Long, long ago, there lived two boys in a remote village. One boy was so rich because he had a big herd of cattle while the other boy was so poor with only a cow.
One day, the rich boy came to meet the poor boy to discuss about the herding of cattle together to a forest. The poor boy humbly accepted the decision.
The next day. The rich boy with his large number of all high-bred cattle appeared near the poor boy’s house. The poor boy with his only cow joined the big herd. They had been herding cattle together for several days.
The rich boy would always come with a dapa (traditional wooden bowl) of red rice with phasha-sikam (pork slice). On the other hand, the poor boy would always appear with only a morsel of maize dango (floor) wrapped in a leaf. While the poor boy was trying to share his food with the rich boy, all the time he would become a victim of humiliation and disgrace.
The rich boy would warn the poor boy, “Don’t share me your pig’s feed. And I will get sick if I eat your food.” However, the poor boy would never mind with his cruel friend. He would rather try to be more humble and generous. The rich boy would always turn away from the poor boy and eat himself greedily.
They were herding the cattle deeper into the forest looking for a better grassland. They had to even halt nights in the forest. One night. The rich boy being greedy and desirous, he again happened to be a brainchild of an idea to sleep near the camp fire turn-wise saying that they can protect their cattle from wild animals. The poor boy easily agreed thinking the idea was for a better cause.
On the first night, the rich boy volunteered to sleep near the fire. It was the poor boy’s turn to sleep near the fire the next night. While the poor boy was in deep sleep, gently pushed into the fire by the rich boy.
The next morning, the boy was nowhere to be seen around. The rich boy was so happy indeed. He thought that now the poor boy’s cow also belong to him. Before the sunrise, the poor boy’s cow began mooing profusely smelling the ash of its herder. The rich boy tried chasing away the cow but he could not.
The cow pulled put its tongue long and started leaking the ash from all sides. As the cow went on leaking the ash, the poor boy started reappearing but in different manifestation. Unlike the previous night, the poor boy appeared in much better by looks and costume. And his cow gave birth to so many calves even more than the cattle of the rich boy. The rich boy got even more jealous and desirous of his friend who had turned richer than him.
In the next night, the rich boy slept nearby the fire. Expecting himself to become better than his friend, he crawled himself into the fire and got burnt. The rich boy’s cattle did as same as the poor boy’s cow by mooing and leaking his ash. After some time, the rich boy reappeared but sadly turned out worse than his poor friend with a huge belly and thin neck.
The rich boy remained struggling in this present condition with big remorse.
Moral: Never be greedy and cruel to others.
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