The three little monkeys

In a village there were three baby monkeys. One small, one medium sized and a larger one. Their parents had gone for work leaving them alone at home. They had a beautiful big bed, decorated with beautiful flowers, and three toys to play. The smallest toy of bunny rabbit was for the smallest monkey and a little bigger toy of a horse was for the medium sized monkey and the biggest car toy was for the biggest monkey to play. Their parents gave them all food and told them to play until their return.

The three baby monkeys played for a long time and got tired and finally they went to the top of the tree to watch the other monkeys playing jumping from tree to tree. They enjoyed watching such scenes. They too tried to jump with them and get practice.

That time a pretty little girl called Dolly came to the monkeys’ house. She went to all the rooms to see the baby monkeys to give an urgent message. Seeing no one around she was disappointed and decided to wait until their return. When she saw their beautiful bed she liked to sleep there and played some time with the three toys. Dolly liked the pink bunny rabbit, the most. When she saw the toy of horse she decided when she grew big she too would ride a horse. She liked the red car toy too. She nursed a desire in her mind that when she grew big she too would buy a similar type of red car and drive in the city. She lay in the bed and decided to rest until the monkeys return. Within minutes she fell asleep.

By then, after playing for a long time, the smallest monkey was falling asleep and the bigger monkey said, “Chottu, don’t sleep here. We’ll go to our house and sleep”.

As they entered the house they got the smell of a human being inside. Within seconds they were shocked to see a girl sleeping on the bed. “Thief! Thief!” they shouted. Three of them together decided to attack her.

Hearing their shouting the little girl got up and smiled at them in a friendly way. “Oh, you’ve come back! Waiting for you I got tired and slept off for some time.”

The baby monkeys didn’t like the way Dolly said. They wondered why she had come to see them. The eldest one looked at her questionably.

“ I’m not your enemy. I’m your friend,” proclaimed Dolly.

“No, you’re not our friend”, shouted the biggest monkey.

“No, dear. I’m your friend. Please believe me,” Dolly assured them with a smile.
The baby monkeys looked at each other. The smallest one held her elder brother’s hand and started crying. He had never seen a human being coming to their house.

“Don’t cry baby monkey. Believe me, I’m your friend.” Dolly repeated.

“Why have you come to our house? This is monkey’s place. It’s not your type of house,” shouted the biggest monkey.

“I’m here with an important message. You’re going to be trapped soon by two men. I overheard them discussing in the market. I thought it is only fair in my part to pass on the message to you,” Dolly whispered to them.

“What!!!!!!!” they said together.

“Yes, I heard them discussing it when I went to the market with my father. So I thought I will warn you to leave this place and go at once. Any moment they will reach here.”

“Why should they trap us?” asked the middle one.

“Don’t you know that? They will keep us in their cage for some days until we become friendly with them. Then they will teach us dancing and order us to play whenever they want us to do, in front of people, and they will collect the money from the crowd. We will be like their slaves in their hands. We’ll miss our freedom and will never see our parents again. They will beat us if we don’t listen to them,” explained the elder monkey.

“C’mon friends. No time to discuss and waste your precious time. Get ready soon to move to a safer place.” Dolly reminded them about the danger.

The monkeys looked at each other wondering where to go. Their parents would reach only by the evening. There’s still about four hours to go. The wicked men could reach any time before that.

Seeing their worried look, Dolly gave them a suggestion. “We’ve a tamarind tree in our backyard. If you guarantee me that you won’t spoil our tamarinds you can move to our tamarind tree right now and you will be safe there. No one will come to our garden without our permission. By then the two wicked men would come and go back disappointedly without seeing you.”

They felt very relieved for finding a safe place so soon. They thanked Dolly for her support and timely help and also apologized for mistaking her.
Dolly accepted their apology with a beautiful smile and advised them to follow her immediately to the safe place.

