Honest Friendship

So many days back..... that means thousand of years ago! In those days animals and humans were friendly. Now you know that the cat and the rat, the tiger and the deer are enemies. But in those days they were friends.

At that time a dog and a elephant were inseparable friends.

The dog could know the taste of the food just by smell. The elephant had no such capacity. The elephant requested the dog: “You should help me. You should identify which food is good and which is not. You should also tell me which food I can eat and which I can not.” Thenceforth the dog helped the elephant in identifying the good food. 

The elephant happily ate the food as suggested by the dog.

Ramaiah lived in a village nearby the forest. One day he travelled across the forest. He saw the elephant and the dog on the way.

A bad idea was flashed in the mind of Ramaiah.

He thought: ‘We don’t have this type of a dog in our village. Somehow or other I will take this dog with me.’

Ramaiah went near the elephant and the dog.

He said: “ Dear friends! I am happy at your friendship. I too would like to stay with you. Please accept me as your friend.”

The dog replied innocently: “ We are scared of humans. You never keep up your words. You think always selfishly. Even then why should I deny your request?”

Ramaiah said: “No, No. I never do any harm to you. Hereafter let us remain as good friends. OK!”

The elephant and the dog believed the words of Ramaiah wholeheartedly.

One day Ramaiah said to the dog: “ My house is in the nearby village. My wife and children are waiting for me. I will go home and spend two days there. Again I will come back.”

The dog and the elephant felt bad for those words. The elephant said: “Go. But come back soon. Don’t let your word down.”

Ramaiah answered: “If you don’t believe me, send the dog with me. I will show my home to it. By the by I will spend two days with my wife and children.”

He took leave from the elephant and went home with the dog.

The elephant was waiting for the dog and Ramaiah. One month was over. But they had not returned. The elephant stopped eating. It became very weak.

A pigeon on the tree observed all this. It approached the elephant and enquired: “What happened? Why are you so sad? Have you not seen your friend?”

The elephant replied weepingly: “What can I say? One month back Ramaiah took my dog-friend. 

They didn’t return so far. I don’t know about their welfare and whether they are safe or not! Nothing I know. I am missing them a lot. I can’t forget them, I can’t do any work. I want my dog-friend....”

The pigeon said: “I got an idea  Adjacent to our forest, there is a kingdom. The king is very good. I will tell him about this. I will request him to find out your friend.”

The elephant replied: “Please do this help. I will be happy.”

The pigeon flew away to the kingdom. It took the permission of the soldiers to enter into the palace. It stepped into the court and explained everything to the king.

He said: “ I am happy over your love and affection. I will certainly help you.” He made an announcement. The dog and Ramaiah also heard that announcement.

Ramaiah thought: “ I brought the dog with a selfish motive. I did a mistake. If the king knows this, he will hang me. It is better to accept the mistake and hand over the dog to the king.”

Ramaiah went to the palace along with the dog.

Ramaiah said: “Oh King! I committed the mistake. Please excuse me. This is the dog, the friend of the elephant.”

The king felt happy as Ramaiah corrected his mistake honestly. He gave him a gift.

The king handed over the dog to the pigeon and said: “Dear pigeon! If there is no objection for you, the dog and elephant, all of you can stay in my garden. It is my privilege to honour all of you as a token of respect to the true friendship.”

The pigeon felt happy for those words. It said to the king: “ Your Majesty! I will convince the elephant and in case it accepts tomorrow itself, we will come back to you.”

It took leave from the king and went to the forest along with the dog. The elephant became emotional after seeing the dog and the pigeon.

The tears of joy rolled down from its eyes. The pigeon told the elephant about the king’s suggestion. The elephant also felt happy. All the three reached the king’s garden and lived happily ever after.