The Strange Bird with Two Heads

Once upon a time, in a vast and enchanted forest, there lived a most unusual creature—a bird with two heads. This bird was known as Bharunda, and it was unlike any other bird in the forest. Each of Bharunda’s heads had its own personality, and though they shared the same body, they had very different perspectives on life. The left head was wise and thoughtful, while the right head was impulsive and often acted without thinking.

Despite their differences, Bharunda’s two heads had managed to coexist peacefully for many years. They flew together, searched for food together, and lived harmoniously in the beautiful forest that provided them with everything they needed. All the animals in the forest marveled at the strange bird and admired how the two heads worked together as one body.

One day, as Bharunda was flying over a sparkling river, the right head spotted something unusual on the water's surface—a bright red fruit, so shiny and fragrant that it immediately caught the attention of both heads. The right head, eager to eat the fruit, exclaimed, "Look at that! What a delicious-looking fruit! We must have it!"

The left head, ever cautious, looked at the fruit and said, "Wait a moment, we don’t know if that fruit is safe to eat. We should think about this before acting."

But the right head, driven by its desire for the fruit, ignored the warning. "Nonsense! It smells delicious, and I’m sure it tastes even better. I’m going to eat it!" Before the left head could protest further, the right head swooped down, grabbed the fruit in its beak, and swallowed it whole.

As soon as the right head ate the fruit, it let out a loud sigh of satisfaction. "Ah, that was the best fruit I’ve ever tasted!" it said, licking its beak.

The left head, though disappointed, remained calm. "You should have consulted me before eating the fruit. What if it had been poisonous? We share the same body, so your actions affect me as well."

The right head, still basking in the afterglow of its meal, shrugged. "Oh, stop worrying! Everything turned out fine. You should relax and enjoy life more."

The left head knew better than to argue further, but deep down, it was hurt. It felt as though its opinion didn’t matter to the right head, even though they were supposed to be equals. Bharunda flew back to its nest, and the two heads remained silent for the rest of the day.

Several days passed, and the tension between the two heads grew. The left head became more and more frustrated with the right head’s impulsiveness, while the right head continued to act recklessly without considering the consequences.

One afternoon, as Bharunda rested in the shade of a tall tree, the left head noticed something peculiar—a strange-looking fruit growing on a nearby branch. It was dull in color and had a bitter smell, very different from the bright red fruit the right head had eaten days before.

The left head, curious about the fruit, said to itself, "I wonder if this fruit is edible. It doesn’t look appetizing, but perhaps it has some special properties. Maybe I should taste it."

Hearing this, the right head, who had been dozing off, suddenly snapped awake. "What? Are you serious? That fruit looks disgusting! Why would you want to eat that when there are so many better options around?"

The left head turned to the right head with a sly smile. "Why shouldn’t I eat it? You didn’t consult me when you ate the red fruit. If you can eat whatever you want without asking, why shouldn’t I?"

The right head, sensing trouble, quickly realized that the left head was still upset about the earlier incident. "But we share the same body! If you eat something dangerous, it could harm both of us!"

The left head, still hurt by the right head’s selfishness, retorted, "Exactly! That’s why you should have thought of that before eating the red fruit without my consent. Now, it’s my turn."

Before the right head could stop it, the left head plucked the strange, bitter fruit from the branch and swallowed it. Almost immediately, Bharunda’s body began to feel strange. A wave of discomfort swept through them, and both heads realized that the fruit had been poisonous.

The right head panicked. "What have you done? We’re going to be sick—maybe even die—because of that fruit!"

The left head, now regretting its rash decision, said weakly, "I’m sorry... I didn’t think this through. I was so angry with you that I acted foolishly."

As the poison coursed through their shared body, Bharunda grew weaker and weaker. Both heads realized the gravity of their situation. Despite their differences, they had always shared the same fate, and now, because of their inability to cooperate, they were both in danger.

Just as they were about to collapse, a wise old bird named Garuda, who had been watching from a distance, flew down to help. Garuda was known throughout the forest for his wisdom and knowledge of ancient remedies. He landed beside Bharunda and examined the strange bird.

"I see you’ve eaten something you shouldn’t have," Garuda said gravely. "But all is not lost. I know of a remedy that can counteract the poison. However, you must both agree to take it together. If one of you refuses, the cure will not work."

Both heads, now filled with regret and fear, nodded in agreement. "Please, Garuda," they said in unison. "We will cooperate. Just save us."

Garuda flew off and returned shortly with a special herb. He instructed both heads to eat the herb together. With great effort, Bharunda did as Garuda instructed, and slowly, the poison began to lose its grip. The strange bird’s strength returned, and soon they were able to stand and fly once more.

Bharunda, grateful and humbled, bowed to Garuda. "Thank you for saving us. We have learned a valuable lesson today."

Garuda nodded wisely. "Remember, you may have two heads, but you share the same body. What one does affects the other. Cooperation and respect are key to your survival."

With that, Garuda flew away, leaving Bharunda to reflect on the events that had transpired.

From that day forward, Bharunda’s two heads vowed to work together. The right head promised to consult the left head before making any decisions, and the left head agreed to be more patient and understanding. They realized that, despite their differences, they were stronger when they worked as a team.

As time passed, Bharunda became known not just for its strange appearance, but for its wisdom and cooperation. The other animals in the forest looked up to the bird with two heads as an example of unity and harmony.

And so, Bharunda lived peacefully in the enchanted forest, a reminder to all that even the most different of beings can find balance and strength when they learn to respect one another and work together.

MORAL: Unity and cooperation are essential for success. Differences should not lead to conflict but can instead be a source of strength when approached with mutual respect and understanding.