Week 7 Story: The Parrot and the Monkeys

There once was a family of four brother monkeys living in a jungle. Green and flourishing, the jungle trees provided the monkeys a home and delicious source of food. From figs to bananas, they were always surrounded by fruit. However, one year, the rain never came; the sky was clear with not a cloud in sight. The sun shone harshly as the jungle trees wilted away. The monkeys, yearning for some sweet fruit, searched far and wide for a surviving fruit tree. With growling stomachs, they finally stumbled upon the last golden treasure in the entire jungle: a banana tree with ripe bananas. The youngest monkey leaped forward to grab a banana when a booming voice asserted:

 

“Stop! This tree is mine. Don’t touch it until you answer my questions. After answering, take all the bananas you please.”

 

The youngest monkey looked up and saw a small, colorful parrot. Unintimidated, the monkey ignored the bird’s request and went to grab a banana. As his hand reached forward, he lost his grip on the banana tree and went tumbling down, not with a thud but a light, gentle fall. His older brother monkeys peeked forward and saw him on a giant jungle leaf in a deep sleep.

 

The second youngest monkey followed suit, ignoring the bird’s request. Rather than hesitating like the youngest, this monkey grabbed a handful of bananas. As he turned around to face his brothers, the bananas disappeared from his hand, and he fell towards the same jungle leaf.

 

Seeing his two brothers fall, the third monkey felt a deep rage towards the parrot. A master at throwing rocks, the monkey grabbed the nearest one and threatened the bird.

 

“Your questions will be answered with a rock to the face!”

 

The parrot quickly squawked back, “Don’t be foolish. I do not want to fight; I offer these bananas to you, but first answer my questions.”

 

The monkey felt an unbearable pang of hunger and decided to first eat a banana before enacting revenge. Just as he touched the fruit, he fell towards the jungle leaf.

 

The oldest monkey came forward and felt a deep sadness towards his brothers, who were all in a deep sleep. Realizing the mystical power of the parrot, the oldest monkey listened as the parrot asked away. After hundreds of questions, each faster than the next, the parrot was pleased. Revealing his true form, the parrot was Yama, the God of Justice. Admiring the oldest monkey’s persistence and control over his hunger, Yama awoke all the others and allowed them to have the fruit.

 

A picture of a monkey. Source: Wikimedia

Author’s Note: My re-telling of the story changed the characters and dialogue of the original story. In the Mahabharata, the Pandava brothers were thirsty and a crane, disguised as Yama, the God of Justice, warned them not to drink the water until they answer his questions. All the brothers but Yudhishthira ignored the crane and were killed by the water. In my story, the Pandava brothers were monkeys and hungry for bananas. Yama was disguised as a parrot, and the brothers fell into a deep sleep. I also changed the dialogue to be more concise. The main focus on my story was of the stubbornness and ignorance of the younger brothers, rather than the oldest brother’s virtue.

 

Bibliography: The Mahabharata by R.K. Narayan. Source: Blogspot