In a far forest, there lived a
couple of lions. They gave birth to two male pubs and were very happy.
The lion and lioness worked
together to take care of their family – while the lion went out hunting for the
food, the lioness fed, played and protected the cubs. She took them to the
nearby lake to drink water and kept a watch while they slept.
One day, the lion found no prey
and was returning home empty handed. On his way, he saw a baby jackal. The lion
took pity on the innocent looking baby jackal. He did not kill it, but took it
to the lioness.
The lioness was a soft hearted
mother. She admired the innocent baby jackal and said, ‘Dear, it is a baby
jackal, as tender as our cubs. I cannot kill it! I know you feel the same and
the reason why you have not killed it. Let it stay with us. It will grow and
play with our cubs’.
The lion was happy to hear her.
They started raising the jackal as their own. Months passed. The time of play
began turning into time of preying. The lion’s offspring grew up and so did the
jackal’s. They behaved differently and often fought badly. But the lions
ignored them.
One day, a mighty elephant ran
towards them while they were playing. The young jackal was terrified and turned
his back to flee at its sight. The young lions however rose to attack the
elephant. The jackal however said, ‘elephants are our enemies. Let’s return
home right away’.
The young lions backed, but they
were surprised by the jackal’s cowardice. The young lions narrated the
incidence to their parent and they all laughed. The jackal felt belittled and
insulted. He was very angry. When the lioness was alone, the young jackal went
to her and said, ‘They have insulted and mocked me. I am not a coward and I
shall avenge by killing them’.
The lioness was taken aback to
hear the young jackal. She decided to make the young jackal ware of the truth
and said, ‘Child, you are not inferior to them. But you are a jackal and not a
lion. You behaved like your spices does, and there is no ridicule in it. I
adopted you some years back and raised you as my cub. However, now you talk of
avenging my cubs by killing them?’
The lioness grew very angry. She
raised her voice and said, ‘You are from a meek clan and now return to them.
Don’t ever come here again thinking that it is your home. Leave right away or I
will kill you now’.
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