THE CROW THAT KILLED A SNAKE
Mind over might

In the forest adjacent to Mithila town was a sprawling dense foliaged banyan tree. A benevolent tree it was ,that it gave asylum to many creatures under its cool foliage, spread out branches and below its strong trunk. Keku and his wife Kiwi the close knit crow couple had made their cozy nest in one of the branches of the tree. Being in prime of their youth they were very keen to have their little ones, the fledglings as early as possible. Their mating started in late winter. As soon as the spring was in the air, Keku sensed Kiwi was heavy in stomach with the babies seeing her labored flights. Soon Keku and Kiwi busied in making the cozy nest lining with the softest hay and cotton wools they had searched with care from far and wide. As soon the as the nest was ready, one fine day Kiwi sat for hours un moved in the nest Keku was flying restlessly around the nest keen to have the first look at their would be children. Finally Kiwi moved out of the nest and revealed four shining creamy white eggs. Keku’s joy knew no bounds. Crying caw caw he danced around the nest having a peep at the eggs time to time. As dusk fell both Kiwi and Keku settled in their new home weaving dreams in their head about the coming family.

Now in the same tree lived the black venomous snake Chandal. He had made his home right under the Banyan tree in an anthill mound previously the home of black Ganesha ants. Chandal had seen it a good spot to rest himself, he had driven the poor ants away and came to occupy the anthill mount. Chandal’s long pit of the stomach was ever rumbling for food and one can always find him plotting to catch his creatures of prey. Right from the time Kaku and Kiwi were hovering near the banyan tree Chandal was keeping an eye on them and yesterday in particular he was following the going on and quickly sensed Kiwi is going to deliver her eggs. With its keen sense of sound lying hurdled in its hole Chandal could sense the entire going on outside.

The next day Kiwi and Keku reluctantly went in search of food. Kiwi carefully assembled the eggs closely and having a parting look of her dear eggs she left for one of her long flights in search food. Well Chandal was looking for such an opportune time. He slithered out of his ant hill mound stealthily climbed the tree right towards the nest and with out much ado made a meal of the eggs in a jiffy and slithered back again and went to a peaceful rest. When Kiwi and Keku returned they met an empty nest.

They were shocked and greatly upset. Kiwi was inconsolable. They went around in circles endlessly as one possessed also looking for some clue. They could not find any.
After a long while Kiwi settled in her nest while Keku kept a protective wing over Kiwi trying to console her. As the days passed slowly their grief took a back seat as truly said Time is the best healer. And one of the days Keku again found his wife heavy with their children. And once again it was time for Kiwi to deliver. With the same eagerness the nest was made ready with soft coatings and Kiwi delivered the eggs. This time over Kiwi did not leave her nest and Keku was fetching her food. But it was never adequate and Kiwi was loosing her health. As days went by they became a little bolder and one day Kiwi told let me also come to fetch the food. And out both flew. Well the venomous Chandal was looking for such a time. Soon he came out of the anthill slithered to the nest containing the juicy eggs and made a meal of it. When he was just coming out of the nest to get back to his hole, Kiwi came back and the thief was caught almost red handed. She cried loudly flapping her wings wildly tried to attack the cobra with her beak. But she was no match to its mighty hood and in no time the snake withdrew in to the hole calling a halt to the fight.

When Keku returned, Seeing Kiwi sitting crestfallen in the nest at once knew something was of matter. He feared the worst and Kiwi burst out crying confirming the worst. For two days the couple sat in the nest mourning for their unborn children and did not even have a mind to go out searching for food.
But as every body knows crows are clever. They are not the one to be cowed down by adversaries. If so the ubiquitous crows would have never been the most common birds. They have learnt to survive in most difficult of conditions.

Now in the adjacent Mithila town lived the queen Banumathi known for her beauty and charm all around the province. The queen regularly with her retinue of servants used to frequent the exclusive bathing ghat at the back of the palace everyday morning as the suns rays climbs up the horizon. Keku was a regular visitor of the ghat both to quench his thirst and in look out of grains generously sprinkled in the courtyard in the palace grounds to feed the winged creatures like him. Keku than had noticed the queens ornaments lying in a bundle under the shade of the tree guarded by one of the servant maid as the queen takes bath in the bathing ghat.

Keku the clever crow had a scheme well etched in his mind. He knew he was no match to the venomous cobra Chandal. He had thought and thought over the night while Kiwi lie sobbing the whole night for her lost eggs. He had then come up with this scheme. As the servant maid guarding the `potla’ containing the ornaments was looking the other way, Keku flew low pecked and picked out the bright gold necklace jutting out of the `Potla’ and in a jiffy flew up and farther and went rushing to his abode, the banyan tree and dropped the shining necklace into the hole in the ant hill mount, right in to the cobras house.

There the queen was out of the bathing ghat. Soon a great uproar was heard when the precious gold necklace gifted by the king himself for her wedding anniversary was found missing. It was searched high and low, every one around was put to question to no avail. When it reached the kings ears he called the guards and send them out to search with strict instructions not to return back with a futile search. As kings are autocrats and known to melt out strict punishments, the guards started looking out for the thief in great earnestness. They spread around, some going in to the town while some went to the forest hoping thief would be hiding somewhere their having palmed off with the costly necklace. . Brandishing their swords they were clearing every foliage, peeping behind the bushes and trees in look out for the thief. And lo!Nanda lal the `Sevak’ of two score of years found something shining right under the banyan tree. He swung his sword along the anthill mount where it was seen and at the same time calling out to other sevaks searching near by. `Bhayiyo’ (brothers) come at once I think I have located the precious ornament. So saying he slashed the anthill mount with his sword and out came the hissing angry cobra. Seeing the Cobra in full fury the soldiers lashed blows on it and killed it with their swords. The necklace was retrieved and off they went back to give it to the king.
Keku and Kiwi now lived fearlessly bringing up hordes of children in their cozy nest.
Yet another instance of mind over might.