Long ago, in a beautiful kingdom surrounded by rivers and hills, there lived a kind and powerful king. His name was King Aditya Singh. He was brave, honest, and loved by all his people. The kingdom of Subarnapur was rich and peaceful.
Yet, despite all his wealth and glory, the king often felt lonely. The palace was grand, filled with servants and soldiers, but he had no true friend to share his thoughts with.
One early morning, while walking in the royal garden, the king heard a sweet voice say,
"Your Majesty, why do you look so sad?"
The king looked around in surprise. On a mango tree branch sat a bright green parrot with sparkling eyes.
"You can speak?" the king asked in amazement.
"Yes, Your Majesty," replied the parrot. "And I speak the truth."
The king was delighted. He brought the parrot to the palace and placed it in a golden cage. He offered it delicious fruits and nuts. But the parrot sat quietly and looked unhappy.
"What is wrong?" the king asked.
The parrot gently replied, "A golden cage is still a cage. Freedom is more precious than gold."
The king was deeply moved by these words. The next day, he opened the cage door. The parrot did not fly away. Instead, it sat on the palace window and said,
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Because you did not force me to stay, I choose to remain your friend."
From that day on, a strong friendship grew between the king and the parrot. Every day, the parrot shared stories from forests and villages, telling the king about the lives of common people.
One day, the parrot said, "Your Majesty, farmers in one part of your kingdom are suffering from drought."
The king was shocked. None of his ministers had told him this. He immediately sent soldiers to investigate and found that the parrot was right.
The king personally visited the village, arranged water supplies, distributed seeds and food, and built reservoirs. The farmers were overjoyed and grateful.
The king realized that a ruler must listen to the voices of the people.
Later, a greedy minister tried to mislead the king with false advice for his own benefit. The parrot warned him,
"Listen to everyone, but judge with your own wisdom."
After secretly investigating, the king discovered the minister's dishonesty. He removed him from his position and appointed an honest man instead.
The kingdom became even more peaceful and prosperous. People praised the king for his wisdom, but the king knew that much of his wisdom came from his small feathered friend.
One day, the parrot said, "Your Majesty, it is time for me to return to the forest. My friends are waiting for me."
The king felt tears in his eyes. "Will you not stay?"
The parrot smiled softly. "You are no longer alone. You understand your people now. Whenever you rule with honesty and kindness, remember that I am with you."
With that, the parrot spread its green wings and flew into the bright sky.
The king watched until it disappeared. Though he missed his friend, his heart no longer felt empty. He had learned that true friendship is not about possession, but about freedom and trust.
And so, the kingdom of Subarnapur continued to shine with justice, peace, and happiness.