The story of the three fishes

Chapter 1: Life in the Beautiful Lake

In a serene corner of an ancient forest, there lay a magnificent lake surrounded by weeping willows and blooming lotus flowers. The water was crystal clear, reflecting the blue sky like a perfect mirror, and gentle waves lapped softly against the muddy shores.

This peaceful lake was home to countless fish of all shapes and sizes, but three fish stood out among all the others. They were the best of friends and had grown up together since they were tiny fry.

SPLASH! SPLASH! Every morning, the three friends would swim together through the cool, refreshing water, playing games and exploring every corner of their underwater paradise.

The first fish was named Anagatavidhata, which meant “One Who Plans for the Future.” He had bright golden scales that shimmered in the sunlight and wise, thoughtful eyes that always seemed to be looking ahead, thinking about what might happen tomorrow.

“We should always be prepared for whatever comes our way,” Anagatavidhata would often say to his friends. “The wise fish thinks ahead and makes plans before trouble arrives.”

The second fish was called Pratyutpannamati, meaning “One Who Acts Quickly When Needed.” She had beautiful silver scales that flashed like lightning when she swam, and she was known throughout the lake for her quick thinking and clever solutions to problems.

“Don’t worry too much about things that might never happen,” Pratyutpannamati would tell her friends with a confident smile. “When trouble comes, I’ll think of something brilliant to get us out of it!”

The third fish was named Yadbhavishya, which meant “Whatever Will Be, Will Be.” He had lovely copper-colored scales and a perpetually calm expression. He spent most of his time floating peacefully near the lotus roots, enjoying each moment as it came.

“Why worry about anything at all?” Yadbhavishya would say in his gentle, relaxed voice. “What’s meant to happen will happen anyway. We might as well just enjoy our beautiful lake and not trouble ourselves with worries.”

Despite their different approaches to life, the three fish loved each other dearly and spent all their time together, swimming, playing, and sharing stories in their underwater paradise.

Chapter 2: The Fishermen’s Discovery

One bright morning, while the three friends were playing hide-and-seek among the water lilies, something happened that would change their lives forever.

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH! Heavy footsteps approached the edge of their peaceful lake.

Two fishermen, carrying large nets and wicker baskets, pushed through the forest undergrowth and emerged at the water’s edge. Their eyes widened with amazement as they looked out over the beautiful, fish-filled lake.

“Look at this!” whispered the first fisherman excitedly to his companion. “I’ve never seen so many fish in one place! This lake is absolutely teeming with them!”

“You’re right!” agreed the second fisherman, his voice filled with greed. “We could catch enough fish here to feed our families for months! And look at the size of some of them!”

The fishermen were so excited by their discovery that they didn’t bother to lower their voices, and their words carried clearly across the water to where the three fish friends were hiding.

Anagatavidhata’s golden scales trembled with alarm as he heard the fishermen’s conversation. “Did you hear that?” he whispered urgently to his friends. “They’re planning to come back and catch all of us!”

Pratyutpannamati flicked her silver tail dismissively. “Oh, they’re probably just talking big,” she said. “Even if they do come back, I’m clever enough to outsmart any fishermen. Don’t worry about it.”

Yadbhavishya continued floating peacefully among the lotus stems. “If they come back, they come back,” he said with a shrug. “If they don’t, they don’t. There’s no point in getting upset about something that might not even happen.”

But Anagatavidhata was not comforted by his friends’ casual attitudes. He listened carefully as the fishermen continued their discussion.

Chapter 3: The Fishermen Make Their Plans

“We should go back to the village and gather all our nets and equipment,” said the first fisherman, rubbing his hands together eagerly. “Tomorrow morning, we’ll come back here with everything we need for the biggest catch of our lives!”

“Excellent idea!” agreed his companion. “We’ll bring the large nets, the small nets, the fishing lines, and several baskets. We’ll catch every single fish in this lake!”

“Should we tell the other fishermen in our village about this place?” asked the first man.

“No!” said the second quickly. “Let’s keep this discovery to ourselves. There are enough fish here for just the two of us. Why share with others?”

As the fishermen walked away, still talking excitedly about their plans, Anagatavidhata’s mind raced with worry and potential solutions.

“Friends,” he said seriously, “we need to discuss this situation right away. Those men are definitely coming back tomorrow with nets and equipment. Our entire lake community is in terrible danger!”

“Oh, Anagatavidhata,” laughed Pratyutpannamati, doing a graceful somersault in the water. “You always worry about everything! Even if they do come back, what makes you think they’ll be able to catch us? We’re smart, fast fish! We know every hiding place in this lake!”

