Betala, the wise and witty spirit, hovered above the banyan tree, invisible to everyone but you and me. He loved observing curious children and their little adventures. One bright morning, a group of friends stumbled upon a mysterious iron door half-hidden by thick vines. "Who do you think lost the key to this door? And what might be behind it?" Betala wondered aloud, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
Vikram, the cleverest of the children, pointed to a shiny object near the roots. Maya, gentle and honest, picked it up—it was a tiny golden key! "Maybe this will fit the lock," Vikram suggested. But just as Maya reached for the keyhole, Arjun, quick and daring, stopped her. "Wait! What if it belongs to someone else? Should we try it without asking?"
The friends looked at each other, unsure. Priya, thoughtful and kind, spoke softly. "Maybe we should ask the gardener. He knows every corner of the school and might know whose door this is," she suggested. Vikram frowned, torn between his curiosity and the idea of doing the right thing. Betala, unseen, smiled at their confusion and waited to see what they would do.
Maya stepped forward, holding the key tightly. "Let’s be honest. If we sneak in, we might find something fun, but if it’s not ours, we might get into trouble," she reasoned. The children agreed and approached the gardener, Mr. Rao, an old man with twinkling eyes and a gentle smile. "Excuse me, sir, do you know whose door this is? We found a key," Maya asked politely.
Mr. Rao[/@ch_6] kneels beside the children, inspecting the key. The mysterious door is visible in the background, bathed in hope.]
Mr. Rao chuckled kindly. "Ah, you found the lost key! This door leads to the old school library, closed for repairs. I was worried I’d lost it forever. Thank you for being honest and coming to me," he said, proud of the children’s choice. As a reward, he promised them a tour of the ancient library once it was safe to enter.
Betala[/@ch_1] appears on a branch, his eyes wise and thoughtful.]
Betala looked at you and asked, "So, dear listener, what would you have done if you’d found the key? Would you open the door without asking, or would you choose honesty like Maya and her friends?" The children learned that doing the right thing, even when tempted, brings trust and new opportunities.
Moral: Honesty and responsibility are more important than curiosity or excitement. When we do the right thing, we earn trust and open new doors in life.
Reflection Activity: Think of a time when you found something that wasn’t yours. What did you do? Discuss with your friends or write a few lines about why honesty matters.
