पोन्नी, शीला और तोता

Summary

A young girl named Ponni, who sells small items outside a school to help her mother, dreams of attending school herself. She befriends a student named Sheila, who tells her about an old fortune-teller with a parrot that predicts the future by picking cards. Ponni desperately wants to know her own future, hoping for a pink card like Sheila's, which foretold a life of wealth and education. However, her mother cannot afford the fifty paise fee for the fortune-teller. One hot day, Ponni notices the fortune-teller's parrot is thirsty, its water bowl dry, while the old man sleeps. She goes to fetch water, but the cage door opens and the parrot escapes. Ponni tries to wake the old man, but he refuses, accusing her of wanting a free fortune. She then sees a black cat about to attack the parrot. Ponni quickly rescues the bird, bringing it back safely. The old man wakes and falsely accuses her of stealing his parrot. A man watching from his car intervenes, explaining that Ponni actually saved the parrot from the cat. This man is Sheila's father. He recognizes Ponni as the good girl Sheila told him about. He offers to pay for Ponni's education. The fortune-teller then spreads his cards, and the parrot immediately picks a pink card for Ponni, confirming her bright future. Sheila's father promises to arrange for Ponni's schooling, leaving Ponni and her mother astonished and overjoyed.