The Tale of Two Nepali Shepherds

Once upon a time, in a quiet valley surrounded by green hills, there were two shepherds, Bire and Nare. They lived in neighboring villages and each had a large flock of sheep. The sheep in both flocks looked the same—fluffy, white, and obedient—but they never got along.

 

Bire's sheep believed they were the smartest, while Nare's flock thought they were the strongest. Both groups despised each other, all because their shepherds constantly told them, "Never trust those sheep from the other side!"

 

One sunny day, as Bire's sheep grazed, they chatted amongst themselves.

 

"Did you hear what Nare's sheep said?" asked Kalu, one of the oldest sheep.

 

"What?" replied Tuli, her eyes wide.

 

"They said we don't even know how to find the best grass!"

 

Tuli gasped. "The nerve! We're clearly the superior sheep. Bire always says so. Those other sheep are clueless."

 

Meanwhile, across the field, Nare's sheep were having their own chat.

 

"I bet Bire's sheep are eating dirt again," joked Duni, shaking his wool.

 

"They probably think it's gourmet," added Lali with a snicker. "Nare says they wouldn't know real food if it hit them in the face."

 

The rivalry continued, with both groups convinced they were better than the other. Neither side questioned why they never got along—they just trusted their shepherds.

 

But what the sheep didn't know was that Bire and Nare were secretly working together. Every evening, after the sheep had gone to sleep, they met by a fire to share a laugh.

 

Bire grinned. "Your sheep are still falling for it?"

 

Nare chuckled. "Falling for it? They're practically fighting each other to prove how loyal they are to me! And yours?"

 

"Oh, mine are just as gullible," Bire said. "They'll believe anything I say as long as I keep telling them that your flock is the enemy. They'll never figure it out."

 

Both shepherds laughed heartily, roasting a lamb by the fire—taken from their flocks, of course.

 

But one day, the shepherds faced a problem. They needed a huge log moved to the top of a hill to build their new palace. The log was far too big for just one flock to move. The sheep were shocked when both shepherds appeared together.

 

Bire stood tall and announced, "Sheep, we must unite today! Our great valley is in danger, and only together can we pull this enormous log."

 

"Brothers and sisters," Nare added, with an exaggerated, serious tone, "put aside your differences. This is no time for rivalry."

 

The sheep blinked in confusion.

 

"Work together?" Kalu asked. "But… they're our enemies!"

 

Tuli shook her head. "Bire told us to never trust them!"

 

Across the field, Duni muttered, "Nare said the same thing! Why should we help them?"

 

But neither flock could resist their shepherd's orders. Slowly, grumbling, the sheep from both groups began to pull the log together.

 

As they struggled, Tuli and Lali exchanged awkward glances. "I still don't trust you," Tuli said, panting.

 

"Same here," Lali huffed. "But this log isn't moving itself, is it?"

 

Meanwhile, Bire and Nare stood at the top of the hill, whispering to each other.

 

"See how easy it is when we control them?" Bire smirked.

 

Nare nodded. "They're so busy worrying about each other, they'll never realize we've been working together the whole time."

 

"And once this palace is built," Bire said, "we'll live like kings while they keep fighting over who's the better sheep."

 

The sheep, still pulling and straining with all their might, had no idea they were being used. They thought they were performing a noble task for the good of the valley, but in reality, they were just helping Bire and Nare build their grand palace. All the while, the shepherds' plan worked perfectly, as the sheep never questioned the true purpose of their labor.

 

[NewNormal Story Series for kids by EducateOurKids 2024]