Zoo

The boy had one green parrot and two white mice and a little white kitten with brown spots and a black dog.

“Clean up your room. Grandpa is likely to reach in an hour. What will he think of you?” his mother scolded him.

The grandpa arrived. He was very eager to meet his grandchild, whom he hadn't seen in ten months.

 “What is all this? Is this a zoo?” the grandpa was taken aback when he entered the boy’s room.

“Dadu, it’s not a zoo. It’s my room and in my room, my rules.”

“My room, my rules,” Grandpa mimicked the boy. “The zoo is as dirty as the zookeeper.” He shook his head and left.

But that night the animals behaved in a strange manner.

When the boy woke up, he was shocked to see the parrot droppings all over his bed. The kitten had chewed his school shoe. The mice had nibbled his school books, and the dog had torn apart his school shirt.

The boy was almost in tears. His grandpa came, “I thought I will have another look at the zoo.”

The grandfather felt sorry for the boy.

“What happened? Why did they create this mess?” the grandfather asked softly.

“Perhaps they were unhappy.”

“Why?”

“Perhaps they didn’t like the way you greeted them yesterday. They all like to be loved.”

“I don’t hate them. I was just making fun of you. I love them. Believe me.”

The grandpa looked at the animals. He smiled and waved at them. “I love you all, boys. I love each one of you,” he said to the animals in a sweet voice.

By evening everything was back to the normal. The boy and his grandpa were playing with animals.

“You are a nice zookeeper and you have a nice zoo,” the grandpa pinched the boy’s chubby cheek.

*******

A post for A to Z challenge.

Today’s letter Z

You may like to read my earlier post here Years Gone By

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years Gone By

I am often scared to look back.

For whenever I look back

I see nothing but years gone by.

The memories are clouded and jumbled.

And they leave me confused.

‘Did I really visit that place?

Or did I dream about that place?

How did I spend my days when ten or fourteen?

How did days pass when school was off?

Did I have any friends in neighbourhood or school?

Did I play games or just went around like a fool?

What did brothers do when they were kids?

Did we fight or have fun like silly kids?

Did mother have time for us or was she always immersed in chores?

Did father talk to us or was he too busy making both ends meet?’

The memories are endless and leave me confused.

I can’t figure out reality from dream

If I look back, I only see an endless stream.

**********

A post for A to Z challenge. This one is just random rambling.

Today’s letter Y

You may like to read my earlier post here Xerus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Xerus

The squirrel received a telegram early in the morning. She got super excited when she read the message. She rushed to her neighbour’s house and loudly knocked at the door. The rabbit was her neighbour.

He opened the door and asked, “What’s the matter? What’s happened? Is everyone fine?”

“My friend, Xerus, is coming! She is coming from Africa. I am so happy. We are meeting after ages,” said the squirrel.

“Oh! The way you were knocking I thought your house was falling.”

“You don’t know how happy I am? I love my friend. I love Xerus.”

“Good. It would be nice if we could meet your friend. I think you should have dinner with us tonight,” the rabbit felt happy for his neighbour.

“No, I would host a party in the evening and invite all my friends. Yes, that would be a great idea. You can all meet Xerus and we will have some fun games too.”

The squirrel invited all her friends.

In the evening when her friends arrived at her home, she introduced Xerus to all of them.

The deer looked at Xerus with knitted eyebrows.

“Xerus? I think she is just a squirrel like you. Only she has no stripes.”

“I am not a squirrel,” Said Xerus proudly.

“No…...,” said the deer.

But the rabbit interrupted the deer and said, “How does it matter? She is our guest and we should all respect her and not argue with her.”

“Yes, let’s enjoy the sumptuous dinner that I have arranged for all of you. And after dinner, we will play games,” the squirrel said.  She was super excited.

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” everyone shouted.

And they all had a wonderful evening.

When the squirrel’s friends were leaving, the deer again looked at Xerus with knitted eyebrows, “Are you sure, you aren’t a squirrel?”

“Not again!” everyone shouted and laughed at the deer.

******

A post for A to Z challenge

Today’s letter X

You may like to read my earlier post here Well

 

  

 

Well

“Dadu, what’s a well?”