Yadbhavishya yawned peacefully. “All this talking about problems is making me tired,” he said. “I think I’ll take a nice nap under the lily pads. Wake me up if anything interesting actually happens.”

But Anagatavidhata couldn’t rest. He spent the entire afternoon swimming throughout the lake, warning other fish about the danger and thinking carefully about what they should all do to protect themselves.

Chapter 4: Anagatavidhata’s Wise Plan

That evening, as the sun set and painted the lake in shades of gold and pink, Anagatavidhata called his two best friends together for an important discussion.

“I’ve been thinking all day about what those fishermen said,” he began earnestly. “I’ve also been talking to the elder fish who have lived in this lake longer than any of us. They’ve told me stories about what happens when fishermen discover a lake like ours.”

“What kinds of stories?” asked Pratyutpannamati, suddenly looking a bit more interested.

“Terrible stories,” replied Anagatavidhata sadly. “Stories about lakes that were once full of fish, just like ours, but were completely emptied in a single day when fishermen came with their nets.”

Yadbhavishya opened one sleepy eye. “Well, if that’s what’s going to happen, there’s nothing we can do about it anyway,” he said with a resigned sigh.

“But there IS something we can do!” insisted Anagatavidhata passionately. “That’s what I’ve been working on all day! I’ve found a solution!”

“What kind of solution?” asked Pratyutpannamati, now paying full attention.

“I’ve discovered that this lake is connected to the big river through a narrow channel hidden behind those thick reeds over there,” explained Anagatavidhata, pointing with his fin. “The channel is hard to see and difficult to swim through, but it’s definitely passable for fish our size.”

“So?” asked Yadbhavishya, still not understanding.

“So we can escape!” exclaimed Anagatavidhata. “Tonight, while it’s dark and the fishermen are sleeping in their village, we can swim through the channel to the big river! The river is so vast that even if fishermen come there, they’ll never be able to catch all the fish. We’ll be safe!”

Pratyutpannamati considered this plan thoughtfully. “It does sound like a good idea,” she admitted. “But swimming through an unknown channel in the dark sounds dangerous too. What if we get lost? What if the channel is blocked somewhere?”

“I’ve already checked it thoroughly,” said Anagatavidhata proudly. “This afternoon, I swam through the entire channel twice to make sure it was safe. It’s narrow and winding, but it definitely leads to the river. It will take us about two hours of steady swimming to get through it.”

Chapter 5: The Friends’ Different Choices

“So what do you say?” asked Anagatavidhata hopefully. “Will you both come with me tonight? We can start our journey just after midnight when it’s darkest, and we’ll be safely in the river by morning, long before the fishermen arrive.”

Pratyutpannamati swam in a small circle, thinking hard about the decision. “You know what, Anagatavidhata? I appreciate that you’ve worked so hard to find a solution, but I think I’m going to stay here.”

“What?!” gasped Anagatavidhata. “But why? Don’t you understand how dangerous it will be?”

“I understand the danger,” replied Pratyutpannamati confidently, “but I also understand my own abilities. I’m the cleverest, fastest fish in this lake. If those fishermen do come tomorrow, I’m absolutely certain I can outwit them and avoid their nets.”

“But what if you can’t?” pressed Anagatavidhata. “What if there are too many nets, or they’re smarter than you expect?”

“Then I’ll deal with that situation when it happens,” said Pratyutpannamati with a determined smile. “I’ve never met a problem I couldn’t solve with quick thinking. I’m not going to abandon my beautiful home just because of some vague threat that might not even materialize.”

Anagatavidhata turned hopefully to his other friend. “What about you, Yadbhavishya? Surely you’ll come with me?”

Yadbhavishya stretched lazily and settled more comfortably among the soft mud at the bottom of the lake. “Oh, my dear friend,” he said in his calm, dreamy voice, “I appreciate your concern, but you know my philosophy. What will be, will be.”

“That’s not a philosophy, that’s giving up!” protested Anagatavidhata. “When we have the power to change our situation, shouldn’t we use it?”

“If I’m meant to be caught by fishermen, then I’ll be caught,” replied Yadbhavishya peacefully. “If I’m meant to escape, then I’ll escape. Running away won’t change my destiny. I’d rather spend my last night in this beautiful lake I love than swimming through some dark, scary channel.”

Anagatavidhata looked sadly at his two best friends. “So neither of you will come with me?”

