The Mango Thieves
Ravi, Meera, and little Priya were three siblings who lived in a small village in India. They were known for their mischief, especially in the summer, when their favorite mango tree near the village well was heavy with fruit. That tree belonged to Old Man Sharma, the strictest elder in the village, who watched over his precious mangoes like a hawk.
One hot afternoon, the siblings’ stomachs grumbled as they looked at the juicy yellow mangoes swaying in the breeze. Ravi, being the eldest and the "brains," came up with a plan.
“Let’s go at sunset,” he whispered. “Old Man Sharma will be napping.”
Meera, the bold middle sibling, nodded excitedly. Little Priya, who was only five, was too young to understand but loved mangoes enough to follow any plan.
At sunset, they tiptoed to the mango tree. Meera climbed up and began dropping the ripe fruits down to Ravi and Priya. They were almost done when a loud voice echoed behind them.
“Who’s stealing my mangoes?” Old Man Sharma shouted.
Meera nearly fell out of the tree, while Ravi and Priya stood frozen with mangoes in their hands. Priya, thinking fast, stuffed a mango into her mouth, her cheeks bulging like a squirrel’s. Meera quickly climbed down, and they huddled together, eyes wide with guilt.
But Old Man Sharma looked at them and couldn’t help but chuckle. “Mango thieves, huh?” he laughed, his anger melting as he saw little Priya struggling to chew her oversized bite. “Next time, just ask. I can’t say no to little ones who love mangoes as much as I do.”
Relieved and grinning, the siblings thanked him and skipped back home, arms full of mangoes and hearts full of laughter. From then on, Old Man Sharma always saved the best mangoes just for them.
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