THE STORY OF THE WISE MOUSE
Once upon a time there lived a wise mouse in a forest. It had made a nice little hole that gave it not only a good home but protection against enemies. Not very far from that hole stood a big banyan tree. Its numerous branches sent hundreds of creepers to wide swathe of the land below and through them the tree seemed to have been engaged in endless conversation with the mother earth. That space in which the sunlight and shadow, nudged by the blowing wind kept playing hide and seek all though the day, had a regular visitor - a big fat cat. The small wise mouse was aware of its potential enemy and took meticulous care to remain as far away and as invisible from it, as possible. But still on few occasions they sighted each other and on every such occasion the rat disappeared from the cat's sight with alacrity.
One morning, the mouse, few yards out of its hole, and on the way to a nearby human locality in search of food, suddenly heard the voice of the cat, as if appealing for help. The mouse turned to the direction the voice was coming from, its bright eyes shone inquisitively, trying to trace the sender of the SOS. And it saw that it was the same big fat cat trapped inside a large strong net struggling to come out of that strong net, in vain. Sensing that the cat was indeed in great difficulty and could do it no harm, the rat went nearer. The cat described how alongwith several other animals and birds it too was entrapped inside the dangerous net. The cat said that notorious hunter would most certainly kill all of them and sell their hides in the market. Panicky, the cat told the rat to help. 'Please come inside, cut this hell of a net with your sharp beautiful teeth and take me out. I shall remain beholden to you, all my life. Please, dear...'
The wise rat was sent to brooding. 'Don't worry, dear, I won't cause you any harm.Believe me. If you would like to hlp, do it now. Not much time left. That cruel hunter must be on his way to this place. Please dear' As these words were entering into its ears, there was an overriding sound of flapping of two very large wings. Raising head, the rat spotted a large eagle on one branch of the banyan tree taking an aim on it. Now this was an imminent danger to its own life, more immediate than the one posed to the large fat cat.
So the big fat cat and the mouse struck a quick deal. The mouse would enter the trap to the protection of the cat against the eagle and once that threat gone, the mouse will cut the net and both will escape. So the mouse remembered the Almighty Creator of the universe and entered into the trap. And the large fat cat hid the mouse inside its huge bosom. The eagle, unhappy, at this act of disapearance of a certain prey, made some rounds in the blue sky and then left with disgust.
'That bloody bird has flown back. Dear, you come out', the large fat cat told the mouse while releasing from the bossom, 'Hurry up, Start making use of your nice sharp teeth. The hunter is due any moment'. The mouse asked its saviour to hold pateince: 'Sir, not yet the right moment to do that. Have little more patience. Once the hunter is in sight, I would shred this net quick and fast. Worry not Sir, I have checked this net. Let's both exit together after the hunter is arrived.' The mouse had reckoned an early escape could certainly render vulnerable to a potential attack by the fat cat.
A large number of hunting dogs barking menacingly signaled that the hunter was about to arrive on the scene. The mouse went to rapid action and shredded the adjoining net and both escaped unhurt. The hunter retired with rest of the prey. The large fat cat and the mouse bade adieu to each other in haste and parted ways.
The next day morning, as the mouse was just out of its hole about to begin its daily toil, it saw the large fat cat sitting on one branch of the banyan tree beckoning. 'Darling, nice mouse. Yesterday I could n't say enough thanks even. We're now best of friends! Aren't we? Do come, join me. Let's celebrate our grand escape!'
The mouse quickly realized that the large fat cat did not have honorable intention. 'Sire' said the wise rat reverentially, ' the fact remains that the natural relationship between you and me is that of 'eater' and the 'eatable'. The extraordinary circumstances that obtained yesterday made us come together. That perilous situation has since disappeared and that has restored the 'natural' relationship between two. It's therefore better that we remain away from each other, even if friends. Sir, you celebrate from the banyan tree. Let me do it inside my home'. And then, the wise rat quickly entered into its hole.