“We’ll be fine, dear friend,” said Pratyutpannamati gently. “Go if you feel you must, but don’t worry about us. We can take care of ourselves.”

“I’ll miss you terribly if you go,” added Yadbhavishya, “but I understand that you need to follow your own path, just as we need to follow ours.”

Chapter 6: The Painful Goodbye

As midnight approached, Anagatavidhata made his final preparations for the dangerous journey through the hidden channel. His heart was heavy with sadness at leaving his friends and his beloved home, but his mind was clear about what he needed to do.

“Are you absolutely sure you won’t change your minds?” he asked one final time.

“Absolutely sure,” replied Pratyutpannamati firmly. “I’m confident in my ability to handle whatever happens tomorrow.”

“And I’m confident that whatever happens is meant to happen,” added Yadbhavishya contentedly.

“Then I suppose this is goodbye,” said Anagatavidhata, his voice trembling with emotion. “You’ve been the best friends a fish could have. I hope with all my heart that you’re both right and that everything will work out well for you.”

“And we hope you have a safe journey and find happiness in your new home,” said Pratyutpannamati warmly.

“Don’t be sad, dear friend,” added Yadbhavishya. “If we’re meant to see each other again someday, we will.”

The three friends shared one last group hug, circling around each other in the moonlit water.

Then Anagatavidhata took a deep breath, gathered his courage, and swam determinedly toward the hidden channel behind the reeds.

“Goodbye, my friends!” he called softly. “Goodbye, beautiful lake!”

SPLASH! And with that, he disappeared into the narrow opening, beginning his long, difficult journey to safety.

Pratyutpannamati and Yadbhavishya watched until they could no longer see their friend’s golden scales glinting in the moonlight.

“I hope he’ll be happy in the river,” said Pratyutpannamati quietly.

“I’m sure he will be,” replied Yadbhavishya. “And now, I think I’ll get some sleep. Tomorrow might be an interesting day.”

Chapter 7: The Fishermen Return

Just as Anagatavidhata had predicted, the two fishermen returned to the lake early the next morning, bringing with them an enormous collection of nets, ropes, baskets, and fishing equipment.

“Perfect!” exclaimed the first fisherman as he looked out over the peaceful water. “The fish are all still here, just as we left them!”

“Look how many there are!” marveled the second fisherman. “We’re going to be rich! Our families will feast like kings!”

The fishermen worked quickly and efficiently, stretching their largest net completely across the narrow part of the lake. Then they set up smaller nets in strategic locations and positioned themselves with long poles to drive the fish toward their traps.

SPLASH! SPLASH! They began beating the water with their poles, creating noise and confusion to frighten the fish into swimming directly into the waiting nets.

“Here they come!” shouted the first fisherman excitedly. “Look at them all swimming right toward our nets!”

Most of the fish in the lake had never seen fishermen before and had no idea what was happening. In their panic, they swam frantically in all directions, but the fishermen had positioned their nets so cleverly that nearly every escape route was blocked.

SWOOSH! The large net was pulled tight, trapping dozens of fish at once.

Pratyutpannamati heard the commotion and immediately realized that Anagatavidhata had been absolutely right about the danger. But instead of panicking like the other fish, she forced herself to think clearly and calmly.

I’m the smartest fish in this lake, she reminded herself confidently. I can figure out how to escape from this situation. I just need to observe carefully and find the weakness in their plan.

Chapter 8: Pratyutpannamati’s Clever Escape

While chaos erupted all around her, Pratyutpannamati used her sharp intelligence to study the fishermen’s methods. She noticed that they were concentrating most of their efforts on the shallow areas of the lake where the majority of fish liked to swim.

But she also observed something very important: the fishermen had not put any nets in the deepest part of the lake, where the water was murky and filled with fallen logs and thick water plants.

That’s my answer! she thought cleverly. If I can reach the deep water without being seen, I can hide among the logs and plants until the fishermen give up and go away.

Using all her skill and speed, Pratyutpannamati swam in a zigzag pattern, avoiding the nets and staying close to the muddy bottom where the water was cloudiest.

ZOOM! She darted between two surprised fishermen.

FLASH! Her silver scales glinted as she dove under a floating log.

“Did you see that big silver fish?” called one fisherman to the other. “It went that way!”

“Don’t worry about just one fish!” replied his companion. “We’re catching hundreds of others! One fish doesn’t matter!”

Pratyutpannamati smiled to herself as she reached the safety of the deep water. Her plan was working perfectly! She found an excellent hiding place inside a hollow, sunken log and settled down to wait.

