The Boy And The Cow

After returning from school, Gokul threw school bag aside and ran outside to play with children. Seeing this, his mother, Radha shout, “Gokul, Where are you going. Come in and change your uniform and take your meal.” Unwillingly Gokul went in. His mother was not in good mood. She placed a plate full of rice and curry before him.

After eating meal when he was about to go outside the home, Radha shouted at him, “Where are you going.” He said with some fear, “to play.” She grabbed him by his arm and slapped him twice saying, “You fool, when will you do study?” He began sobbing with pain and fear.

“If you go out to play, I will break your legs,” Radha threatened him and again slapped him. Being slapped he began to weep more loudly. She cried, “Be silent.” He paused for some moments with fear and then began weeping. It was beyond his immature understanding why his mother was angry with him.

In evening when his mother’s anger came down, he went to her and said, “Teacher was asking for fee. Fee for six months is due.” Hearing this Radha looked at him with affection and said, “We will pay it.”

He said, “Otherwise my name will be struck off from the school.”

“Don’t worry about it. Pay attention to your studies.”

Gokul was only son of Radha and Laxman. Laxman was a small farmer. The family of these three members along with a pet cow named Gouri lived at a village where farming was mainly depends on the weather and weather does not always favourable to farmers. Laxman had to work hard in his field and also to do odd jobs to earn the living for his family.

At that night he returned home in drunken state. Seeing him in drunken state Radha began to shout at him, “On the one hand we have no money to pay the school fee of Gokul, You are wasting money on liqueur on the other hand.”

Laxman said, “Who says to you that I waste money on liqueur. It is my friend Karim who bought and offered me liqueur. You know very well that he is my fast friend and drink always with me.” Hearing this she began to murmur and calling bad names to Karim.

The family took dinner silently. The sleep was far away from their eyes. Gokul was lying on the bad closing his eyes. Whenever there was tension in the home it was hard for him to sleep well on time; sleep took much time to come to him.

Lying on the bed Radha said to Laxman, “the school fee of Gokul will have to be paid the fee soon otherwise is name will be strike off from the school. Fee for six months is due.”

Turning his face to her Laxman said, “I will pay it in next two or three days. I will manage to take loan from money lender for it.”

She said, “We have already taken ten thousands from him. How will we pay back to him?”

“Don’t bother about it. I have assured him of paying the loan in next season at the time of harvesting.”

She was not satisfied with his answer. She was worried for the money lender was not a good man and there is a lot of uncertainty about the next season’s harvest. All depends on weather.” A lot of was going on her mind.

Laxman said to her, “I am thinking of selling our cow Gouri. Abdul is ready to give ten thousand rupees for her. Besides it she is growing old. What do you think about selling her?”

She remained silent for a few moments and then said, “Think something else.”

He said, “I would need money for purchasing seeds and pesticides for next season. Selling of Gouri is better than taking loan from money lender.”

She remained silent on his argument. She changed her side and tried to sleep.

Gokul was listening to their conversation lying on the bed. Hearing what his father said he was shocked. Gouri was their pet cow. He was fond of Gouri. From his infancy he had been living and playing with Gouri. He drinks milk, eats curd and butter made from the milk given by Gouri. Gouri is like a member of his family for him. In his point of view selling her for money is wrong.

Next day when he returned home from school found his mother Radha in pleasant mood. He went to her and asked, “Do father want to sell Gouri?” Radha looked into his eyes and said, “Who told you so?” Gokul replied, “I listened to father last night.” Before she could say anything, he said, “Mother, ask father not to sell Gouri. Gouri will live with us.” He paused for a few moments and then said, “Gouri gives us milk. If well sell Gouri, we will have to purchase milk from bazaar.”

Radha said, “I will talk to your father. Now do your homework. Concentrate your mind on your studies.”

At night the family was taking dinner. Seeing Gokul not in good mood and not taking interest in food, Laxman asked him, “What happened to you? Why are you so upset?”

Radha chipped in saying, “He is upset over the issue of selling Gouri.”

Laxman thought for a few moments and then said, “I can feel his emotions, but I am helpless. I have no other suitable option except to sell Gouri. The money get by selling Gouri would help us great in overcoming the financial problems.” He then looked at Radha and said, “So be practical and don’t be unhappy over this issue.” They took rest of the dinner without saying a word to one another. One thing was clear to Gokul that his father was insisted on selling Gouri.

Next evening when he was playing outside with his friends, Laxman called him in and said, “Listen to me my son, not only you but I too am unhappy at selling Gouri. It was very hard to me to take this decision, but to fulfill our needs I have to do so. I promise you whenever in future if I had sufficient money I would bought a cow for you.” Gokul remained silent.

Laxman said, “Abdul will come tomorrow to purchase Gouri.”

Gokul looked at his father and said with smile, “Promise.”

Laxman said, “Yes my son, it is my promise.”

Radha was listening to their conversation from the next room. She came to them and said, “Gokul, you too promise us that you will do your studies hard and will be successful in your life so that you will not have to face these hardships again in your life.”

Gokul responded with enthusiasm, “I promise you to do so.”

Next day Abdul came to buy Gouri. Gouri went away from their life forever. After this event, Gokul began to work hard to get rid of hardships. His father couldn’t fulfill his promise. But Gokul fulfilled his promise and became a rich man. The memories of the cow was still fresh in his memory.