The clap!

Once upon a time, the entire region of Silbaripuram was filled with stagnant water and marshy lands. Because of this, mosquitoes bred there in huge numbers, and the local people were struggling terribly with the mosquito menace.

The mosquitoes even had their own organized gangs. One such gang set up its base in a puddle right in front of Nanu’s house.

It was the time when the eggs had just hatched, and the young mosquitoes were getting ready to step out. Their leader announced loudly, "You all are going out for your very first hunt. When you go to suck the blood of the people in this house, you must be extremely careful. They are cruel and look at us as their biggest enemies."

One brave little mosquito piped up, "Let me go and have my fill first. The rest of you can follow later."

With that, the tiny mosquito flew into the house. After a while, he returned looking very happy and told the leader, "Sir, you were wrong! Humans actually have a lot of love for us. The moment they heard my humming song, they all started clapping their hands to encourage me!"

The leader burst out laughing. "You fool! They weren't welcoming you. They were clapping their hands while chasing you to kill you! It’s just your good luck that you didn't get caught in their grip."

Hearing this, all the young mosquitoes were shocked!

The Moral

Some people will clap and encourage even the wrong things. Nowadays, empty praises, flattery, and "buttering someone up" just to get a job done have become very common.