Within minutes they followed Dolly and reached her garden. While Dolly stood under the tree, they climbed the tamarind tree and sat there watching their house from distance. As expected they saw two men coming with a net to trap the monkeys towards their house. Soon they spread their net under the tree and made a useless effort to chase the monkeys. After waiting for some time they left the place with their net with a great disappointment.

“Thank you so much Dolly for saving our lives.” The three baby monkeys came down the tamarind tree and thanked her.

“No need to thank me. I have already told you I am your friend. Friends should help each other in time of need,” said Dolly. “If you have any time a problem come to this safe place. My tamarind tree will always be there to welcome you.”
She took their hands in token of friendship and went away.

Lame man's story

There was a man who was lame and sick. He lived alone. One day he fell ill and no one was there to take care of him. He was not even able to get up from the bed, to go and cook something.

He remembered he had kept some water in a mud vessel near his bed. He slowly got up to take the water. He removed the paper which was used to cover the mud vessel, and was disappointed to see many ants floating there. Some of them were dead and some of them were in the dying stage. Only one ant was strong and healthy.

The lame man tried to remove them, but he stopped hearing a voice."Please don't disturb us. We want to drink the water before we die."

The lame man did not say anything. He decided not to disturb them, and go back to sleep without drinking the water.

"Are you angry with us?" asked the ant.

"No, I'm not angry with you. Instead I'm happy if I can be of help to you with little water before you die." replied the man.

"Are you hungry?" asked the ant again.

"Yes, I'm. But I'm very sick and helpless now. I will just go to sleep," replied the man in his feeble voice.

"I'm very happy with you. Even sacrificing your own essential water you've helped us. I want to give you something in return," said the lone surving ant. "You'll get enough food now. Eat well and sleep."

The next moment there appeared a plantain leaf on his table, which was filled up with rice and many curries.

The lame man got up from his bed and ate the delicious food to his heart's content. Then he heard another voice, "Hey, good hearted man, you're going to get a good house with beautiful gardens. You're also going to be normal, without being lame.
Enjoy the rest of your life happily."

He could not believe his eyes. His hut was replaced by a beautiful house, and garden. He was able to walk normal and healthy. He thanked the ant for bringing him so much luck.

Story of two Pigeons

There were two pigeons lived in an old building. Their favorite spot was the kitchen windowsill of the building. They went out together whenever they wanted, and returned home whenever they liked. Each time they returned home with lots of food in their beaks.







One day as they were returning home, an eagle was following them, which they did not notice. The next day when they were going out to bring food it was raining heavily. They thought it was not safe to go out in the rain, and they returned home soon, without any food. Making use of this opportunity, the eagle turned up in the windowsill where these pigeons stayed.

“I know how difficult it is for you to stay at home without food in this rain. In my place there is always pile of food. You can come with me and feast on it, and take home as much as you need." The cunning eagle offered his help.

“No, we’re not coming. The rain will stop by evening and then we will go out and get food.”, replied one of the pigeons.

The eagle changed his tone. He pretended to be worried about them.

“So you haven’t heard the latest news? The rain is not going to stop for a week. The monsoon has started in your place. Did'nt any one tell you about this? I heard the people discussing about it and the problem they are going to face due to this.” said the eagle showing his great concern.

His trick worked. The Pigeons believed him and decided to go with the eagle to his place. "One of you come first. My place is a small place, not so big like yours. It is a short passage, and both of you together can’t get in here.”

The older pigeon went with the eagle first, and the eagle ate him with pleasure.
As there was no news of her friend, the she-pigeon sat worried, looking for him. That time the eagle appeared again.

"Your friend is safe in my house, and feasting on the food. You too can come and join him now."

The she-pigeon also went with him and got into the room, where the eagle killed her and ate.

Poor pigeons, both of them fell into the eagle's trap.

Children, what is the moral of the story? Never trust an enemy’s sweet words. Often there lies a danger in his words.

Friends

Arpith and Abhilash were great friends. They went to school together and returned home together. One day, when they were returning from school, Arpith saw something shining on the road.

“Hey, what is this? Let’s see.” He bent down and picked up the shining golden pen lying on the road. Both of them were very excited and looked around and found no one there.