Old man looked curiously at the boy. “A well! It’s deep hole dug in the ground. People draw water from a well.”

“Don’t they get water from the taps?”

“Yes, in many places people don’t get water from the taps. Well’s water is also used for irrigation by some farmers.”

“Have you seen a well? Was it very deep?”

“Yes, I have seen one. When I was your age, we lived in Srinagar. There is a temple on the Residency Road where I saw a well. It is narrow and very deep.  But its water was very tasty. I don’t think any other water tastes like that.”

“How can anyone live in a well?” the boy surprised his grandpa with this question.

The old man looked at the boy, his eyebrows knitted together.

“Who lives in a well? You mean that ghost? Has he not moved to the banyan tree?”

“No, the monkeys don’t allow him to live on that tree. He is very sad and unhappy.”

“Did you meet him again? And did you give him your tiffin again?”

The boy made a face and just nodded.

“You seem to have become friends?”

The boy again nodded.

“I think I would like to meet this ghost. Perhaps I can help him to move to the banyan tree.”

“No!” the boy almost shouted. He looked flustered. “He is a very shy ghost. He will not meet you.”

The grandfather smiled. He knew that the little boy was up to some mischief.

*********

A post for A to Z challenge

Today’s letter W

You may like to read my earlier post here Violet Vase

 

 

 

 

 

 

Violet Vase

The phone rang. Rinkoo, the monkey, picked up the phone promptly.

“Rinko, I have lost my violet vase,” said the rabbit. Rinkoo could feel that the rabbit was badly upset.

“Relax, just search for it carefully. You may have forgotten where you had kept it.”

“No, I haven’t misplaced it. It has been stolen. You know, yesterday I hosted a dinner party. Many guests had attended. Some workers had also come to help the arrangements. Someone must have stolen it.”

“Is it very expensive?”

“No, it is not expensive. But I love that flower vase. I must have it back. Please find it for me.”

“Send me a list of all those who were present in your house yesterday. And a picture of the vase.”

The rabbit sent him the list.

Rinkoo looked at the list and mumbled, “They could be the culprits. But how do I catch them? Yes, I think I know. They are very greedy fellows. Yes, that’s it; greed is the  key.”

Next day an advertisement appeared in all local newspapers along with a picture of the violet vase.

‘I am a collector of rare historical items. I am looking for a Violet Vase from the Mughal era. I am willing to pay a generous price for this valuable item. Please contact me on 8686868686. The identity of the seller will be kept confidential. All payment will be made in cash.’

Two days later Rinkoo received a call from an unknown number.

“I know a person who has the item you want to buy. How much are you willing to pay?”

Rinkoo smiled. He knew that the thieves had taken the bait.

“If the vase is in a good condition, I would pay five lakhs. But if there is any scratch on it, it is of no use to me.”

“No, no. It is in a very good condition. But I think owner would not be willing to sell it for less than ten lakhs.”

“That’s more than a generous amount. Let me think it over. Call me after one hour.”

Exactly after one hour Rinkoo received a call from the thief. Rinkoo agreed to buy the vase.

“Where should we meet?” Rinkoo asked.

“I have to leave by a train at one. Why don’t you come over to the railways station? We can conclude our business and then I can board my train.”

Rinkoo agreed, “But how will I recognise you?”

The caller fell silent. Rinkoo suggested, “I will wear a violet hat. You also come wearing a violet hat.”

“That’s very clever of you. I agree,” said the caller.

At the railway station, Rinkoo came wearing a violet hat. But he was not alone. The rabbit and a police officer were with him. But the two were hiding behind a pillar.

Rinkoo looked around. There was no one there wearing a violet hat. But then Rinkoo saw the wolf entering the railway station, wearing a violet hat.  The jackal was behind the wolf. Rinkoo approached them.

“I am the collector of rare items. Can I see my item? I have an expert with me who will check and verify if it is a Mughal-era vase.”

The wolf opened a box and gave him the violet vase. The rabbit appeared from behind the pillar and took charge of the vase. He examined it and said, “Yes, this my vase.”

Suddenly, the police officer came forward and handcuffed the wolf.

