Lame man's story

There was a man who was lame and sick. He lived alone. One day he fell ill and no one was there to take care of him. He was not even able to get up from the bed, to go and cook something.

He remembered he had kept some water in a mud vessel near his bed. He slowly got up to take the water. He removed the paper which was used to cover the mud vessel, and was disappointed to see many ants floating there. Some of them were dead and some of them were in the dying stage. Only one ant was strong and healthy.

The lame man tried to remove them, but he stopped hearing a voice."Please don't disturb us. We want to drink the water before we die."

The lame man did not say anything. He decided not to disturb them, and go back to sleep without drinking the water.

"Are you angry with us?" asked the ant.

"No, I'm not angry with you. Instead I'm happy if I can be of help to you with little water before you die." replied the man.

"Are you hungry?" asked the ant again.

"Yes, I'm. But I'm very sick and helpless now. I will just go to sleep," replied the man in his feeble voice.

"I'm very happy with you. Even sacrificing your own essential water you've helped us. I want to give you something in return," said the lone surving ant. "You'll get enough food now. Eat well and sleep."

The next moment there appeared a plantain leaf on his table, which was filled up with rice and many curries.

The lame man got up from his bed and ate the delicious food to his heart's content. Then he heard another voice, "Hey, good hearted man, you're going to get a good house with beautiful gardens. You're also going to be normal, without being lame.
Enjoy the rest of your life happily."

He could not believe his eyes. His hut was replaced by a beautiful house, and garden. He was able to walk normal and healthy. He thanked the ant for bringing him so much luck.