Deception

Deception

Writing No. 924

Friday, April 22, 2016

Once upon a time, an eagle and an owl became friends. The eagle said to the owl, “Brother Owl, I promise you that I will never eat your children. But tell me one thing—how will I recognize them? I wouldn’t want to mistake another bird’s chicks for yours and eat them by accident.”

The owl replied, “Oh, that’s not difficult at all. My children are far more beautiful than any other birds’ chicks. You will recognize them immediately by their shiny feathers. As soon as you see them, you will know they are mine.”

The eagle nodded and interrupted, “Alright, alright. I understand now. I won’t be fooled anymore. But brother, it’s always better to ask and confirm beforehand. Once something happens, regrets do no good. Okay, we will meet again. Goodbye, and Allah Hafiz.” With that, the eagle flew away.

The next day, the eagle was flying around, searching for food. Suddenly, it noticed a nest on a high branch of a tall tree. Inside the nest were four or five black, ugly chicks, making loud, unpleasant noises. The eagle studied them carefully and thought, “These cannot possibly be my friend Owl’s children. They are neither beautiful nor do they have sweet, melodious voices.”

Convinced of this, the eagle began to feed on the chicks. One by one, it devoured all of them. Meanwhile, the owl arrived, flapping its wings frantically and shouting, “Hey! What have you done? Those were my children!”

The eagle, startled and horrified, flew away immediately. Watching all this, a bat flying nearby spoke to the owl: “It’s not the eagle’s fault. The mistake lies entirely with you. When someone tries to deceive others by hiding their true identity, this is the inevitable outcome.”

The owl realized the truth in the bat’s words. By attempting to disguise its chicks and make them seem like ordinary or ordinary-looking birds, it had unintentionally put them in danger. The eagle, relying on honesty and transparency, had acted in good faith, and the deception led to the tragic result.

From this incident, the owl learned an important lesson: that attempts at deceit, even with the best intentions or out of fear, can backfire. Trust and honesty are essential, even in friendships and relationships. By trying to mislead the eagle rather than presenting the chicks as they truly were, the owl inadvertently caused harm to those it cared for most.

The eagle, on the other hand, reinforced another valuable lesson: always confirm details and clarify doubts before taking any action, especially when promises and safety are involved. By asking the right questions and trusting the guidance of friends, misunderstandings could be avoided—but only if both parties are honest.

This story, in the end, became a cautionary tale for all creatures of the forest: honesty builds trust, deception leads to tragedy, and transparency protects relationships. It reminded everyone that while intentions might be good, trying to hide the truth or mislead others can have irreversible consequences.

The owl mourned its loss but took the lesson to heart. It decided that henceforth, it would never attempt to deceive anyone, and would ensure honesty in all interactions. Meanwhile, the eagle continued its life, always cautious, always asking questions, and always mindful of the importance of recognizing truth from deceit.

Thus, the story teaches that trust, honesty, and clarity are the pillars of friendship and relationships. Misrepresentation or trickery may seem harmless, but it can quickly turn into disaster. Understanding and wisdom are required to navigate life safely, and deception, no matter how small, carries a heavy cost.