Tenali’s neighbour Gopal was always trying to get the better of him. One day, Gopal saw a mango growing on his tree. He knocked it down, wrapped it in a cloth and waited for Tenali to come by. When he did, he called out to him. “I have a riddle for you,” he said, “Can you tell me what fruit is wrapped in this cloth? If you guess correctly, you may take any one thing from my house that you can carry out with your two hands; if you fail I’ll come to your house and carry away something.” “It must be a guava.” “No,” said Gopal, “You’ve failed.” He triumphantly uncovered the mango. As per the bet, Gopal went boldly into Raman’s house, brought out a ladder and placed it against the roof. “Yes, kindly take this chest down for me,” said Raman, “and I must thank you for sparing my valuables.” “Sparing your valuables?” said Gopal, “What makes you think I’m going to let you keep your valuables?”“We had agreed you could take away one thing that you could carry out with your own two hands,” said Raman, grinning, “And you have carried out the ladder.”
Tenali’s and His Neighbour Gopal