“What does this mean? Why are you handcuffing me?” Wolf growled.

“This means that you are a thief and this is a stolen item,” said the police officer.

“No, I am not a thief. I didn’t steal it. Jackal stole it…”

“But you are his partner-in-crime,” said Rinkoo. At that moment the jackal tried to run away but the police officer caught him.

The rabbit was very happy getting back his violet vase.

“You should have known that it is not a very expensive vase,” Rinkoo said to the thieves. “Why would anyone pay you ten lakhs for such an ordinary vase? It was a trap and you fell for it,” said Rinkoo.

The wolf and the jackal knew that they had been outwitted by the monkey. But now, they could only rue their fate.

********

 

A post for A to Z challenge

Today’s letter V

You may like to read my earlier post here Umbrella.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Umbrella

One day a baby elephant found a colourful umbrella.

He rushed to his grandma and showed her the umbrella.

He looked at his grandma and said,

“Why do people use an umbrella?”

Grandma felt a little confused.

‘Where did he get this funny thing?’ she mused.

Then she answered in a voice sweet and soft,

“Whenever it rains at night or in the day,

Men use umbrella to keep the rain away.

They are so scared of getting wet,

It makes them sneezy and sick, I bet.”

Baby elephant thought it was funny,

“How can anyone be scared of rain?

How can anyone get sick in rain?

I love the raindrops, all and one,

Getting wet in rain is such a fun.

I don’t think I need an umbrella.”

And he flung away the colourful umbrella.

********

A post for A to Z challenge

Today’s letter U

You may like to read my earlier post here Tiger’s Tale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tiger’s Tale

Tiger looked at the animals who had assembled to listen to the next episode of his tale.

There were two monkeys, one jackal, two deer, one elephant, one giraffe, one bear, a pair of wolfs, one buffalo, a few rabbits and some small animals.

“What was the incident about my tail that I narrated yesterday?” the tiger asked, unexpectedly. He just wanted to have some fun.

“You said that the hunter had caught hold your tail with his bare hands,” one monkey said.

“No. You had said that your tail got stuck in the iron trap,” the jackal said.

The tiger growled angrily.

“I always suspected that you do not come here willingly and do not listen to my tales attentively. Now, I know for sure that you are not listening, not at all,” said the tiger.

“No, no. We are all ears, all the time. Please don’t be angry with us. We hear very attentively,” said the elephant.

“You don’t even know the difference between hearing and listening.  What innocent fools you all are,” said the tiger.

“For me it is one and same thing. What I hear, I listen. What I listen, I hear,” said the buffalo and laughed loudly.

“Well, if that is so, then from tomorrow onwards, I will ask you questions about the tales I tell you. Anyone who gives a wrong answer will become my next meal,” said the tiger in a loud tone.

Everyone in the assembly was taken aback. They looked at each other. Even before the tiger could start his tale, almost every one vanished.

Only a few squirrels kept sitting. They were happily munching the nuts they had brought with them.

“Why did everyone run away? I was only trying to have some fun,” he asked the squirrels.

“Perhaps they don’t have much sense of humour,” said one squirrel.

“Perhaps!” and the tiger left for his hill.

And, thus ends the tiger’s tale.

**********

 

A post for A to Z challenge

Today’s letter T

You may like to read my earlier post here Scent of a Thief

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scent of a Thief

“I can catch a thief even if he does not leave any clue at the crime scene,” bragged Rinkoo, the monkey. The bear and the giraffe and the jackal looked at him in surprise.

“What is a clue?” asked the giraffe innocently.

“Anything like, a fingerprint, that helps a detective to catch a criminal.” Said Rinkoo.

“If there is no clue then how can you catch him,” asked the bear.

“Every thief leaves his scent at the crime scene. I can smell the scent of a thief and catch him.”

The monkey looked at his friends proudly and they were all impressed.

Few days later, the monkey got a call early in the morning. Someone had broken into the house of the fox.

The monkey rushed to the fox’s house.

“What things have been stolen?” he asked.

“Well, the thief has taken away some jewellery and some cash and even my brand-new shoes.”

“When did you learn about the theft?”

