Recreated : Panchatantra story : --The Donkey and the crocodile

Once a Donkey  after serving its master was let free to wonder. While wondering it lost its way back home and was wondering in search of its way back to home. It was tired and hungry. Besides this it was afraid where its master will cane him for being late. On its way it found a river. In the river there lived a crocodile family. But without the knowledge if this, it hurried towards the river and drank water and relinquishing its tiredness. At that time a crocodile appeared in the water. The donkey was frightened and taken back. It turned to run back but skipped and fell down. It immediately got up turning back in a frightened look was trying to leave the place. Seeing the plight of the donkey, the crocodile called him “ Don’t be frightened I wont harm you. For I too have a family. It went on pursuing the donkey to listen to it. Since the donkey could not find its way back home, it was confused and finally stopped its attempt of returning home with a hope its master will come and take him back home.

When the donkey stopped the crocodile enquired why he was here. The donkey narrated its story.

“I assure you, by dusk your master will sure to come and pick you up and in the mean time you seems to be very hungry go that side you will find plenty of grasses and weeds, you can have it “ said crocodile.

As said by the crocodile the donkey had its stomach full by that time, its master arrived, he was happy to find him and hugged him joyfully and took him home. The donkey turned towards the river, shook its head as a mark of thanks and farewell to the crocodile. The Donkey was surprised to see the his master instead of beating him up angrily, for his concern towards him. Also crocodiles words coming true and believed that the crocodile is a wise one. Days and weeks passed. Both the donkey and the crocodile used to remember one another but both could not meet each other. Since that day’s incident the donkeys master was alert by not letting the donkey out of his sight. But the crocodile believed that one day the donkey is sure to come to see him. As he was not be able to go to the village to see the donkey.

One day the donkey’s master had gone to a marriage ceremony. The donkey took this opportunity and went to the river to see the crocodile. The crocodile was happy on seeing the donkey. Both of them spoke the whereabouts of each other. Then the crocodile invited him to come every day. The donkey returned assuring his best to come. As assured the donkey started meeting the crocodile they both became close friends.

One day the donkey asked the crocodile to introduce him to his family. The crocodile brought his family and introduced the donkey. When the crocodile asked the donkey to bring his family and introduce him. The donkey’s face fell down, and said : I am a member slave to my master family, I don’t have a family of my own. For the sake of food and shelter I am slogging with my master “

“ I pity you my friend. Well I hope one day every thing will be fine with you “ said the Crocodile

The donkey’ s face was brightened by the crocodile’s hopeful words, as he had blind faith in him. A few days the donkey did not visit the crocodile. When he came to meet the crocodile, he appeared week and pale. The crocodile asked him why he did not turn up for so many days and why he has gone weak?

The donkey replied that he had fallen sick and had no proper food to eat and that he was on medication. The crocodile wished him good health and suggested some medicinal food plants availability on the other side of the bank of the river. For which the donkey said that he cannot cross the river. The crocodile assured him that he will take him there on its back. Though the donkey hesitated for a while thought of the monkeys experience. But the crocodile words made him to go with him.

When the crocodile took the donkey and let him on the other side of the river. The donkey was relieved of its tension. On the way back the donkey which was contented with food was overjoyed and was trying to dance on the back of the crocodile. At that the crocodile was about to loose its balance in the water and warned the donkey to stay still until they reached the river bank. The donkey was irritated by these words but, kept quite as he was aware of, on what it was travelling.

When the crocodile reached the bank of the river, the donkey while getting on the river bank, as an habitual, the donkey lifted its back legs and kicked, the kick wounded the crocodile eyes, which was still on the bank waiting to say farewell to donkey. Out of pain the crocodile screamed loudly and with eyes bleeding. The donkey was horrified to see the entire crocodile family was rushing towards the bank. He made its way towards its village without even enquiring nor waiting until everything is settled.

The Moral of this story is that: Inborn qualities will not vanish. And once when one is content he/she will not bother for others need.