Once upon a time there lived a wise mouse in a forest. It had made a nice little hole that gave it not only a good home but protection against enemies. Not very far from that hole stood a big banyan tree. Its numerous branches sent hundreds of creepers to wide swathe of the land below and through them the tree seemed to have been engaged in endless conversation with the mother earth. That space in which the sunlight and shadow, nudged by the blowing wind kept playing hide and seek all though the day, had a regular visitor - a big fat cat. The small wise mouse was aware of its potential enemy and took meticulous care to remain as far away and as invisible from it, as possible. But still on few occasions they sighted each other and on every such occasion the rat disappeared from the cat's sight with alacrity.
One morning, the mouse, few yards out of its hole, and on the way to a nearby human locality in search of food, suddenly heard the voice of the cat, as if appealing for help. The mouse turned to the direction the voice was coming from, its bright eyes shone inquisitively, trying to trace the sender of the SOS. And it saw that it was the same big fat cat trapped inside a large strong net struggling to come out of that strong net, in vain. Sensing that the cat was indeed in great difficulty and could do it no harm, the rat went nearer. The cat described how alongwith several other animals and birds it too was entrapped inside the dangerous net. The cat said that notorious hunter would most certainly kill all of them and sell their hides in the market. Panicky, the cat told the rat to help. 'Please come inside, cut this hell of a net with your sharp beautiful teeth and take me out. I shall remain beholden to you, all my life. Please, dear...'
The wise rat was sent to brooding. 'Don't worry, dear, I won't cause you any harm.Believe me. If you would like to hlp, do it now. Not much time left. That cruel hunter must be on his way to this place. Please dear' As these words were entering into its ears, there was an overriding sound of flapping of two very large wings. Raising head, the rat spotted a large eagle on one branch of the banyan tree taking an aim on it. Now this was an imminent danger to its own life, more immediate than the one posed to the large fat cat.
So the big fat cat and the mouse struck a quick deal. The mouse would enter the trap to the protection of the cat against the eagle and once that threat gone, the mouse will cut the net and both will escape. So the mouse remembered the Almighty Creator of the universe and entered into the trap. And the large fat cat hid the mouse inside its huge bosom. The eagle, unhappy, at this act of disapearance of a certain prey, made some rounds in the blue sky and then left with disgust.
'That bloody bird has flown back. Dear, you come out', the large fat cat told the mouse while releasing from the bossom, 'Hurry up, Start making use of your nice sharp teeth. The hunter is due any moment'. The mouse asked its saviour to hold pateince: 'Sir, not yet the right moment to do that. Have little more patience. Once the hunter is in sight, I would shred this net quick and fast. Worry not Sir, I have checked this net. Let's both exit together after the hunter is arrived.' The mouse had reckoned an early escape could certainly render vulnerable to a potential attack by the fat cat.
A large number of hunting dogs barking menacingly signaled that the hunter was about to arrive on the scene. The mouse went to rapid action and shredded the adjoining net and both escaped unhurt. The hunter retired with rest of the prey. The large fat cat and the mouse bade adieu to each other in haste and parted ways.
The next day morning, as the mouse was just out of its hole about to begin its daily toil, it saw the large fat cat sitting on one branch of the banyan tree beckoning. 'Darling, nice mouse. Yesterday I could n't say enough thanks even. We're now best of friends! Aren't we? Do come, join me. Let's celebrate our grand escape!'
The mouse quickly realized that the large fat cat did not have honorable intention. 'Sire' said the wise rat reverentially, ' the fact remains that the natural relationship between you and me is that of 'eater' and the 'eatable'. The extraordinary circumstances that obtained yesterday made us come together. That perilous situation has since disappeared and that has restored the 'natural' relationship between two. It's therefore better that we remain away from each other, even if friends. Sir, you celebrate from the banyan tree. Let me do it inside my home'. And then, the wise rat quickly entered into its hole.
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