“How lucky we are! It is a golden pen and if we sell it we can get lot of money. Both of us will be able to pay our school fee and buy books,” said his friend Abhilash.

Arpith didn’t like this idea. Since it was a golden pen he didn’t want to share his fortune with his friend. He protested, “How can you say ‘our’ pen? I found it and it is my pen. I will sell it and take the whole money for myself. I won’t share it with you.”

Abhilash got very upset in his friend’s sudden change of attitude. Till then they had shared everything together, and now what happened to him, he wondered. However, he didn’t want to argue with him, and spoil their friendship. “Okay, Arpith. It is your pen and you do what you like with it since you found it”.

The friends continued to walk, and Arpith began to dream about his fortune, with the money he was going to get by selling the pen, and the things he would be buying with it. Suddenly, a man came on the way on a cycle hurriedly and stopped them. “Boys, please give back my golden pen. Otherwise I will call the police.” He demanded.

“It’s not your pen. We got it on the way, and it is our pen,” replied Arpith.
Abhilash looked at his friend in surprise. “Don’t say it is our pen. It is ‘your’ pen since you had picked it up. If you don’t return it to the owner you will take the punishment alone, and not me,” said Abhilash.

Arpith realized his mistake, and regretted for excluding his friend in his good fortune.

Story of a Dog

A farmer had a dog called Brown. He was a good dog and took care of his master and his house. One day, he barked at a stranger who came home. It was actually the friend of the farmer, and he scolded Brown for barking at him.




Brown felt sad and he went out and did not plan to return home. When he reached a hill like area, he decided to take some rest, and walk again later. He saw a fox coming towards him. Brown got frightened and wanted to run away. But he knew that the fox will chase him and kill. So he thought to use his common sense.

“Hello fox, I know you want to kill me. But I am not well today, and my meat won’t be good for you. If you eat me you too will fall sick. Why don’t you wait for a week, and I will be recovering from my fever. Besides, there is also a marriage in my master’s house and I will be getting plenty food to eat. Then I will put on more weight and you will be very happy to have a feast on me. If you are a clever fellow you must understand this,” said Brown.

The fox also felt it as a good idea. He didn’t want to fall sick by eating the sick dog’s meat. If he could wait for a week he would have a great feast on the healthy dog, thought the fox. “Okay. I agree with you. Will you definitely come back after a week?”

“Yes, I will,” replied the dog. The fox went away happily, and returned after a week again to the same spot. He didn’t find the dog anywhere. He knew he was cheated. He went in search of the dog and found him inside his master’s house at the gate.

“Hey, Brown. You’re a cheater. You had promised me that you will return after a week for my feast. Have you forgotten your promise?” asked the fox standing outside the gate.

“Oh, fox. You’re here. What a fool you are! I wanted to escape from your trap and said a lie. As I was sleeping on the way in a lonely place you saw me, and I regretted for having left my master’s house. I learnt a lesson and returned home, and I am very safe here. Now why should I come back and offer myself to you? Will anyone do that?”

Brown laughed at the fox, and then barked at him. When the fox saw his master he ran away.

Chitra and the frog -Part II

Chitra suddenly remembered her promise and told them about it. Then her father understood Chitra’s position and said, “If you have agreed to the frog to come and stay with us for three days, you cannot go back on your words now. Once you give a word to some one you must keep it up.”

Chitra was actually not very happy to let the frog stay in her house for three days. But she thought it was not right to argue with her father, she permitted the frog to stay there.
Each day morning the frog went out to the well and returned in the evening, to stay with Chitra. All the three days he was given food. The third day when he was going back he went to Chirta’s room.

“Chirta, thank you very much for permitting me to stay in your house for three days. I am going back now, but before going, I want to shake hands with you as a good friend,” said Kiran, the frog.

As expected, Chitra was not at all happy to shake her beautiful hand with the frog, but as it was customary she agreed, and extended her hand to shake his hand. As soon as she touched the frog’s hand, surprising every one, the frog turned out to be a young and handsome man!