From her hiding spot, she could hear the fishermen working throughout the morning, pulling in net after net full of fish. The sounds made her sad for all the other fish who hadn’t been as clever or lucky as she was, but she was proud of herself for proving that quick thinking could overcome even the most dangerous situations.

I knew I could outsmart them! she thought triumphantly. Anagatavidhata was too worried, and he gave up his beautiful home for nothing. I was right to trust in my own abilities!

Chapter 9: The Fishermen’s Persistence

As the hours passed, Pratyutpannamati began to feel more and more confident that her plan had succeeded completely. The sounds of the fishermen’s work grew quieter, and she thought they might be preparing to leave with their enormous catch.

But then she heard something that made her heart sink.

“We’ve done very well today,” said the first fisherman, “but I noticed several large fish that managed to escape into the deep water.”

“You’re right,” agreed the second fisherman. “There was that big silver one, and I saw at least two others. We can’t let them get away!”

“What should we do?” asked the first man. “Our nets won’t work well in the deep water because of all those logs and plants.”

“I have an idea,” said the second fisherman thoughtfully. “Let’s drag the deep water.”

“What does that mean?”

“We’ll tie weights to a long rope and drag it along the bottom of the deep water. That will stir up all the mud and force any hiding fish to come up to the surface where we can catch them with our hand nets.”

Pratyutpannamati’s confidence evaporated as she realized that her clever hiding place was about to become a trap. The fishermen had anticipated that some fish might try to hide in the deep water, and they had a plan to deal with that too!

I need a new plan, and I need it quickly! she thought, her mind racing.

But before she could think of another solution, she heard the heavy splash of the weighted rope hitting the water nearby.

DRAG! SCRAPE! The rope began moving along the bottom of the lake, stirring up enormous clouds of mud and disturbing every possible hiding place.

Chapter 10: A Desperate Plan

As the weighted rope drew closer and closer to her hiding spot, Pratyutpannamati realized she had to act immediately or she would be discovered.

I can’t outrun them in open water, she thought frantically, and I can’t hide anywhere they won’t find me. But maybe… just maybe… I can trick them into thinking I’m not worth catching!

In a flash of desperate inspiration, she swam out of her hiding place and deliberately got tangled in some floating weeds. Then she turned herself sideways and floated motionlessly on the surface of the water, pretending to be dead.

It’s risky, she thought, but it’s my only chance. If they think I’m already dead, maybe they won’t bother trying to catch me.

“Look!” called the first fisherman, pointing at Pratyutpannamati. “There’s that big silver fish! But I think it’s dead.”

“Are you sure?” asked his companion, rowing closer to get a better look.

Pratyutpannamati forced herself to remain completely still, even though every instinct was screaming at her to swim away. She kept her eyes closed and let herself float limply, hoping desperately that her performance was convincing.

“Yes, definitely dead,” confirmed the first fisherman after studying her carefully. “Look how it’s floating. And see how tangled it is in those weeds? It probably got trapped there and died during all the commotion we caused.”

“Should we take it anyway?” asked the second man. “Even if it’s dead, it’s still a good-sized fish.”

Pratyutpannamati’s heart pounded so loudly she was sure the fishermen would hear it, but she forced herself to remain perfectly motionless.

“No,” decided the first fisherman finally. “Dead fish that have been floating in the water aren’t good to eat. Let’s just leave it and concentrate on the live ones we still need to catch.”

Chapter 11: A Successful Deception

For what felt like hours, Pratyutpannamati continued her death performance, floating motionlessly among the weeds while the fishermen continued their work in other parts of the lake.

Finally, as the sun began to set, she heard the wonderful sounds she had been waiting for.

“I think we’ve caught all the fish we’re going to catch today,” said the first fisherman tiredly. “Our baskets are completely full, and we’ve checked every part of the lake.”

“You’re right,” agreed his companion. “We’ve had an incredibly successful day. Let’s pack up our equipment and head back to the village.”

Pratyutpannamati waited until she could no longer hear the fishermen’s voices or footsteps before she dared to move. Then, very carefully, she untangled herself from the weeds and swam to a safe spot to assess the situation.

The lake was eerily quiet. Where once there had been hundreds of fish swimming, playing, and chattering, now there was only silence. Nearly every fish in the lake had been caught by the fishermen’s nets.

But I survived! thought Pratyutpannamati with a mixture of pride and sadness. My quick thinking saved me, just as I knew it would! I outsmarted those fishermen completely!