“In the morning, when I came back from my morning walk, at about five. The main door was open. I knew something wrong had happened.”

“When did you leave for the walk?”

“I go for my walk early in the morning. I get up at three thirty and leave by four.”

“Someone must have known your schedule and he must have broken into your house between four and five. Don’t worry I will catch the thief.”

The monkey searched everything carefully. He noticed a strange smell in one room. It was the smell of dried fish.

“Well, that is a good clue,” thought Rinkoo.

Just then the jackal came. The fox had called him. They were neighbours.

“Did you get the scent of the thief?” the jackal asked eagerly.

“I think so,” Rinkoo answered.

“Let’s catch the thief,” the jackal said enthusiastically.

But the monkey did not encourage him, “You leave it to me.”

Rinkoo recalled that he had seen the wolf buying dried fish in the market. He went to the wolf’s house said, “Where have you hidden the stolen things?”

“What do mean? You think I am a thief?” the wolf growled angrily.

“You can’t fool me with your bravado. You are the thief who….”

The wolf quickly grabbed the monkey by his neck, “How dare you call me a thief?”

“Because you bought dried fish yesterday, you stink of fish and you left that stink in the fox’s house when you broke into his house and….”

The wolf interrupted him, “There is a stink in his house because I gave half of the dried fish to the fox.”

The jackal and the fox had followed Rinkoo to the wolf’s house.

“He is right, he gave me some dried fish yesterday,” said the fox.

Suddenly the jackal laughed loudly.

“We had planned to make a fool of you,” said the jackal to the monkey. “Nothing has been stolen; no thief had broken into his house. But still you got the scent of a thief. Isn’t that wonderful? What a great detective you are?”

The wolf and the jackal and the fox laughed at the monkey.

The monkey was too embarrassed to say anything; he just ran away.

***********

A post for A to Z challenge

Today’s letter S

You may like to read my earlier post here Rats

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rats

In the beginning there were only a few rats. No one took any notice of them. After a few days there were hundreds of rats and after a few weeks there were thousands of rats.

Every animal of the forest was unhappy. Rats had made their life miserable.

The lion convened a meeting. The monkey thought that he was wisest of them all. He said, “I know a man who lives in the nearby town. When he plays his flute, all the rats of the town follow him.”

“That happens in a story, I have read it,” said the bear.

“That story is about this man. If we invite him, he may help us,” the monkey said.

“Why would he help us?” asked the lion.

“We may have to pay the price he demands. I will meet him and find out his price.”

“Do it, immediately,” the lion said impatiently. Rats were everywhere in his cave.

The monkey came back from the town next day. “He just wants a selfie with you,” the monkey informed the lion.

“Just a selfie?” the lion thought for a moment. “He can take a selfie if he can rid this jungle of all these dirty rats.”

“But he wants a selfie riding….”

“He wants to ride a lion?” The lion glared at the monkey.

“He will get millions of views on his post if…...”

“Every fool nowadays is after cheap publicity. Go ahead and ask him to come immediately.”

The man came.

All animals were curiously watching him. He uncovered his flute pompously and started playing it.

As the sound of his flute floated in the forest, the rats came out of there holes and started gathering around him.

In the beginning there were a few rats. After a few minutes, there were hundreds of rats. After a few minutes more, there were thousands of rats around him. All rats were attentively looking at him and listening to the music.

The man started walking slowly towards the river.

But not one rat followed him.

He kept walking and playing the flute.  But the rats didn’t move, not even one step forward.

Exasperated the man shouted, “Why aren’t you all following me? Can’t you hear the sounds of music?”

Rats remained silent. Then one rat said, “That happens only in a fairy tale.”

The rat laughed loudly. All the rats started laughing.

The flute-player looked crestfallen. He saw the monkey growling at him.

“They will follow me; just wait and watch.”

But the rats kept laughing at him.

The lion was angry. He roared furiously and the flute-player ran for his life.

****

A post for A to Z challenge

Today’s letter R

You may like to read my earlier post here Queen

 

 

 

 

 

Queen

“Queen is missing…Queen is missing,” the man could hardly speak. He was so scared. 

The king was shocked to learn that his dear Queen had gone missing.

