Childrens Story

1. Sarala Barnabas
Novelist and Professor
Sher Khan and Chu Chu
Every morning in the Jungle, birds twittered and looked for worms, monkeys swung from trees eating fruit.
On two facing branches, the crows made a racket at their seminar. Spiders waited motionless for unwary
insects. Suddenly, the monkeys chattered a warning. Everyone, even the crows, fell silent or hid. Walking
majestically, tail swishing, the King of the Jungle, Sher Khan the Tiger was taking his morning walk. From
his hole, Chu Chu the Mouse gazed admiringly at the big golden creature. His walk over, Sher Khan went on
his way. In relief, all resumed preparations for breakfast except Chu Chu. He made his nightly forays into
Aadmi’s (Man’s) house for his favourite foods. Stomach full, he would slip away before dawn. This morning,
he was late.
It had taken time to finish his favourite cheese. Aurat (Woman) was already in the kitchen. Chu Chu waited
for her to turn her back so he could slip away. Impatient now, he scampered over the floor just as she moved
so that he ran over her foot. Climbing somehow on a chair, Aurat’s screams were enough to wake the whole
town. Axe in hand, sure his wife was being murdered, Aadmi came running. Chu Chu fled.
That afternoon, heavy clouds darkened the sky. In the Jungle, all prepared for the coming storm. Chu Chu
rather liked storms, but hated to have wet fur. Hurrying home, he came across the trangest sight. There in
the largest cave was Sher Khan. Gone was the grand King of the Jungle. Cowering in heap, face hidden, he
was making mewling sounds like a newborn kitten. Astonished, Chu Chu watched, then greatly daring, he
ran up the broad back till he came to the head, noting the rich soft fur so unlike his own. Every time there
were flashes of lightning, followed by roars of thunder, the King trembled more, making those pitiful sounds.
Chu Chu did not wait. He lifted one big ear and squeaked loudly into it. “What is the matter, Your Majesty?”
Sher Khan squeaked back. “I am so afraid of storms. The lightning blinds me, and the thunder deafens me. I
don’t know what to do.” Chu Chu thought hard, then he lifted the ear, and squeaked urgently, “Majesty?
Get up right away! Turn around so that you face the wall. See, the lightning does not blind you, for you have
your back to it. When the thunder comes, put your head all the way down, and put your paws over your ears.
Does it feel better now?” The golden head nodded. Chu Chu stayed till the storm was over.
After the storm, the morning was fresh and lovely. The birds twittered, the monkeys chattered, and the
crows resumed their noisy seminar. When the warning came, everyone hid, for there was Sher Khan walking
majestically. Chu Chu watched from his hole. Only he knew the secret of this grand creature. Still full of
admiration, Chu Chu thought how good it felt to lend a helping paw to a fellow creature in trouble.