The Loyal Mongoose

In a small, peaceful village at the foot of a mountain, lived a Farmer and his Wife. They had a newborn baby boy who was the apple of their eye. They loved him more than anything in the world. One day, the Farmer found a tiny Mongoose alone in the fields. It was lost and shivering. “Poor little thing,” said the Farmer. “I will take him home. He will be a friend for our son.” They named the mongoose “Rikki.” Rikki grew up with the baby. He was furry, cute, and very loyal. He would sit by the cradle and watch the baby sleep, chasing away flies and bugs. However, the Farmer’s Wife was always worried. “He is a wild animal,” she told her husband. “I don’t trust him. What if he hurts our baby?” “No, dear,” said the Farmer. “Rikki is part of our family.”

One hot summer afternoon, the Farmer went to the fields. The Farmer’s Wife needed to go to the market to buy groceries. The baby was fast asleep in his cradle. She looked at Rikki, who was sitting near the door. “I am going out,” she said sternly to the mongoose (though he couldn’t understand). “You stay here. But I warn you, if anything happens to my son…” She left, feeling uneasy, but she had no choice.

The house was quiet. Rikki sat faithfully by the cradle, watching his little human brother dream. Suddenly, a shadow fell across the floor. Hiss… A large, deadly Black Cobra slithered through a crack in the wall. Its eyes were cold and evil. It raised its hood and looked at the sleeping baby. Rikki’s hair stood up on his back. His eyes turned red with anger. “Not my brother!” he thought. The brave little mongoose jumped! The Cobra struck—Strike!—but Rikki was faster. He dodged and bit. The fight was fierce. Lamps were knocked over. The snake was big, but Rikki was determined. Finally, after a long battle, Rikki grabbed the snake behind its head and dragged it outside the house. He threw the unconscious snake far away into the bushes.

Tired and panting, Rikki walked back to the front door to wait for the mother. He was proud. He had saved the baby! But in the fight, he had gotten red stains on his paws and mouth—the snake’s fluid.

Just then, the Farmer’s Wife returned. She was carrying a heavy basket of potatoes. She saw Rikki running to greet her. She saw the red stains on his mouth. Her heart stopped. “Red stains!” she screamed. “You harmed my baby!” Blind with rage and grief, she lifted the heavy basket and threw it with all her strength at the little mongoose. Crash! The basket hit poor Rikki. He squealed in pain and limped away under the porch, hurt and confused.

The woman ran inside, sobbing. She expected to see a tragedy. But when she looked in the cradle… the baby was sleeping peacefully. Not a scratch on him. Then, she saw the overturned lamp and the signs of a struggle. She looked near the door and saw the trail of the snake. She realized the truth. “Oh no!” she covered her mouth. “He didn’t hurt the baby… he fought a snake to SAVE him!”

She ran outside. “Rikki! Rikki!” she called, tears streaming down her face. She looked under the porch. Rikki was there, licking his bruised leg. He looked at her with sad eyes. “I am so sorry, my brave little friend,” she cried. She gently picked him up and hugged him. She cleaned his wounds and gave him a warm bowl of milk. The Farmer’s Wife learned a painful lesson that day. She never doubted the loyal mongoose again, and Rikki forgave her because that is what true friends do.

Moral of the Story: Look before you leap. Hasty actions born of anger often lead to deep regret.

Moral of the Story: Look before you leap. Don’t act in haste without knowing the truth.