அறிவினு ளெல்லாந் தலையென்ப தீய
செறுவார்க்குஞ் செய்யா விடல்
In a dense forest lived a huge python. It’s name is Kriti. It is a huge and dangerous snake that all the animals in the forest were really afraid of Kriti. It was about 20 feet long and it had black dots in its body which gave a majestic look. Kriti was very proud of its look and strength. It used to spread its long body in big trees and lay with pride.
Pythons usually attack birds and small animals like rabbit and mice and only very rarely attack big animals for prey. But Kriti use to attack animals like bison calf, cheeta cubs and deers like animals for its prey. It is really impossible for the animals to escape from Kriti once they are caught. That’s why all the animals are afraid of Kriti.
One day Kriti was laying in the branch of a tree along the riverside and observed the movements of a deer from above. Its elongated body eagerly observes its surroundings.
It was thinking as “Most probably the deer will cross the stream and go through this way only so we can easily catch the deer for prey”.
The deer stepped in to the stream. Kirti was waiting mouth watering. It kept rolled its whole body in the tree and kept down its head alone. It was from this same tree it once caught a cheetah. It just twisted and turned its body, and in a swift motion resembling a robber, it seized the bones of the animal.
As it makes its way through, the deer once again stops in front of a tree. With its neck folded, it plucks the leaves with its mouth and enjoys a leafy meal.
“Amma,” cries the deer, experiencing a moment of discomfort. Without succumbing to fear, it continues to stand its ground. Kriti
folded itself and fell in the deer’s neck as a ring. and started spreading itself.
Kriti was very surprised. Kriti looked at deer’s sad face. Kriti’s long body began to wrap around like a rope. The deer wept. Tears flowed from its eyes.
Usually when Kriti rolls like this on other animal, it was like a battle to fight against any other animal here, but here rather an act of lament and sorrow.
So Kriti asked the deer, “Why are you crying?” .
The deer spoke in a grief voice, “Death has certainly come now. The greatness of saving my mother’s life before death may become impossible. But it is possible if you can help me.”
“Me…? How can I help?” asked Kriti.
“I came here alone to take some figs for my mother as she is ill, I can save her life by giving this to her and I will come back again to you. Then, as you wish, you can kill me and eat me,” said the deer.
“How can I belive that you will come back to me?” asked Kriti.
“If you don’t have confidence in my words, then, you can come with me.. once I gather the figs and give it to my mother, you can kill and eat me, and that would be very helpful to save my mother,” said the deer.
“I’m sure I can’t catch you if I leave you. How fast are you, and how fast am I?” said Kriti.
“If you have no faith in my words, I accept to whatever you are saying to me?,” said the deer.
“I will hold your body.,” said Kriti. It agreed to that. The deer went to gather figs. After collecting the figs it began to walk towards its residence where it mother stays.
Though a python coiled around its body the deer moved with determination.
For the sake of its mother, it found an opportunity to give its life and felt contentment in its act.
The deer came to its dwelling place. It showed its dwelling place and its mother to Kriti. Kriti slowly left its grip on the deer’s body and came down and said,If you think of giving away the figs and escape from me, then your mother who is ill will become my
food,” said Kriti.
“I will never forget the help you did for me even for a single day. I will keep up my words,” said the deer and ran away, leaving Kriti.
Kriti hid itself behind a tree. There, it faced a great surprise. There were about a group of twenty-five deer which came to visit the deer which was ill. Now Kriti slightly scared that if all the deer join together it might smash Kriti and kick off with its horns.
Kriti heard a scene the before week, a large python caught and devoured by two big male deer using its powerful coils. The python ended the lives of those two deer right there. Kriti, which didn’t know the concept of fear, had a slight uneasiness now.
“Did I left what I had in my hands?” it thought, and bit worried. It slowly rolled and hid itself in a bush that couldn’t find it easily.
Kriti found the deer came back alone.
“My task is complete. I have kept my promise by safeguarding my word… I owe you my gratitude,” the deer said to Kriti.
Kriti looked straight into the eyes of the deer, “Did you speak about me?” to your family?”. asked Kriti.
“No, I didn’t show you. I won’t reveal you as you helped me.”
“How can I become the one who helps you, when I am destined to be the one who eats you?” asked Kriti.
“Your words are true, but if you don’t help, I won’t be able to protect my mother. What is more honorable in this world than giving up one’s life to save the life of our parent?”
Kriti raised its head higher, wiping away the tears from the deer’s eyes with its forehead.
“You are sacrificing your own life to save your mother… I gain greatness by helping you,” said Kriti as it departed from the deer.
The young deer watched Kriti leave in astonishment. The deer didn’t want to harm Kriti though it was doing harmful acts to it. This is actuallay an act of great maturity.
In the shadows of the trees, the glinting eyes of Kriti’s body’s horned marks twinkled like stars.
