The Clever Farmer and the Mongoose

Once upon a time, in a village nestled at the edge of a dense forest, lived a farmer named Ramu. He was known for his intelligence and wit. Ramu had a loyal pet mongoose named Raja.

One day, Ramu found a tiny mongoose cub crying near his fields. Feeling pity for the orphaned creature, he decided to take it in and raise it as his own. As the days passed, Raja the mongoose grew into a sleek and clever companion to Ramu.

One morning, as Ramu was heading out to his fields, he said to Raja, “Today, I need to plow the fields and plant the new seeds. Guard the house and keep an eye on my chickens.”

As Ramu worked in the fields, he noticed a group of crows cawing excitedly near his house. Worried that they might harm his chickens, he hurried back home. To his surprise, he found Raja with a smeared face, standing amidst a pile of dead crows.

Ramu’s heart sank. He thought Raja had turned against his own kind and killed the crows. Without a second thought, he rushed towards Raja with a stick in his hand. Raja, sensing danger, bolted out of the house and into the forest.

As Ramu returned to the house, he saw a large python lying lifeless on the floor, its body split in two. He realized that Raja had actually saved his chickens from the python’s attack, sacrificing his own image to protect them.

Filled with remorse, Ramu went into the forest to find Raja. He called out his name, but there was no sign of the mongoose. Days turned into weeks, and Ramu’s search seemed in vain.

One day, as Ramu walked by a river, he heard a familiar voice. To his astonishment, he saw Raja perched on a rock. But something was different – Raja had a family of his own, little mongooses playing around him.

With tears in his eyes, Ramu approached Raja and said, “I understand now, my loyal friend. You saved my chickens and your own kin from harm’s way. Please forgive my misunderstanding.”

Raja, filled with happiness at Ramu’s words, forgave him instantly. From that day on, Ramu and Raja lived harmoniously. Raja’s family became an integral part of the farm, helping to keep pests away.

The village soon learned about Raja’s heroics, and he became a symbol of loyalty and sacrifice. The story of the clever farmer and the mongoose spread far and wide, reminding everyone that true friendships are built on trust and understanding.

And so, the legend of Ramu and Raja lived on in the hearts of the villagers, passed down through generations as a timeless tale of compassion and loyalty.