In a vast and beautiful jungle, where the trees were tall and the rivers flowed swiftly, the birds lived in harmony. The jungle was home to many kinds of birds—colorful parrots, swift sparrows, graceful peacocks, and even mighty eagles. Their king was Garuda, a powerful and respected bird who had once been very active in protecting the interests of his fellow birds. However, as time passed, Garuda grew busier with other matters and hardly had time to look after the birds in the jungle. His presence was rare, and the birds felt increasingly neglected.

One day, the birds of the jungle decided to hold a grand meeting. They gathered under the shade of a giant banyan tree, chirping and discussing the important matter at hand. All the birds of the jungle were present—except for the crows, who were known for being cautious and wary. 

The birds were frustrated. "We need a leader who will take care of us," said a colorful peacock, spreading its majestic feathers. "Garuda no longer has the time to attend to our needs. We need a king who is present among us and can offer protection."

A wise old parrot, perched on a high branch, nodded in agreement. "It is true. Garuda is too preoccupied with matters beyond our jungle. We need a new king."

"But who should we choose?" asked a small, curious sparrow, her head tilted to one side. "Who is fit to be our king?"

The birds began to discuss various candidates. The peacock was admired for its beauty but was considered too vain. The parrot was known for its intelligence but was too old to lead. The eagle was brave, but its temper was too fierce. As they debated, the birds couldn’t settle on any one choice.

Suddenly, a wise owl who had been quietly listening to the discussion from a nearby branch spoke up. "If I may," the owl began in its deep, hooting voice, "I believe I would make a suitable king. I can see in the dark when many of you are asleep. I can protect you from the dangers that lurk in the night."

The other birds looked at the owl with interest. What the owl said was true—its night vision was exceptional, and many of the jungle's predators were nocturnal. The birds began to murmur in agreement. 

"Yes, the owl can see in the dark. That would be a great advantage," said the parrot.

"And it is wise and calm," added the sparrow. "The owl would be a fair and thoughtful ruler."

After some further discussion, the birds finally reached a consensus. They decided that the owl should be crowned as their new king. The day of the coronation was set, and the entire jungle was buzzing with excitement. The birds planned a grand ceremony where the owl would be officially declared their new ruler.

On the day of the coronation, the birds gathered in great numbers. The air was filled with the sweet sounds of chirping, and the trees were decorated with colorful leaves and flowers. Just as the ceremony was about to begin, a crow appeared, flying swiftly into the gathering. The other birds noticed the crow’s arrival, surprised to see him since the crows had not attended the previous meetings.

The crow, who was known for his sharp mind and critical thinking, perched on a branch near the gathering. He looked around and saw the preparations being made to crown the owl. "What is going on here?" the crow asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

"We are crowning the owl as our new king," a nearby bird explained proudly. "The owl can see at night and will protect us when danger strikes in the darkness."

The crow tilted his head and studied the situation. After a moment, he addressed the gathering. "May I ask, why are you all in such a hurry to make the owl your king? Have you truly considered all the consequences?"

The birds fell silent, unsure of what the crow was implying. The crow continued, "The owl may be able to see at night, but have any of you noticed that it sleeps during the day? When most of you are awake and in need of guidance, the owl will be asleep. How will it lead you if it cannot be present when you are in danger during the daytime?"

The birds murmured in surprise. This was something they had not considered.

The crow went on, "Furthermore, the owl is a solitary creature. It prefers to live alone, away from the rest of us. Is this the kind of king we want? A king who stays hidden during the day and is isolated from his subjects?"

The birds began to rethink their decision. The crow’s words had cast doubt in their minds. The owl, who had been proudly waiting for the coronation, was now listening with growing disappointment. 

"And what about Garuda?" the crow continued. "True, he has been distant, but he has never wronged us. He is wise, powerful, and respected even beyond this jungle. Perhaps we should consider giving Garuda another chance before rushing into a decision."

By now, the birds were deeply conflicted. They had been excited about crowning the owl, but the crow’s arguments made them hesitant. After much discussion, the birds decided to cancel the coronation. They would wait and reconsider their options. Perhaps Garuda, despite his busy schedule, would still be the best king for them.

The owl, who had been looking forward to becoming the king, was deeply hurt and angry. It glared at the crow with its piercing eyes and said, "You have insulted me today. Because of you, I will never be crowned king. From this day forward, I declare that owls and crows will be eternal enemies. We shall never be friends."

The crow, realizing the trouble his unsolicited advice had caused, felt a deep sense of regret. He had only meant to help, but in the end, his words had hurt the owl and created a rift between the two species. Feeling remorseful, the crow flew away from the gathering, vowing never to offer advice unless asked for.

The other birds, witnessing the tension between the owl and the crow, felt uneasy. While the decision to cancel the coronation may have been the right one, the unintended consequence of the crow’s interference left a lasting impact on the jungle.

From that day on, the owl and the crow were never on friendly terms. Whenever they crossed paths, they would avoid each other, and their descendants, too, carried the grudge. It became a well-known truth in the jungle that crows and owls could never be friends.

Moral: Do not offer counsel unless asked for.