Stunned, Chitra looked at the young man. The young man smiled at her and folded his hands in gratitude to her. “Thank you Chitra for your hospitality. I was cursed to be a frog in my pervious birth for a mistake by a saint, and was given a boon that if a beautiful girl touches my hand I can get my original form. Because of you my curse was over now and became a young man again.”


Chitra smiled at him and soon fell in love with him. Her parents were too happy to get her married to him.

Chitra and the frog

Once there lived a poor man called Ramdas on the bank of River Periyar. He had a wife and a beautiful daughter. Her name was Chitra. Every afternoon she used to go out with her friends and collect firewood.

One day, as they were returning with the firewood bundles near a pond, Chitra saw a beautiful rose flower and went to pluck it. Suddenly, she slipped on a stone and her firewood fell down to the pond. She started crying as she lost the firewood.



As she continued to cry, she heard a voice from the well.


“Don’t cry, Chitra. I will get you the firewood from the well.”


Chitra and friends looked around wondering who was speaking to them. They found no one there and got worried. Then she heard another voice.

“I’m speaking from the well. Your firewood bundle is in my hand. If you want I can bring it to you.”

Chitra and friends looked at each other and down to the well and saw a frog sitting there on the side of the well with her firewood in his hand.




“Good evening, Chitra. My name is Kiran . If you want I can bring this firewood up and give you back, but you have to agree for my condition.”

“Condition? What condition?” asked Chitra and her friends.

“I want to stay in your house for three days. I will not hurt you. Will you agree to this request?” asked the frog.

“Oh, no problem you are permitted tostay in our house for three days. I will give you even food,” said Chitra gladly.

Chitra had no hesitation to agree for his simple request. After getting her assurance, the frog slowly climbed up the well with the firewood and came up. Chitra was very happy to get her firewood and thanked him. Kiran, the frog stood there watching Chitra walking away chitchatting with her friends.

She sat with her father for dinner in the night, and her mother served them.
That moment she heard a knock at the door. Her mother opened the door and saw a frog standing there. She tried to chase the frog away, but the frog got inside the house and started laoughing. "Chitra, my friend, I came to your house as you had agreed that I can stay in your house for three days", he smiled and said. Both her parents looked at each other, and then at Chitra.


OK, children, will Chitra and her parents agree to Kiran's request? Let us wait for few days to see what happens.

Tomy's story of jealousy

It was Tomy's turn to tell his friends about his day out.


He sat next to Pichu. “Friends, Pichu is really lucky. He had a good day at home. But I had a very bad day,” Tomy began.

“I was very hungry and going from home to home searching for food. No one gave me food, instead they all chased me out. But, to my luck, one old woman, who stayed alone in a hut, was having her lunch. The kind hearted woman gave me some food from the plate she was eating. I ate it happily and gave her a grateful look."



"Good. Then what did she say?" asked Raja, the rooster.




"You're such a nice dog. Will you stay with me? I will give you something special." said, the old lady.

She soon went inside and came back with a bone. She gave it to me, and stood there watching me eat it.

I was too glad to enjoy the bone, and holding it with my teeth ran fast in search of a quite place to sit peacefully, and relish it. But.....

Tomy suddenly became dull. Disappointment crept onto his face.

"What happened then, Tomy? Why are you so upset?" asked Chinky.

On my way, I was crossing a bridge and I noticed another dog in the water with a bone, following me. Actually, it was my own shadow, but I was a fool not to understand it. I forgot about the bone in my mouth and just barked at him.
You know what would have happened then?"

He looked at his friends, one by one.

"You mean your bone fell down to the water?" Raja was too curious.

"Yes, my friend. Exactly, that is what happened. I lost my precious bone, because I was jealous of another dog having a similar bone." He began to cry.
All his friends felt sorry for him, and they looked at each other.


"Doesn't matter, Tomy. You've learnt a lesson now. Not only you, we all have." We learn from our mistakes,” consoled Raja patting on Tomy's back.