soundly inside his tent. The camel was tied outside. It was biting cold. The camel could not bear it.

He hit upon a plan to oust his master. He requested the Arab that it was chilly cold outside. If he was permitted to put his neck inside the tent and have the warmth of it. The kind Arab did not mind. He permitted the camel gladly. The clever camel put his neck in the inner flap of the tent.

After some time the camel made another request that he should be allowed to bring his forelegs inside the tent. The merciful Arab had no objection. Again the camel sought the permission for his hump to be brought inside the cosy tent. The Arab who was a noble and virtuous soul permitted him. Now it was the hind legs of the camel that were shivering with biting cold. He wanted to bring them in, too.

After a little while, the camel very humbly requested the great Arab to complete the job of bringing in the total of himself. The Arab very meekly permitted for this. Now the camel was in full inside the tent. He felt the place too small for both of them. He thought of ways to oust the kind master. He himself wanted to occupy the whole of the tent. Now there was no room inside the cosy tent for the camel and the Arab. Without any thought be pushed the good master outside the tent saying: “The place is too small for both of us”. The kind Arab had to spend the night out in cold winds of the desert.

Moral: Finish off the evil at the onset.