A Fool Befooled

Better not to have a foolish friend. A foolish friend may ditch you unaware. You never know what direct or indirect harm may be caused to you through his innocent follies. It reminds me the story of a monkey and a crocodile.

There was a big lake. On the bank of the lake, there was a Jamun (Jambo) tree ladden with bluish-black fruits. A monkey used to live on that tree. He was enoying the taste of the Jambo fruits. Once a crocodile also came on the bank, perhaps for sun-bathing. He looked up towards the tree and saw the monkey. The monkey also saw him. The knaughty monkey at-once threw some ripe fruits before the crocodile. The crocodile ate them. The fruits were tasty. He thanked the monkey for the fruits. This process of fruits-giving and thanks-giving continued. Gradually they both became friends. They would eat Jambo fruits and then play together.

One day the crocodile desired to take some fruits for his wife who was living in the island in the centre of the huge lake. The monkey gladly collected the ripe fruits and gave him. When she ate the fruits, she was over delighted and asked the crocodile how he managed to get them. The crocodile told her about his friend the monkey. He also added that he lives on that Jambo tree. Mrs crocodile thought for a while that if these fruits are so tasty, the heart of the monkey who eats these fruits daily will be even tastier. She told her husband that she wants to eat the heart of his friend, the monkey. The crocodile said that they are good friends and he cannot do that. He cannot deceive his friend. But she did not agree. She said, ‘You somehow bring him here, I will do the rest.’ Reluctantly and as usual, the crocodile agreed.

Now the crocodile went to the bank of the lake and lay there morose with crocodile’s tears in his eyes. When the monkey came he enquired, ‘Dear friend, why are you crying today? What’s is the matter.’ The crocodile said that his wife wanted to meet him at the island. The monkey said, ‘But I donot know swimming. How can I go there.’ The crocodile said that he will carry him on his back. The monkey was afraid but when the crocodile insisted so much, he finally agreed and sat on his back. He took him to the island in the midst of the lake.

On reaching there, he told humbly, ‘My friend, my wife had tasted those Jambo fruits and liked much. Now she wants to eat your heart, which she hopes will be even more tastier because you eat those Jambo fruits daily. The monkey understood the whole trap. He looked around, there seemed no escape. But he was clever.

He said laughingly, ‘Hey why didn’t you tell me earlier,? I would have brought my heart with me.’ The foolish crocodile questioned, ‘What do you mean?’ The monkey explained, ‘Dear friend, as we jump from tree to tree, here and there, the heart is likely to get damaged. So I keep my heart on the tree at a safe place and do not carry it with me. If you want, we can go back and I will give the heart for your wife.’ The crocodile agreed. The monkey sat on his back and soon they were at the bank. The moment they reached, the monkey took no time to jump and climb the tree. He never looked back.

The crocodile waited and waited and is still waiting with its mouth open.