A Foolish Milkmaid
Khushi was a milkmaid. She sold her milk and earned her living. But she had an old habit. She dreamt of very big things. Every time her vanity came in between her growing riches and simple life.
As usual one day she was going to the market to sell milk. The milk was in a pail which she had placed on her head. On her way she indulged in her habit of day-dreaming. She thought of many things in her life. She began calculating the plans of her growing rich, thus, the sale of this milk I shall purchase a hen. I shall get many eggs from the hen. The hen will hatch the eggs and the result will be lots of healthy chickens. The chickens will grow into many strong roosters and hens. The hens will give lots of eggs which will further grow into lots and lots of hens and roosters. I shall grow very rich in a very short time.” Thus Khushi went on thinking and thinking endlessly.
She thought of becoming very rich and purchasing lots of new golden dresses. Many rich young men would approach her and ask for her hand in marriage but she would not agree. She would toll her head to refuse the offers till she would really meet some prince with an offer of marriage. At this juncture, in a fit of emotion, she actually shook her head and her pail of milk came down on the ground. All her dreams were shattered to pieces. She began to weep bitterly. There was no end of her sorrows. The pail of milk with which she had built castles in the air, now lay in the dust. She reached her home quite dejected and remained hungry.
Moral: Do not count your chickens before they get hatched.