She swam around the empty lake, looking for any other survivors, but found very few. The fishermen had been extremely thorough in their work.

Still, she thought, trying to stay positive, I proved that intelligence and cleverness can overcome even the most dangerous situations. Anagatavidhata was too quick to give up and run away. I was right to trust in my own abilities!

But as night fell and the lake remained eerily quiet and empty, Pratyutpannamati began to feel lonely and wondered if she had really made the right choice.

Chapter 12: Yadbhavishya’s Fate

While Pratyutpannamati had been using her cleverness to hide and escape, what had happened to their friend Yadbhavishya?

When the fishermen had first arrived and begun their work, Yadbhavishya had heard all the commotion but had remained calmly in his favorite spot among the lotus roots.

“Well,” he had said to himself peacefully, “I suppose this is the day Anagatavidhata was worried about. If I’m meant to be caught, I’ll be caught. If I’m meant to escape, I’ll escape. There’s no point in getting upset about it.”

Unlike Pratyutpannamati, who had studied the fishermen’s methods and made strategic plans, Yadbhavishya had simply continued his normal routine. He ate some algae for breakfast, took a nap in the warm sunshine, and floated contentedly among the lotus stems.

When the fishermen’s nets had swept through his area, Yadbhavishya had made no special effort to avoid them. He hadn’t tried to hide in the deep water or swim away to safety.

“If this is my destiny, then so be it,” he had thought calmly as he saw the net approaching.

SWOOSH! The net had closed around him along with dozens of other fish.

“Look at this big copper-colored one!” one of the fishermen had exclaimed, pointing at Yadbhavishya. “He’s beautiful! And look how calm he is – he’s not even struggling like the others!”

Indeed, while all the other captured fish had been swimming frantically around the net, trying desperately to escape, Yadbhavishya had remained peaceful and resigned to his fate.

“Strange,” the fisherman had commented. “It’s almost like he doesn’t mind being caught.”

And in a way, that was true. Yadbhavishya had been so convinced that fighting against destiny was pointless that he had accepted his capture with the same calm resignation with which he had accepted everything else in his life.

Chapter 13: Three Different Outcomes

As the sun set on that fateful day, the three friends who had started the morning together in their beautiful lake had ended up in three very different situations.

Anagatavidhata, who had planned ahead and taken action early, had successfully completed his difficult journey through the hidden channel. He was now swimming safely in the vast river, tired from his long night of travel but grateful to be alive and free.

The river was indeed much larger than their lake had been, with strong currents and different types of plants and fish. It would take time for Anagatavidhata to adjust to his new home, but he was intelligent and adaptable. More importantly, he was safe from fishermen and free to build a new life.

I miss my friends and my beautiful lake, he thought sadly as he explored his new surroundings, but I’m grateful that I listened to the warnings and took action while I still could. I hope Pratyutpannamati and Yadbhavishya found ways to survive too.

Pratyutpannamati, who had relied on her quick thinking and cleverness, had indeed managed to escape the fishermen’s nets through her creative deception. She was still alive and still in the lake she loved.

But her victory came with a heavy price. The lake that had once been full of life and friendship was now almost empty. Most of her friends and neighbors had been caught, and she was lonely in her large, quiet home.

I survived through my own intelligence, she thought, but was it worth it to be so alone? Maybe Anagatavidhata was right that we should have left together while we had the chance.

Yadbhavishya, who had believed that fate would determine his destiny regardless of his actions, had been caught by the fishermen. His passive acceptance of whatever might happen had led to exactly the outcome Anagatavidhata had feared and warned against.

But surprisingly, Yadbhavishya’s calm, resigned nature had an unexpected consequence. When the fishermen had taken him back to their village, his unusual peaceful behavior had impressed everyone who saw him.

“I’ve never seen such a calm, beautiful fish,” the fisherman’s daughter had said. “Father, could we keep this one in our garden pond instead of cooking it? It seems too special to eat.”

And so Yadbhavishya had ended up in a small but comfortable garden pond, where he was well-fed and cared for by the fisherman’s family, though he was no longer free to swim wherever he chose.

Chapter 14: Lessons from the Lake

Years passed, and gradually the forest lake began to recover from the fishermen’s visit. New fish moved in from connecting streams, and life slowly returned to the water.

One day, a young fish swimming in the lake discovered an old turtle resting among the reeds. The turtle was ancient and wise, and had witnessed many changes in the forest over her long lifetime.

“Grandmother Turtle,” asked the young fish respectfully, “I’ve heard stories about three fish who used to live in this lake long ago. Stories about fishermen and different choices. Are those stories true?”

