A fort was built on the top of a mountain in a forest. There was a huge tall cedar tree outside one corner of the fort. A contingent of the army of that state was stationed in the fort. An owl lived on a cedar tree. He would come down to the sloping pastures spread in the valley in search of food. Many small creatures and insects were found in the tall grasses and bushes of the pastures, which the owl used to eat. There was a big lake nearby, in which swans lived. The owl sat on the tree and looked at the lake. The swimming and flying of swans fascinated him. He thought what beautiful birds swans are. Absolutely milky white, plump body, well shaped neck, beautiful face and stunning eyes. His great desire was to become friends with a swan.
One day, on the pretext of drinking water, the owl landed on a bush growing on the bank of the lake. A very polite and gentle swan was swimming in the water nearby. The swan swam near the bush.
The owl found an excuse to talk, "Hans ji, if you permit, I would like to drink water. I am very thirsty."
The swan looked at him with surprise and said, "Friend! Water is a boon given to everyone by nature. No one has the right over it."
The owl drank water. Then he shook his head as if he was disappointed. The swan asked, "Friend! You appear dissatisfied. Is your thirst not quenched?"
The owl said, "O swan! The thirst for water has been quenched, but from your words I felt that you are an ocean of morality and knowledge. The thirst for water has awakened in me. How will it be quenched?"
Hans smiled, "Friend, you can come here anytime. We will talk. This way what I know will become yours and I will also learn something from you."
After this, swans and owls started meeting each other daily. One day the swan told the owl that he was actually Hansraj, the king of swans. After giving his real introduction. Hans invited his friend and took him to his home. Was royal chic. Dishes made of lotus and narcissus flowers were served to eat and the owl did not even know what rare food items were there. Later, pearls were introduced in place of fennel and cardamom. The owl was stunned.
Now Hansraj took the owl to the palace and started feeding it. There was a feast every day. He began to fear that someday Hansraj might break his friendship considering him an ordinary owl.
Therefore, in order to keep himself equal to Kansaraj, he falsely said that he too is Ulukraj, the king of owls. After telling the lie, the owl felt that it was his duty to invite Hansraj to his home.
One day the owl carefully observed the activities happening inside the fort and an idea came to his mind. He understood the words of the fort very carefully. Noted the programs of the soldiers. Then he went to the swan. When he reached the lake, Hansraj was swimming in the water with some swans. As soon as the swan saw the owl, he said, "Friend, you at this time?"
The owl replied, "Yes friend! I have come today to show you my house and to be my guest. I have been your guest many times. Give me a chance to serve you too."
The swan tried to avoid it, "Friend, why are you in such a hurry? We will go some other time."
The owl said, "Today I will not go without taking you."
Hansraj had to go with the owl.
Pointing towards the fort built on the top of the mountain, the owl said while flying, "That is my fort." Hans was very impressed. When both of them landed at the tree where the owl lived, the parade of the soldiers of the fort was about to begin. Two soldiers started blowing the bugle on the turret. The owl had remembered the program of the soldiers of the fort on the ridge, so he had brought Hansraj at the right time. The owl said, "Look friend, my soldiers are blowing bugles to welcome you. After that my army will honor you by giving a parade and salute."
As usual, there was a parade and the flag was saluted. Hans understood that all this was really happening for him. So the swan became happy and said, "You are blessed, friend. You are ruling like a brave king."
The owl overpowered Hansraj, "I have ordered my soldiers to sound bugles and parade soldiers like this every day as long as my best friend King Hansraj is my guest."
The owl knew that this was the daily work of the soldiers. There are daily rules. The owl fed fruits, walnuts and banafsha flowers to the swan. He had already collected them. Food no longer mattered. The magic of the soldiers' parade had done its work. A lot of respect for the owl friend had developed in Hansraj's heart.
On the other hand, the military contingent had received orders to march from there. The next day when the soldiers gathered their belongings and started leaving, Hans said, "Friend, look, your soldiers are going somewhere without taking your permission.
The owl said in panic, "Someone must have given them wrong orders." I will stop them now." Saying this he started saying 'Hum Hoon'.
The soldiers heard the hoot of the owl and thinking it was a bad omen, they postponed leaving. The same thing happened again the next day. When the soldiers started leaving, the owl crowed. The leader of the soldiers got angry and ordered the soldiers to shoot arrows at the ill-fated owl. A soldier shot an arrow. The arrow hit the swan sitting next to the owl. He fell down after being hit by an arrow and died fluttering. The owl became sad near his dead body and started wailing, "Alas, I have lost my best friend because of my false pride. Shame on me."
Seeing the owl crying unconsciously due to the news around him, a jackal pounced on him and destroyed his work.