Based on Panchatantra
Once stood an apple tree on the banks of a river, which was full of sweeet apples . On this tree lived a monkey. He passed his day happily by playing and eating apples .
One day, a crocodile came out of the river to take some rest under the tree. The monkey gave him some apples to eat . The crocodile loved the sweet fruits, and started coming to the apple tree every day, and they became good friends. They would talk and play and enjoy eating the sweet apples together.
One day, the crocodile wanted to take some of the apples for her wife to let her know of the sweetness of these fruits. So, the monkey gave some apples to the crocodile to take home. The crocodile took those fruits and offered to his wife , and narrated the story of his friendship with the monkey who lives on the sweet apple tree.
She said, “Oh Dear, these fruits are as sweet as honey. If the monkey eats these fruits every day, his heart must be tastier than these apples . Please bring the monkey’s heart for me.”
The Crocodile hearing this said ,” I cannot kill the monkey for his heart. He is my friend. It is unfair to think of such a thing”. But his wife got angry and said, “I would rather die if you will not bring the monkey’s heart for me .The crocodile had no other choice rather than to agree to his wife.
The crocodile went to the monkey and said, “Oh Friend, my wife loved the fruits very much and she is anxious to meet you. So, she has invited you to our home for dinner. Please accept our invitation. The monkey accepted the invitation and said ,” I could not swim” . The crocodile said, “Sit on my back, and I shall carry you to my home”
The monkey sat on the crocodile’s back and they went deep into the river. At this moment, the crocodile thought that it was not possible for the monkey to escape from him so he disclosed his plan, “Oh monkey, the truth is I am taking you to make my wife eat your heart, because she believes that your heart is much tastier than those apples.”
Upon hearing this, the monkey was in surprise but he did not panic. Instead, he wittingly said, “Oh Friend, Why didn’t you say that before? It would be my pleasure if I could serve your wife with my heart. You are such a good friend, and you should have told me earlier. I keep my heart in the burrow of the apple tree. Let us go back and bring my heart for your wife”.
The foolish crocodile believed him, and turned around. As soon as they reached the banks near the tree , the monkey jumped off the crocodile’s back. he climbed up to a high branch . He said to the crocodile ,”how foolish you are to believe that I could have kept my heart out of my body”. The crocodile turned very sad and returned home with a sorry face.
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