Play, of the words.

Beneath, between, beyond the lines.

Story of the cucumber and the onion, source unknown.

There lived a cucumber, cool as ever on the outside. Alongside lived a marvelously grown onion, with its many layers. Cucumber and onions were friends, and cucumber often shed tears, unknowingly, for onion, as its took in onion's share of worry and sorrow.

Now one day cucumber seeing onion being in low spirits approached onion and asked: "Onion, what is wrong with you? Do you need some help," and all it got was a 'Yes I'm fine', and a cold shoulder. Cucumber, knowing that it was not the case continued to press on its care and concern for its friend, knowing that he could at least share some of the other's burden. But steadily, his efforts showed to be futile as he was not able to get onion to open up. Besieged by his futile attempts and out of sadness for its friend, cucumber wept quietly and left its friend.

A wise traveller approached cucumber, and asked if anything was wrong. Cucumber gladly shared it's burden with the other.

The traveller thought, and replied: "Well my dear friend cucumber, it is good to be a caring friend and all, but one can't expect to be all knowing and all capable, one after all has his own limits. Be hard and resilient on the outside, face your adversaries and challenges with confidence, but do not be overly soft on the inside; it will only be your downfall. Learn to accept facts as they are, learn from them."

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Pun: Play of words or a phrase to create a specific effect.

The pun after the story.

#1. Aren't onions many layered kind of vegetables, to be opened up? A person could have many layers too, he could open up in different degrees to different people, ultimately it's his choice.

#2. Don't onions make people tear? People weep for those around them, for what reasons however? Because they sympathize? Because they are unable to offer any aid? Because it is not their fight to win as they watch the other struggle and lose?

#3 Aren't cucumbers always hard on the outside, soft on the inside? "Don't be overly soft on the inside" Fancy that. Is it right for us human beings to feel a sense of compassion, to have a streak of humanity and to care? To some, perhaps not.


Regardless, both cucumber and onions are nice to eat, haha. (:
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Even Superman had his share of Kryptonite, why can't anyone have his share of troubles?