In the village lived a man named Ramu who was famous for his bragging. He had the habit of beating his own drum about his bravery and intelligence wherever he went. Whether at the tea stall or in the village council ground, Ramu was always trying to prove that he was the wisest and strongest of all.
One day, a fair was organized in the village. Ramu arrived wearing new glasses, shiny shoes, and a large hat. Standing among the crowd, he loudly declared, “I am the kind of man who can win an argument against ten people at once!”
An elderly uncle nearby smiled and said, “Oh really? Then show us an example of your wisdom today.”
Meanwhile, a wrestling competition began at the fair. Puffing out his chest, Ramu announced, “If anyone dares to challenge me, I will defeat him in a snap!”
From the crowd, a thin young boy stepped forward and said, “Alright then, sir. First tell me—what is more important, strength or intelligence?”
Without thinking, Ramu replied, “Strength! I already have plenty of intelligence.”
The boy smiled and said, “Fine, let the match begin.”
The match started, and within seconds, Ramu stumbled and landed on the ground, tangled in his own overconfidence. The crowd burst into laughter. Getting up awkwardly, Ramu said, “I was just checking how strong the ground is.”
But the villagers teased him, saying, “Today the braggart has truly eaten humble pie.”
Ramu felt embarrassed, yet he also learned his lesson. The next day, he sat quietly at the tea stall, sipping his tea without telling anyone stories of his bravery.
Now the villagers would say, “When boasting grows too big, a man slips on his own pride.”
And Ramu would think to himself, “Good thing wisdom finally spoke louder than pride.”
RAJEEV VERMA 