The Lazy Drake and the Sweet Lesson

The Lazy Duck and the Hardworking Duck

By Ubaid

Once upon a time, near a sparkling little stream, there stood a small, cozy house. In that house lived a pair of ducks – a drake (male duck) and his gentle wife.

The female duck was diligent, wise, and kind-hearted. Every morning, she would rise at dawn, bathe in the cool water, clean the house, and set about her daily chores with energy and discipline.

But the drake was entirely the opposite. He was lazy, careless, and a true idler. He neither worked in the field nor helped in the house. All day long he lay around dozing, stretching, and wasting his time. People often said of him, “Good for nothing, a burden on his wife, and an enemy of the grain.”

The hardworking duck often tried to counsel him. She spoke to him with patience, sometimes sternly, sometimes gently, but he never listened. One word went in through one ear and slipped straight out of the other.

One morning, after days of struggle, the duck sighed deeply and said,
“Do you even realize what’s happening? The store of grain is finished. What will we eat now?”

The drake yawned and replied lazily,
“Why worry? God will provide.”

The duck grew upset and shook her head.
“God provides only to those who work. He does not reward laziness and idleness. You need to do something!”

But the drake puffed up proudly and said,
“What do you expect me to do? I don’t get any job. It’s not my fault.”

“Then if no job comes your way,” said the duck firmly, “you can at least do labor. Earn through your own hands. Work is never a disgrace.”

At this the drake almost jumped up in protest.
“Labor? Me? Do you even know who I am? God forbid I lower myself to such things! My father was a great officer, a respected tehsildar. At his mansion, elephants once swayed at the gate, meals were served daily, and hundreds of hungry people ate to their fill. And now you expect me to push a cart or carry loads?”

The duck’s eyes filled with tears.
“Forget your father,” she said bitterly. “Look at yourself – a lazy, good-for-nothing drake who does nothing but eat and sleep! I can’t take it anymore.”

She broke down, sobbing bitterly.

The drake grew restless. Seeing his wife cry touched something deep within him. For the first time in his life, he felt ashamed. He wiped her tears gently and said,
“Alright, don’t cry. I promise. I’ll go to the city and find a job.”

The next morning, he straightened his feathers, puffed his chest, and set off for the city. He walked from street to street, knocking on doors, asking at shops, and visiting offices. But everywhere he went, the answer was the same – “No vacancy.”

Disheartened and weary, he sat under a tree wondering, What should I do now?

Just then, he met an old friend passing by. The drake shared his misery with him. The friend listened carefully and then laughed kindly.
“Don’t lose heart, my friend. Come with me. I sell ice cream on a cart. Every day I earn twenty rupees. You too can do the same.”

The drake’s eyes lit up. “Ice cream? Can I really do that?”

“Of course,” replied the friend. “It’s simple. Just shout aloud, ‘Cold, sweet ice cream!’ and the children will come running.”

Together they went to the factory. The friend took one cart, and the drake was given another. For the first time in his life, the drake pushed a cart down the lanes of the city. His heart pounded nervously, but he took a deep breath and cried,
“Cold, sweet ice cream! Cold, sweet ice cream!”

At once, children came running with shining coins in their hands. One by one the ice creams were sold, and the drake’s cart grew lighter and lighter. By evening, only a small portion was left.

Feeling proud, he decided to return home. As he reached his street, he once again shouted,
“Cold, sweet ice cream!”

The hardworking duck, who was sweeping the yard, heard the familiar voice. She froze, then ran quickly to the window. To her surprise, she saw her husband – her lazy, careless husband – pushing a cart and selling ice cream!

Her heart leapt with joy. She clapped her wings and called out,
“Well done! Finally, you have learned that working is not a shame. Being idle is the real disgrace. Tell me, did you manage to sell anything?”

The drake puffed up his chest proudly.
“Almost everything is sold. Just a few left. I’m taking these toward the school; they’ll be gone in no time.”

The duck giggled with happiness.
“Good! But before you go, give me one. I want to taste how it is.”

The drake, still feeling the spirit of a businessman, replied,
“Of course you can have one – but pay first.”

The duck burst into laughter.
“What! Asking your own wife for money?”

The drake chuckled but stood firm.
“Whether family or stranger, rules are the same. First money, then goods. Business is business. I’ll bring you one later if some remain.”

With that, he pushed his cart further down the road, calling out loudly,
“Cold, sweet ice cream!”

And so, the lazy drake finally understood the value of hard work. From that day forward, he never lazed around again. He and his wife lived happily, earning with dignity and eating with peace.

For truly, as the duck had said,
“Work is no disgrace. Idleness is the greatest shame of all.”