My dear friend,

Something happened last week, which I want to tell you. I wanted to buy a well for my fields as I needed water for irrigation. I found a well next to a field I had just purchased and bought it from my neighbour.

But the next day, when I went to draw water, my neighbour stood there and refused to let me take any water! He claimed he had sold me only the well, not the water inside it. I was so worried and did not know what to do.

I went to the village chief and told her everything. She called a meeting of the Panchayat. Everyone gathered under the banyan tree. The cunning neighbour repeated his claim that the water was still his.

But the wise Panchayat gave a clever judgment! They said if the water was truly his, he had no right to keep it in my well. They ordered him to remove all his water immediately or it would belong to me! The neighbour realised his mistake. He had to pay a fine and apologise to me.

I was so relieved! The Panchayat's wisdom saved me from being cheated.

Your friend, The Farmer