The Tale of the Clever Parrot

 


The Tale of the Clever Parrot

Once upon a time, in the heart of the lush Silk Road city of Samarkand, there lived a wealthy merchant named Azizbek. He was known far and wide for his riches, but he was also a man of great curiosity. He had a beautiful garden filled with exotic plants and animals from distant lands. Among his treasures was a magnificent parrot named Shirin, who could speak like a human and was said to be incredibly wise.

Shirin was not just any parrot; she was special. She loved to sing songs, recite poems, and offer clever advice. Azizbek adored her and would often ask her for guidance on important matters. “Shirin,” he would say, “you are the jewel of my home. Tell me, how should I manage my wealth? How should I treat my friends?”

Shirin would always answer with wisdom, and her advice never failed. But despite his fondness for Shirin, Azizbek was a man of whims. One day, he decided to test the parrot’s cleverness. He said, “Shirin, you are so wise. But tell me this: if you were ever caught by someone who wished to harm you, how would you escape?”

The parrot looked at Azizbek with her bright eyes and replied, “Master, if such a thing were to happen, I would rely on my wits. I would play dead, for even the cruelest captor would have no use for a lifeless bird.”

Azizbek laughed at her clever response and thought no more of it.

The Capture

One day, while Azizbek was away on a long journey, a jealous neighbor named Rustam decided to steal the parrot. Rustam had always envied Azizbek’s success and wanted to take Shirin as his own. He crept into the merchant’s garden, captured the parrot, and took her back to his home.

Rustam was cruel and greedy. He locked Shirin in a small cage and gloated, “Now you are mine, little parrot. You will sing and speak only for me!”

But Shirin, remembering the question her master had once asked, stayed calm. She decided to put her plan into action. Over the next few days, she pretended to grow weak and stopped singing or talking. Rustam became frustrated. “What is wrong with you, bird? Speak!”

Shirin remained silent, her eyes closed, and her body still. Rustam, believing the parrot had fallen ill or died, opened the cage to examine her. The moment his hand reached inside, Shirin leaped out, flapping her wings furiously. She flew straight out of the open window and disappeared into the sky.

The Return

Shirin flew back to Azizbek’s garden, where she perched on her favorite tree. When Azizbek returned from his journey and saw Shirin safe and sound, he was overjoyed. “Shirin!” he cried. “What happened? How did you escape?”

The clever parrot tilted her head and said, “Master, do you not remember? You once asked me how I would escape if I were caught. I simply followed my own advice: I played dead, and my captor, thinking I was useless, set me free.”

Azizbek laughed heartily and said, “Shirin, you truly are the wisest creature I have ever known. From now on, I will treasure your wisdom even more.”

Moral of the Story:

This Uzbek fairy tale teaches the importance of wit, cleverness, and staying calm in difficult situations. Shirin’s ability to think quickly and follow her own advice saved her life. The story also reminds us to value wisdom and to listen carefully to the advice of those who are truly insightful, no matter their size or status

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