Tuan & Tuin

Once in a village nearby a dense forest a brother and a sister were living. Brother was elder and his name was Tuan and his sister was younger whose name was Tuin. Both teenager brother and sister were 14 and 13 years old. They belonged to a Tribal family. One day their parents had been to a nearby town to sell the paddy farmed by them.

On the same day, there was no firewood to cook. Tuan and Tuin decided to make Chakuli ( the cake made of cereals and rice ) as dinner. So they went into the forest to collect some firewoods. But suddenly a tiger appeared before them while they were cutting the firewood with an ax. The tiger roared with anger and told, " Who are you? How do you dare to disturb me while I was sleeping in my jungle? This jungle is mine. You tress passed into my area I am the king of the jungle and I am hungry. So I will eat you. I like your soft flesh. " After hearing such type of rebuke of the tiger both brother and sister began to tremble with fear. Still, with bravery, they replied, " O Tiger uncle ( mama ) please be kind to us. Never kill us. Tonight we will make a delicious cake. We have no fuel today. Hence we were bound to tress pass into your kingdom. We are telling truth our dear mama. Please allow us to carry some firewood. "

While the tiger listened to such a humble request with a sweet voice he was moved and took pity on Tuan and Tuin. Then the tiger stopped roaring and asked them, " Will you give me some cakes to eat tonight? " They answered humbly, " Yes why not. Please pay a visit to our house. We will keep some special cakes for you. " After that, the Tiger uncle replied gravely, " OK dear chaps take the firewood as many as you want. I now allow you. " Then Tuan and Tuin were happy and collected firewoods. They returned home and made. Chakulis. Tuan prepared Tuin ate. Tuin prepared Tuan ate. Chakuli was so tasty they ate up all and forgot about the promise given to their Tiger Mama. They started thinking and thinking about the fearful consequence. Because when the Tiger uncle would come and knew that there was no Chakuli left for him, he certainly would eat them.

So they made a plan to save their lives. There was a large cooking pot in their house. Immediately Tuan Tuin entered into the pot putting the lid on. At midnight the tiger arrived at their house and knocked at the door. But he was very much angry while there was no response. So he broke the door and rushed into the house. He could not find out both brother and sister. So he was angrier and carried that large pot on his head walked up to his den. Tuan and Tuin sitting inside the pot were very much afraid of the hungry Tiger. On the way to the jungle, as they had eaten stomachful of Chakuli, gas was formed inside. So they wanted to discharge the wind out of their stomachs. Then due to serious nature call i. e. tendency for farting, Tuan told his sister, " Dear Tuin my stomach is now full of gas. I want to fart. But the tiger must know that we are on his head and must eat us. what shall I do " In reply to Tuan's question Tuin told, " Yes brother I am also feeling the same. So let us fart without any sound. " Tuan replied, " OK my dear sister. Your idea is good. Let us start now. At first, you do. " Then Tuin agreed with the suggestion of Tuan, her elder brother, and farted with a low hissing sound. But Tuan farted with a loud bursting sound just like a firecracker... Dhoom Dhan Dho.....The tiger thought that some hunter was firing at him as he was well acquainted with the sound of the gunshot in the past. So the tiger was extremely frightened and threw off the pot and fled away into the dense forest to save his life. Then Tuan and Tuin were out of life risk. So they thanked Almighty God heartfully and came back home happily with a bunch of firewoods. [ One of the very old folk tales of Odisha which we had listened to from our grandparents in our childhood - Children's story ]