Long ago, in a lush green forest beside a shimmering river, there lived a clever monkey named Mithu. Mithu spent his days swinging joyfully among the trees, eating sweet, juicy fruits, especially his favorite – red, ripe guavas.
One day, while Mithu was munching on a guava near the riverbank, a crocodile named Kallu emerged from the water. Kallu was huge, with a wide grin that revealed his sharp teeth. But unlike his fearsome appearance, Kallu was polite.
“Hello, monkey,” Kallu said. “You look like you’re enjoying those guavas.”
Mithu, always friendly, replied, “Indeed! These guavas are delicious. Would you like to try some?”
Kallu’s eyes lit up. “Oh, I’d love to, but I can’t climb trees like you.”
Feeling generous, Mithu plucked some guavas and threw them to Kallu, who devoured them eagerly. This became a daily routine. The two animals became good friends, with Mithu offering guavas and Kallu sharing stories of the river’s wonders.
The Crocodile’s Secret Plan
One day, Kallu told Mithu about his wife. “My wife is unwell,” he said. “She says she’d like to meet you. Can you come home with me? She’ll be so happy to meet the kind monkey who shares his guavas!”
Mithu hesitated. He had never left his tree. “But I can’t swim like you. How will I cross the river?”
“Don’t worry,” said Kallu with a wide smile. “You can ride on my back!”
Excited by the adventure, Mithu agreed. He hopped onto Kallu’s back, and they began crossing the river. At first, Mithu enjoyed the cool breeze and the gentle ripples of the water. But soon, Kallu’s grin turned mischievous.
“My dear friend,” Kallu said slyly, “I must confess something. My wife isn’t just unwell; she wants to eat your heart! She believes it will make her healthy and strong.”
The Monkey’s Clever Trick
Mithu’s heart skipped a beat, but he quickly masked his fear. “Oh, Kallu, you should have told me earlier!” Mithu exclaimed.
Kallu was puzzled. “Why? What do you mean?”
“Well,” Mithu explained, pretending to be serious, “I don’t carry my heart around all the time. I leave it in my tree to keep it safe. If your wife wants my heart, we’ll have to go back to get it.”
Kallu, not the brightest crocodile, believed the clever monkey. “Oh! Why didn’t you tell me earlier? Let’s go back to your tree then!”
He turned around and swam back to the riverbank. As soon as they reached the shore, Mithu jumped off Kallu’s back and scurried up his tree. He laughed and shouted, “Oh, Kallu, you silly crocodile! How could I live without my heart? It’s always inside me!”
Realizing he had been tricked, Kallu felt ashamed. “I’m sorry, Mithu,” he said. “I betrayed your trust. Can you forgive me?”
Mithu, still wary, replied, “I forgive you, but I can’t trust you anymore. Go home to your wife and tell her to eat fruits instead!”
The Lesson
From that day on, Mithu and Kallu never spoke again. Mithu stayed safe in his tree, while Kallu learned that deceit can cost you a good friend.
Moral of the story: Trust is precious, and clever thinking can help you escape even the toughest situations.