The old turtle’s eyes twinkled with memory. “Oh yes, young one. I knew those three fish well. They were great friends, but they had very different ways of dealing with problems.”

“What happened to them?” asked the young fish eagerly.

“Well,” said the turtle thoughtfully, “each of them followed their own nature, and each experienced the consequences of their choices.”

“Can you tell me the whole story? I want to understand what it means.”

The turtle settled more comfortably among the soft mud and began to speak in her slow, wise voice.

“The first fish, Anagatavidhata, believed in planning ahead and preparing for trouble before it arrived. When he learned about danger, he took immediate action to protect himself, even though it meant leaving everything he loved behind.”

“Was he right to do that?” asked the young fish.

“His approach saved his life and kept him free,” replied the turtle. “But it also meant giving up his home and friends. There’s wisdom in thinking ahead and preparing for problems, but there’s also a cost to always expecting the worst.”

“What about the second fish?”

“Pratyutpannamati believed in her own cleverness and ability to solve problems as they arose. She was confident that her intelligence would be enough to handle any situation.”

“And did it work?”

“In a way, yes,” said the turtle. “Her quick thinking did save her life. But her cleverness couldn’t save all the other fish in the lake, and it couldn’t prevent her from ending up alone in a place that was no longer the paradise it had been.”

“And the third fish?”

The turtle sighed deeply. “Poor Yadbhavishya believed that fighting against fate was pointless. He thought that whatever was meant to happen would happen regardless of what he did.”

“What’s wrong with that?” asked the young fish.

“There’s some truth in accepting that we can’t control everything,” explained the turtle. “But Yadbhavishya forgot that we DO have some control over our choices and actions. By refusing to make any effort to help himself, he made it much more likely that bad things would happen to him.”

Chapter 15: The Reunion

Many seasons later, something wonderful and unexpected happened. Anagatavidhata, now older and wiser from his years in the river, decided to visit his old home to see how the lake had recovered.

Swimming back through the hidden channel (which was easier now that he was familiar with it), he emerged into the lake where he had grown up. To his amazement and joy, he found Pratyutpannamati still living there!

“Anagatavidhata!” she called out excitedly. “My dear old friend! You’ve come back!”

“Pratyutpannamati!” he replied, swimming quickly to embrace her. “I’ve missed you so much! I’m so happy to see that you survived!”

The two friends spent hours catching up on everything that had happened since their separation. Anagatavidhata told stories about his adventures in the great river, while Pratyutpannamati shared how she had rebuilt her life in the recovering lake.

“I’ve learned so much since that terrible day,” Pratyutpannamati said thoughtfully. “I’m still proud that my cleverness saved me, but I realize now that I was overconfident. I should have listened more carefully to your warnings.”

“And I’ve learned that sometimes my tendency to worry and plan for the worst can make me too quick to give up on the things I love,” replied Anagatavidhata. “Maybe we both could have found a better solution if we had worked together instead of each following our own approach.”

“What do you think happened to poor Yadbhavishya?” asked Pratyutpannamati sadly.

“I don’t know,” said Anagatavidhata, “but I hope he found some kind of happiness, whatever his fate was.”

As if in answer to their question, they heard a familiar voice calling from the shore.

“My dear old friends! Is it really you?”

Chapter 16: An Unexpected Discovery

To their amazement, Yadbhavishya was swimming toward them from the shallow water near the shore! He looked well-fed and healthy, though perhaps a bit different from how they remembered him.

“Yadbhavishya!” both friends called out in unison. “We thought we’d never see you again!”

“I’ve missed you both terribly,” said Yadbhavishya warmly as they shared a group embrace. “I’ve thought about you often over the years and wondered what happened to you.”

“But how are you here?” asked Anagatavidhata in confusion. “We thought the fishermen caught you!”

“They did,” confirmed Yadbhavishya. “And because I didn’t try to resist or escape, I ended up as a pet in their garden pond.”

“A pet?” asked Pratyutpannamati. “What was that like?”

“Well,” said Yadbhavishya thoughtfully, “it was comfortable in many ways. I was safe, well-fed, and the fisherman’s family was kind to me. But I also learned something important.”

“What’s that?” asked his friends.

“I learned that accepting everything that happens without trying to influence your situation isn’t actually wisdom – it’s giving up,” Yadbhavishya explained. “I spent years in that garden pond thinking about our last conversation and the choices we all made.”

“And what did you conclude?” asked Anagatavidhata.