“Listen to me very carefully, if you fail to find Queen by sunset then I will have each one of you beheaded.” The king was looking fearsome when he said these words.

All the king’s men ran helter-skelter. No one knew where to look for Queen. Some searched for her in the rooms, some men searched on the roofs and some men searched in the lawns and gardens.

The king was pacing his room like a caged tiger. No man had ever been beheaded in his kingdom. Even the worst criminals were not given harsh punishment. He was angry with himself for having given such a cruel order. But he had decided that he would punish everyone if they did not fined Queen before sunset.

Suddenly, someone thought of talking to Milki. Milki was very old and almost blind; but age had not rusted his brains.

Milki thought for a moment and asked, “What does she like to eat?”

“Chicken sausages. She would do anything for chicken sausages.”

“When was she last given chicken sausages?”

No one knew. 

Milki suggested that they should keep fresh chicken sausages at different places on each floor of the palace.

Just before sunset, a person on the top floor saw Queen appearing from nowhere. She silently walked to the dish containing sausages.  The person approached her silently like a tiger and very carefully picked her up.

Sun was about to set and everyone was terrified. But the man who was carrying Queen ran to the King’s Chamber.

The king jumped from his throne.

“My darling, my daring! Where did you go? Where were you hiding? Why? You don’t know how I missed you!”

He kissed and patted his beloved dog and smiled at the man who had found her. Everyone heaved a sigh of relief.

The king too was greatly relieved; he would not have to behead any of his men. 

********

A post for A to Z challenge

Today’s letter Q

You may like to read my earlier post here Pumpkin Boy

 

Pumpkin Boy

Once upon a time, in a far-off village, lived a boy who was very poor. He had no one to look after him and no home to live in.

He helped people in their daily chores and they gave him food to eat and a place to sleep. Sometimes he slept in a house, sometimes on a farm and sometimes in the open, under a bench or a bush.

One day he helped a farmer to water his plants. But the farmer was a wicked person. He didn’t give the boy anything; not even a small piece of bread crumb. Instead, he picked a small pebble from under a tree and gave it to the boy, “Take this seed and plant it somewhere. One day you will become rich and famous.”

The boy was sad and disappointed. He had not eaten anything since morning. Tears fell from his beautiful, sad eyes.

“Why are you crying?” asked an old woman.

The boy looked at her. He had never seen her in the village.

He recounted his story.

“Let me see that pebble,” she said. The boy gave her the pebble.

“Are you hungry? Take this apple and eat it.” She gave him one apple. Then she closed her eyes, muttered some words and blew on the pebble. She smiled at the boy and said, “I think the farmer was right. Plant this pebble somewhere.”

“But where should I plant it? I am homeless,” the boy liked her smile.

 “You can stay in my hut and plant this pebble in the backyard.”

He followed her to her hut, which was in an isolated place outside the village. He planted the pebble in the damp soil behind the hut.

Next day he saw a small sapling where he had planted the pebble. He rushed in to tell the old woman. But she was not in the hut.

By afternoon the sapling had grown into a large creeper. By evening, one flower was blooming on the plant.

Next morning, the boy saw a large pumpkin on the plant. He wanted to tell everyone about this pumpkin. He plucked the fruit and took it to the wicked farmer.

The farmer thought the boy was making a fool of him. “Since I gave you that pebble for free; I will take this fruit as a gift from you.” And he snatched the pumpkin.

The boy felt hurt. He was unhappy that he had lost his pumpkin. But when he reached the old woman’s hut, he was astonished to see another large pumpkin on the plant.

This time he took the pumpkin to the carpenter who happily bought it and gave him a fair price.

Within a week he had sold more than fifty big and delicious pumpkins. Every time he plucked one fruit, another would grow on the plant within no time. And in the village, everyone was talking of delicious pumpkins that the boy was growing.

The wicked farmer got jealous of the boy. One day he insulted and abused him and called him a pumpkin boy.

But the boy did not feel insulted. In fact, he started calling himself the pumpkin boy.

And soon he was rich and famous. 

But he knew that he owed his fortune to the mysterious old woman who had turned the wicked farmer’s pebble into a magic pumpkin seed.

