Friday, January 15, 2016

short story: MONGOOSE AND THE LADY

Copyright@shravancharitymission

By Kamlesh Tripathi







    A farmer had a mongoose as a pet in his house. The mongoose was very clever and loyal to his master. One day the farmer had gone out on business. And his wife after feeding the baby and putting him off to sleep left for the nearby well to fill water in her pitcher. She was relaxed as the mongoose was to there to guard the baby.

    After she left for the well a black snake came out from the nearby hole, close to where the baby was sleeping on the floor. The snake started inching towards the infant. On seeing this, the mongoose pounced on the snake to attack him. In the fight that ensued, the mongoose tore the snake into pieces and killed it. He then went to the main door of the house and started waiting for the farmer’s wife.

    The farmer’s wife soon returned after filling her pitcher when she saw the mongoose lying near the doorstep. But on seeing blood in his mouth she thought he had bitten her baby. She felt saddened and angry for a moment. And then in a fit of rage she through the heavy pitcher full of water on the mongoose. Poor mongoose could not withstand the impact of the loaded pitcher and died on the spot.

    Farmer’s wife ran inside in panic but only to find that her baby was peacefully sleeping, but close by, a dead snake was lying that was killed by the mongoose. The lady realised her mistake. She ran towards the dead mongoose and held it in her arms and started weeping. But by then it was too late. And that is why it is said:

    One should not act without ascertaining facts, and if you do so you’ll only mess up things and be laughed at by the world.

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