“I realized that while some things are beyond our control, we always have some power to make choices that affect our lives. When I finally understood that, I began looking for opportunities to escape and return to the wild.”

“And you found one?” asked Pratyutpannamati.

“Eventually, yes. During a heavy rainstorm, the garden pond overflowed and connected temporarily to a stream that led back to this lake. I took advantage of that opportunity and swam home.”

“So now we’re all back together!” said Anagatavidhata happily.

“Yes,” agreed Yadbhavishya, “and we’re all wiser for our experiences.”

Chapter 17: Sharing the Wisdom

The three friends decided to make their reunion permanent by all living together in the recovered lake. But they also felt a responsibility to share what they had learned with the new generation of fish who now called the lake home.

They began holding regular gatherings where young fish could come to hear their story and ask questions about dealing with problems and making difficult choices.

“The most important thing we learned,” Anagatavidhata would tell the young fish, “is that there’s wisdom in all three approaches, but also dangers if any approach is taken to an extreme.”

“What do you mean?” the young fish would ask.

“Planning ahead and preparing for problems is very important,” explained Anagatavidhata. “But if you spend all your time worrying about what might happen, you might miss out on enjoying what’s happening right now.”

“Being clever and confident in your abilities is also valuable,” added Pratyutpannamati. “But overconfidence can be dangerous. Sometimes the smartest thing to do is listen to warnings from friends who care about you, even if you think you can handle the situation yourself.”

“And accepting that some things are beyond our control can bring peace,” concluded Yadbhavishya. “But we must never forget that we DO have the power to make choices that influence our lives. Acceptance should never become an excuse for not trying to help ourselves.”

“So what’s the best approach?” the young fish would ask eagerly.

“The best approach,” the three friends would say together, “is to combine all three wisdoms: Plan ahead when you can, think cleverly when problems arise, and accept gracefully the things you cannot change – but never give up trying to influence the things you can.”

Chapter 18: The Legacy Lives On

As the years passed, the story of the three fishes became famous throughout the forest. Animals would travel from far and wide to hear the tale and learn from the experiences of Anagatavidhata, Pratyutpannamati, and Yadbhavishya.

Parents began telling the story to their children to teach them about different ways of facing challenges and the importance of balancing preparation, cleverness, and acceptance.

“Remember,” they would say, “when facing a problem, ask yourself three questions: Can I prepare for this in advance? If the problem has already arrived, can I use my intelligence to find a solution? And if I cannot change the situation, can I accept it gracefully while still looking for opportunities to improve things?”

Teachers throughout the forest used the story to help young animals understand that different approaches to problems all have value, and that the wisest creatures learn to use the right approach for each situation.

“Anagatavidhata teaches us to think ahead,” they would explain. “Pratyutpannamati teaches us to stay calm and think creatively when trouble comes. And Yadbhavishya teaches us both the dangers of giving up too easily and the importance of learning from our mistakes.”

Chapter 19: A New Generation’s Challenge

One day, many years after the three friends had been reunited, a new crisis came to the forest lake. A severe drought began to dry up the water, just as had happened to Chatterbox the turtle in another part of the forest.

The young fish who had grown up hearing the story of the three fishes found themselves facing their own test of the lessons they had learned.

“What should we do?” asked a young fish named Bright Scales. “The water level is dropping every day!”

“Let’s think about this the way the three wise fish taught us,” suggested another young fish named Quick Fin. “First, can we prepare and plan ahead like Anagatavidhata?”

The young fish worked together to explore all possible escape routes from the lake. They found several streams that might carry them to larger bodies of water, and they made careful plans for how to travel safely if the drought continued.

“Now,” said Bright Scales, “what if we need to use cleverness like Pratyutpannamati?”

The young fish brainstormed creative solutions: they could dig deeper holes in the lake bottom to collect the remaining water, they could work together to build small dams to conserve water, and they could find ways to share resources fairly among all the lake’s inhabitants.

“And finally,” added Quick Fin, “what should we accept like Yadbhavishya learned to do, while still taking action where we can?”

The young fish recognized that they couldn’t control the weather or make it rain, but they could control their response to the situation. They could choose to work together instead of panicking, and they could help each other through the difficult time.

Chapter 20: The Wisdom Applied

Using the combined wisdom they had learned from the story of the three fishes, the young generation successfully navigated their crisis.

Some fish chose to leave early for safer waters, following Anagatavidhata’s example of planning ahead and taking action before the situation became desperate.