*********

A post for A to Z challenge

Today’s letter P

You may like to read my earlier post here Orange Peels

 

 

 

Orange Peels

Rinkoo monkey was a great detective.

One day Teetoo bear called him early in the morning. “Rinkoo, please come, quickly. Someone has stolen my blue diamond,” Teetoo bear said.

“You had a blue diamond?”

“Yes, my grandfather gave it to me on my fifth birthday. But now I have lost it.” He seemed to be in tears.

Rinkoo almost came running to Teetoo’s place.

“Where did you keep the diamond?” Rinkoo asked

“In the refrigerator.”

“Are you making fun of me. Who keeps a diamond in a refrigerator?”

“My grandfather had told me that a blue diamond must be stored in cool place. He himself kept it hidden in an icebox. We didn’t have refrigerator at that time.”

Rinkoo opened the refrigerator and carefully examined every item that was in the refrigerator. “One water-melon, two muskmelons, three apples, five orangs…….”

“No, there are six oranges,” interjected Teetoo.

Rinkoo recounted the oranges. “No, you are wrong. There are only five oranges.”

“What! The thief has also stolen one orange,” shrieked Teetoo.

“Where is everyone?”  Rinku asked.

“Wife is not here. She has gone to her mother’s place. Seetoo is in his room and Buntoo is in the guest room.”

“Who is he?”  

“He is Seetoo’s friend. He stayed here for the night.”

But Buntoo was not in the guest room. 

Seetoo was still sleeping. Teetoo jolted him harshly.

“Buntoo left early in the morning. He had  received a call from his father. I think his mother is unwell,” Seetoo said annoyingly: he was still half asleep.

Rinkoo said, “I don’t like it. Buntoo must have opened the refrigerator and perhaps…...”

“I can’t believe it, he such a nice boy,” Teetoo said.

“Let’s go and talk to Buntoo.”

They rushed to Buntoo’s house. His father opened the door.

“But Buntoo has not come back yet,” said his father.

“Is his mother unwell?” asked Rinkoo.

“No.”

At that moment Buntoo reached his home. He was taken aback when he saw Teetoo and Rinkoo talking to his father.

“Are you sure that diamond is real?” Rinkoo asked abruptly.

Buntoo was unable to say anything for a few seconds. He finally muttered, “Which diamond? I don’t have any diamond.”

“Was the orange sweet?” Rinkoo asked.

Buntoo was flustered. “I don’t know? I didn’t eat any orange.”

“You did eat one orange. I saw orange peels under the bed in the guest room.”

Buntoo felt cornered. “Yes, I remember now. I had brought one orange with me….”

“You took that orange from the refrigerator and when you were taking it out you saw something hidden in the refrigerator. Be a good boy and return the diamond to Teetoo.”

Buntoo could see that his father was very angry. “I am sorry, I should not have taken that diamond,” he said meekly.

“If you promise that you will never ever do such a thing again, I will not report the matter to police. And I will request your father not to give any harsh punishment to you.”

“I promise…I promise Papa.” He handed over the blue diamond to Teetoo. Buntoo’s father looked rather disappointed.

Rinkoo had done it again. He was surely a great detective.

********

A post for A to Z challenge

Today’s letter O

You may like to read my earlier post here Nine

 

 

 

Nine

Nine little birds were sitting on a tree

Eight were quiet but one was carefree

Seven glared at the one who loved to dance and sing

Six were in no mood to laugh and grin

Five turned and looked up at the deep blue sky

Four always dreamed of flying very very high

Three were naughty and loved to mock others

Two were alike for they were brothers

One carefree bird was dancing and singing loudly

Nine little birds lived freely and proudly.

*******

A post for A to Z challenge

Today’s letter N

You may like to read my earlier post here Mango Grove

 

Mango Grove

A group of mischievous monkeys lived near a river. They all loved to eat fruits. But most of the trees near the river did not bear fruits.

One day, one of the monkeys spied a mango grove at some distance from the river. Every tree in the grove was full of sweet and juicy mangoes. He stealthily jumped over the fence and climbed the nearest tree. He started picking and eating the mangoes. The mangoes were very delicious.

