Once, in a dense jungle where animals lived with great love and camaraderie, there was a beautiful and large pond. In this pond lived a crocodile. The area around the pond was adorned with numerous fruit trees, and a monkey resided on one of these trees. The monkey and the crocodile were great friends.
The monkey would eat the sweet and delicious fruits from the tree and would also share them with his friend, the crocodile. The monkey took good care of his friend, and the crocodile, in return, would carry the monkey on his back, gliding through the entire pond.
Days passed, and their friendship deepened. The monkey, who shared the fruits with the crocodile, also shared some of them with the crocodile’s wife. They both enjoyed the fruits with great relish.
After many days, one day, the crocodile’s wife expressed her desire to taste the monkey’s heart. She insisted that the crocodile bring her the monkey’s heart to eat. Despite the crocodile’s attempts to dissuade her, she remained adamant.
Feeling torn between his friend and his wife, the crocodile decided to reveal the truth to the monkey. He told the monkey about his wife’s demand and explained the dilemma he faced.
The monkey, upon hearing this, thought for a moment and said, “Dear friend, why didn’t you tell me earlier? I carry my heart with me all the time, and it is on the tree. Let me fetch it for your wife.” The monkey then climbed the tree, plucked his heart (an expression for the core of a banana), and handed it to the crocodile, who took it to his wife.
When the crocodile’s wife saw the “heart,” she realized the monkey’s cleverness. She understood that he had outsmarted her, and the crocodile explained the entire situation to her. From that day on, the crocodile and the monkey continued their friendship, and the crocodile’s wife learned to appreciate the bond of true friendship.
Moral of the story: The story teaches us the importance of wit and cleverness in overcoming challenges. It also emphasizes the value of true friendship that withstands difficulties and tests of time.
