Once upon a time, in a peaceful village nestled near a flowing river, there lived a milkman who owned ten cows. Every day, he would diligently milk his cows and embark on a journey to the nearby city to sell his produce.
To reach the city, the milkman had to cross the river by boat. However, instead of selling pure milk to his customers, he would slyly mix river water with the milk to increase his profits. Day after day, he deceived the villagers by selling them watered-down milk.
As time passed, the milkman's dishonesty knew no bounds. He continued his deceitful practices, oblivious to the consequences of his actions. Meanwhile, his son's marriage was approaching, and the milkman eagerly prepared for the festivities.
One fateful evening, after a successful day of selling adulterated milk, the milkman set out to buy expensive clothes, jewelry, and other necessities for his son's wedding. Laden with his purchases, he boarded his boat to cross the river back to the village.
However, the weight of his belongings proved too much for the small boat to bear. In the middle of the river, the boat capsized, and all of the milkman's ill-gotten gains were swept away by the strong current.
As the milkman sat on the riverbank, overcome with despair and regret, a voice echoed from the depths of the river. It reminded him that his misfortune was a direct consequence of his dishonesty. The wealth he had amassed through deceit had vanished just as swiftly as it had been acquired.
In that moment of realization, the milkman understood the gravity of his actions. He vowed to mend his ways and embrace honesty in all his dealings from that day forward.
The moral of the story is clear: honesty is always the best policy. Ill-gotten gains obtained through dishonest means are fleeting and can lead to ruin in the end.