Back in the group, he told everyone about the delicious mangoes that he eaten.

Every monkey wanted to rush to the grove but an old monkey cautioned them. “Let’s not be greedy and let’s us not all rush to that grove. I have seen that grove. And I also know that it is well protected. There are many guards and they are all fearsome. Anyone who gets caught gets a good thrashing.”

“But there must be some way to get those mangoes?” asked Ruskee, a young monkey, who was very eager to become the leader of the group.

“I suggest only six of us should go there around noon time when guards normally take their lunch. Two monkeys should keep an eye on the guards and the remaining should quietly pick mangoes. Once you have picked about thirty mangoes you should leave that place noiselessly. Every one will get one mango to eat.”

Some monkeys were not happy with this scheme and they started grumbling. Ruskee looked at the old monkey angrily.

“Do as you want, but you will repent if you are not careful,” said the old monkey.

Six monkeys including Ruskee went to mango grove. Ruskee and Minnti decided keep an eye on the guards and the remaining four started plucking mangoes.

But Ruskee was not keeping an eye on the guards. He had quietly climbed a mango tree. He plucked a mango and started eating it. It was very juicy and sweet. He could not resist saying, “This is the finest mango I have ever eaten.” And he had said these words so loudly that the guards heard him.

“Monkeys!” shouted one guard. All the guards jumped at once and started chasing the monkeys.

The monkeys dropped the mangoes and ran away. But Ruskee was very greedy. He did not drop the mangoes. He was holding one mango in each hand and one in his mouth.

Of course, he could not run and jump over the fence. Other five managed to escape.

The guards caught and gave him a sound thrashing and then threw him into a filthy ditch.

The old monkey was watching from a distance. He took pity on Ruskee and helped him to get out of the filthy ditch.

“You should have listened to mee.  Greed always leads to misery and pain.”

Ruskee was in tears. But he had learnt his lesson.

*****

A post for A to Z challenge

Today’s letter M

You may like to read my earlier post here Lemons

 

Lemons

The bear came rushing like a wind. The monkey was leaving for the market. The bear crashed into the monkey as he stepped out of his house.

“What’s the matter?” the monkey shouted. “You almost broke my back.”

“Please help me! I am undone! They have come! Again!” the bear appeared terrified.

“Just calm down and tell me what has happened? Who have come?”

“No, no…... we can’t wait. Come with me, right now. Let’s also ask the elephant and the giraffe to come with us,” The bear said, huffing and puffing like a steam engine.

The monkey requested the elephant and the giraffe and they all accompanied the bear to his house.

As the entered bear’s house, the monkey and the elephant and the giraffe looked around. They were watchful and alert.

There was no one in the bear’s house.

“I can’t see anyone here? Not even a fly?” the monkey asked.

“Look at that tree? Can’t you see anything?” the bear said, hiding behind the elephant. He was pointing to a tree in one corner.

“I don’t see anything on that tree except the lemons?”

the elephant said.

“Yes, yes. Please do something, quickly. I am so scared!” said the bear.

“Are you making a fool of us?” asked the giraffe in an angry voice.

“You don’t understand? These lemons are an ill omen. I am undone. Please help me.”

The monkey smiled.

“Big brother,” he said to the elephant. “This is one of his usual pranks. I should have known that he is up to some mischief.”

“Well,” the elephant caught hold of the bear by his neck. “He had gone too far this time. I think a little punishment will do him some good.”

The bear laughed loudly. He had again played a prank and made a fool of his friends.

But he didn’t know what was coming.

The elephant was in no mood to let him off lightly. He thought for a moment and looked at the lemon tree, “Let’s feed him some lemons.”  

The monkey laughed and plucked some lemons and pushed them into the bear’s mouth.

Giraffe too brought some lemons and thrust them into the bear’s mouth and said, “You are right, my friend, lemons are an ill omen.”

“That’s enough,” said the elephant looking at the bear’s tearful face. “Enough ill omen for the day.”

The elephant and the monkey and the giraffe laughed loudly.

The bear, his mouth full of lemons, looked pitiful.

********

 

A post for A to Z challenge

Today’s letter L

You may like to read my earlier post here The King and the General