The Monkey and the Crocodile

On the banks of a river, there stood a large Jamun (Indian Blackberry) tree. A clever monkey named Raktamukha lived on this tree, which was always laden with sweet and juicy fruits. In the same river lived a crocodile named Karalamukha. One day, the crocodile came to rest under the tree. The monkey kindly offered him some Jamun fruits. The crocodile loved them, and soon they became the best of friends. Every day, the crocodile would visit the monkey, and they would spend hours talking and sharing fruits. One day, the crocodile took some fruits home for his wife. After tasting the sweet fruits, the wife thought, 'If these fruits are so sweet, imagine how sweet the heart of the monkey must be, who eats them every day!' She demanded that the crocodile bring her the monkey's heart. Initially, the crocodile refused to betray his friend, but his wife's persistence forced him to agree. The next day, he went to the monkey and said, 'My friend, my wife has invited you for a grand dinner at our home today.' The monkey happily agreed and climbed onto the crocodile's back. When they reached the middle of the river where the current was strong, the crocodile revealed his true intention. The monkey was terrified but kept his cool. He quickly thought of a plan and said, 'Oh friend! Why didn't you tell me earlier? I have left my heart back on the tree. Let us go back and get it.' The foolish crocodile believed him and turned back. As soon as they reached the shore, the monkey jumped off and climbed to the highest branch. He shouted, 'You fool! Does anyone keep their heart outside their body? You tried to betray me, and now our friendship is over.'