Others stayed and used clever solutions to survive in the shrinking lake, creating deeper pools and finding innovative ways to share the remaining resources, following Pratyutpannamati’s example of using intelligence to solve problems.

Still others accepted that they couldn’t control the drought but focused on supporting their community and maintaining hope while looking for opportunities to improve their situation, learning from Yadbhavishya’s hard-won wisdom about the balance between acceptance and action.

Most importantly, all the fish supported each other’s different choices, understanding that there could be wisdom in different approaches to the same problem.

When the rains finally returned and the lake refilled, the fish community was stronger and wiser than ever before.

Chapter 21: The Three Friends Reflect

Anagatavidhata, Pratyutpannamati, and Yadbhavishya watched with pride as the younger generation successfully handled their crisis using the lessons learned from the three friends’ experiences.

“Look how well they’ve learned to combine our different approaches,” observed Anagatavidhata with satisfaction. “They’re not making the same mistakes we made by each stubbornly following only one way of thinking.”

“Yes,” agreed Pratyutpannamati, “they understand that the wisest response often involves using all three approaches together, rather than relying on just one.”

“And they’re supporting each other’s different choices instead of arguing about whose approach is best,” added Yadbhavishya. “That’s something we could have done better in our youth.”

The three friends realized that their painful experiences and separation had ultimately led to something valuable: a deeper understanding of how to face life’s challenges with both wisdom and flexibility.

“I’m grateful for everything that happened to us,” said Anagatavidhata thoughtfully. “Even the difficult parts taught us important lessons.”

“And I’m grateful that we all survived to share those lessons with others,” added Pratyutpannamati.

“Most of all,” concluded Yadbhavishya, “I’m grateful that we found our way back to each other and learned that friendship can survive even when friends make different choices.”

The End

Moral of the Story

Life often presents us with challenges that require different types of responses. The wisdom lies not in rigidly following just one approach, but in learning to balance foresight and preparation, creative problem-solving, and graceful acceptance of what we cannot control. True wisdom comes from understanding when to plan ahead, when to think quickly, when to accept what we cannot change, and most importantly, when to combine all three approaches. Additionally, we can support friends who choose different paths from our own, recognizing that there may be wisdom in approaches different from the ones we prefer.

Fun Questions for Young Readers

Think About the Story:

🐟 About the Three Friends: How were Anagatavidhata, Pratyutpannamati, and Yadbhavishya similar? How were they different?

🎣 The Fishermen’s Arrival: What warning signs did the friends have that danger was coming? Why did they react so differently to the same information?

🤔 Different Choices: Which friend’s approach do you think you would have chosen? Why?

⚡ The Critical Moment: What do you think would have happened if all three friends had worked together to make a plan instead of each following their own approach?

🧠 Problem-Solving: Can you think of a time when you had to choose between preparing ahead of time, solving a problem creatively, or accepting something you couldn’t change?

🌟 Learning and Growing: How did each friend change by the end of the story? What did they learn about themselves and about life?

💭 What If: How might the story have been different if the fishermen had never come to the lake?

🤝 Friendship: How did the friends’ different approaches affect their friendship? What kept them caring about each other even when they disagreed?

Fun Activities:

🎨 Draw the Adventure: Which scene would you like to illustrate? The peaceful lake, Anagatavidhata’s escape through the channel, Pratyutpannamati’s clever hiding trick, or the friends’ reunion?

🎭 Act It Out: Practice being each of the three friends – how would they sound different when talking? How would they move differently?

🗺️ Map the Lake: Draw a map of the lake showing the hidden channel, the deep water, the lotus areas, and where the fishermen set their nets.

📝 Write Your Own: What would happen if a fourth friend had lived in the lake? What approach might they have taken?

Discussion Questions for Parents and Kids:

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Talk: In our family, when do we plan ahead for problems? When do we solve problems creatively as they come up? When do we accept things we can’t change?

⚖️ Balance: How can we use all three approaches (planning, creativity, acceptance) together instead of just picking one?

🤝 Supporting Others: How can we support family members or friends who choose to handle problems differently than we would?

🧭 Decision Making: What questions can we ask ourselves when facing a difficult choice or problem?

💪 Personal Strengths: Which approach (planning, creative problem-solving, or acceptance) feels most natural to you? How can you develop the other approaches too?

🌈 Learning from Mistakes: How can mistakes become valuable learning experiences, like they did for the three fish?

🎯 Taking Action: What’s the difference between accepting something you can’t change and giving up on trying to help yourself?

🏠 Real Life Applications: Can you think of current situations where our family could use the wisdom from this story?

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