In a small village nestled at the foot of a hill, there was a mischievous boy named Ravi who was known for playing pranks on the villagers. He often got into trouble, but it never seemed to bother him, as he enjoyed the mischief and fun that came with it.

One day, as Ravi was walking through the village, he suddenly had an idea for a new prank. He decided that he would pretend to be in danger and shout for help, just to see how the villagers would react.

So, Ravi climbed to the top of a large rock overlooking the whole village and began shouting, "Lion! Lion! Come, save me!" His voice echoed through the hills, and the villagers quickly began to panic, fearing that a lion had entered their peaceful village.

As the concerned villagers came running to Ravi's rescue, they were relieved to see that there was no lion in sight. However, their relief quickly turned to anger when they realized that Ravi had tricked them. "No lion; I did it only for fun," he laughed, enjoying their annoyance.

The villagers, furious that they had been duped, warned Ravi not to play such dangerous pranks again. They told him that his actions could cause real harm, and that they wouldn't come to his aid if he continued to deceive them. Despite their warnings, Ravi just shrugged off their concerns, convinced that they were overreacting.

A few days later, Ravi decided to play the same prank on the villagers once more. He climbed back up to the top of the rock and shouted, "Lion! Lion!" just as he had before. The villagers, still remembering the previous incident, were hesitant to come to his aid, but ultimately chose to check on him, just in case there was real danger this time.

When they arrived at the rock, they were once again met with Ravi's laughter, as there was no lion to be found. "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me!" they scolded Ravi before angrily returning to their homes. They promised themselves that they would not fall for his tricks again.

With the villagers now wise to his antics, Ravi knew he had lost the element of surprise for his prank. He decided to let some time pass before attempting any more mischief, hoping that the villagers would eventually forget his last two pranks and let their guard down.

Several weeks went by, and life in the village returned to normal. The villagers were no longer on high alert, but they still remembered Ravi's pranks and were wary of any strange sounds coming from the hills.

One day, Ravi was playing near the edge of the village when he suddenly heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. As he turned around, he was shocked to see a real lion emerge from the undergrowth, its eyes locked onto him hungrily. Ravi's heart raced as he realized the danger he was now in.

Terrified, Ravi scrambled back up to the top of the large rock, hoping that the lion wouldn't be able to follow him there. Once he was safely perched on top, he began to shout, "Lion! Lion! Help, there's a real lion this time!"

The villagers, hearing Ravi's cries, were initially skeptical. They believed this was simply another one of his pranks, and they were not eager to be fooled a third time. However, as Ravi's screams grew more desperate, some of the villagers began to wonder if this time, he was telling the truth.

A small group of villagers hesitantly approached the rock, ready to turn back at the first sign of Ravi's laughter. Instead, they found him frantically trying to keep the lion at bay as it snarled and clawed at the rock.

"We have to help him!" one villager cried, but the others were still distrustful, unsure whether this was just another ruse. They argued among themselves, wasting precious time while Ravi's situation grew more dire.

As the lion began to climb the rock, Ravi's fear overwhelmed him. He knew he had no one to blame but himself for the villagers' reluctance to help him. In his heart, he regretted ever playing the lion prank and wished more than anything that he could take it back.

Unfortunately, his wish came too late. The lion finally reached the top of the rock, and Ravi could no longer escape its grasp. The boy fought as hard as he could, but the lion was too strong, and it wasn't long before the beast overpowered him.

By the time the villagers decided to intervene, it was too late. They could only watch in shock and sadness as the lion claimed its prize. As they grieved for Ravi, they couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for not coming to his aid sooner.

However, they also knew that Ravi's deception had been his own undoing. In the end, his lies had cost him his life. The tragic event served as a somber lesson for the village, a powerful reminder of the importance of honesty and the consequences of deceit.

In the years that followed, the villagers would often share the story of Ravi and the lion with their children. They used it as a cautionary tale, instilling the values of truthfulness and trustworthiness in future generations so that they would not make the same mistakes as Ravi.

Though the village would never forget the boy who cried "Lion!", they would also remember the lessons learned from his tragic fate. And so, Ravi's story became a lasting legacy, a reminder of the consequences that come to those who deceive others.