The lonely ones

A certain crow was a very good friend of a lonely golden deer in the forest adjoining a village. The crow was known as Kala, the one with a jet black hue.

Kala lived wisely within the forest. This is one reason why the lonely deer whose name was Rana became a good friend.

“The birds and beasts never make friends,” said some animals. But this idea was proved wrong. The crow liked to see his friend deer staying closer to him. So they picked a certain place and had a chat.

Kala would listen to secret discussions of humans, especially the hunters, about snares.

“Don’t go too far into fields where you can find good food,” said Kala, “I’ll let you know where to go. Hunters need your skin.”

“How do you know all that?” Asked the deer.

“I perch on the branches of trees and listen to humans.

They are skilled in making traps to catch beautiful creatures like you. If you like any special kind of food let me know. I’ll find a safe place.”

“Thank you.”

A fox was watchful about the friendship. Fox was also planning how he could eat some deer flesh, which they call venison. Surely Rana is innocent and looks healthy, thought the fox. One fine day he would get caught in a trap.

“If I can afford to lay a plan to bring him up to a trap of a hunter, I will have the chance of having a delicious meal.”

The fox tried to be a close friend of the deer. The crow at a distance saw what the fox was up to.

The fox came closer and closer to the deer and spoke about common matters like What are you doing these days? Do you get good food to eat? Why do you live as a lonely one? Don’t you like to mix with others?

The crow didn’t like the approach of the fox. So he advised the deer. “I don’t want to break any relationship between you and the fox.

But I smell something about his behaviour pattern,” said the crow.

“But he asked me some polite questions,” Rana said.

The crow didn’t want to interfere any more. He kept silent. During the day time the fox once again came to see the deer.

The fox knew that the crow is not to be seen around.

“Where’s your friend the crow?” Asked the fox.

“He has gone to a distant place. But he will come tomorrow.”

“Oh then I can have a chat with you.”

“What’s that you want to chat with me?”

“Do you like to eat mini cucumber?”

“Yes I love to.”

“I know of a wonderful place.”

“How far is it?”

“Not too far if you follow me.”

Rana wanted to taste the sweetness of mini cucumber. “Is it a safe place to go?” Asked the deer.

“Follow me, then the place would be safe.”

Rana followed the path of the fox. Step by step taken Rana entered the field. And all of a sudden without much notice, Rana was trapped in a net.

“Oh this fox has cheated me. I’m caught in a hunter’s trap.”

The lonely deer was bewildered. He shuddered to think of the impending death. The fox was not to be seen.

“This fox has definitely cheated me, I’m scared. Oh my friend, Kala, where are you? Can you come and rescue me?”

Kala did not see any signs of his friend. He felt some disaster. He flew hither and thither. Then he saw his friend caught in a trap.

“I’m here. Don’t worry. Let me see what I can do,” said the crow. Then he saw the fox who planned everything in a hiding waiting to see the hunter coming to kill him.

“With my pointed beak I’ll snap the noose in the trap. But you pretend that you are dead. Lay down like a corpse.”

The hunter was coming with a hatchet in his hand.

“When I caw, get up and run as fast as possible,” Kala advised.

The hunter came closer to the trap and a saw a dead deer lying down. “What a wonderful creature,” thought the hunter.

When he was about to bend down to have a better glimpse, the crow Kala made the cawing sign. Rana got up and ran as swiftly as possible.

He escaped the deadly event. But the fox came out of the hiding.

The angry hunter threw the hatchet held in his hand. It hit the head of the fox.

Needless to say what happened next.