JOIN USKapti and the solar eclipse
Kapti the fox was ravenous. His once shiny, reddish-brown coat was now dull. Old age had slowed him down.
He found it harder to hunt, as his prey was often swifter than him and managed to escape. He started venturing out of the jungle into the nearby village to steal scraps of food.
On one such expedition, he overheard two villagers talking. One said, “Arey Ramu! They say there will be a solar eclipse three days from now and our village will be thrown into total darkness for a few minutes that day.” Ramu looked up and noticed the fox scavenging for food near his compost heap. “Shoo!” He yelled, hurling his chappal at the fox.
Kapti yelped as the chappal hit him. Picking up the offensive slipper in his mouth, he ran towards the jungle as fast as his tired old legs could carry him. Portly Ramu was no match for him and soon gave up the chase, slapping his head in futility, as the fox disappeared into the forest with his chappal.
Once safe, Kapti tried gnawing at the slipper. It tasted awful. He dropped it to the ground in disgust. Kapti noticed it made a funny imprint on the dry forest floor. “Perhaps I’ll find some use for this,” he thought, picking it up again and heading towards his den.
On his way, he heard the deep, rumbling snores of the sleeping lion. Cautiously, he tip-toed nearer. At last, Lady Luck had smiled on him. The king of the forest was sleeping contentedly with his tummy full; his half eaten meal lying beside him.
Kapti’s mouth watered. It was a big risk. The lion’s fury would know no bounds. He would not spare someone who stole from him. Clever Kapti was quick to think of a plan. Eating hurriedly, he filled his empty tummy.
He then made chappal prints around the lion. Using a bunch of leaves like a broom, he carefully erased his own paw prints. Now the lion would be confused and unable to identify him as the thief.
The lion awoke and roared in anger, “Wait till I get my paws on the thief who dares steal from me. I’ll make that foolish creature my next meal”. Alas, the strange chappal imprints confounded him and he was unable to pinpoint the culprit. The sly fox’s ruse had worked.
This made Kapti bolder. He dared to steal a bit of the lion’s dinner yet again, the following day. The chappal had proved very useful in providing him with an easy meal. After he found part of his supper missing on the third day, the lion was determined to catch the mysterious marauder.
The next day, the lion pretended to be asleep, deliberately snoring aloud. Greedy Kapti went about his business of partaking of the lion’s feast. He was caught red-handed. “I’ll teach you to steal from me,” roared the furious lion. Trembling in fear, Kapti knew that his time had come. Only a miracle could save him now.
Just then he noticed the jungle getting darker. He recalled the villagers talking about the eclipse. Quick-witted Kapti said, “Mother Nature will be very angry if you kill me. She has chosen me as your advisor in all matters of jungle law. In return, all you have to do is let me partake of the remains of your meal, as I am too old to hunt for myself.”
“Humbug! This is just another one of your tricks sly fox,” cried the lion.
“No! My lord! I swear. Look, the heavens have turned dark and the sun’s face is hidden. This is a sign. If you do not agree, the jungle will be thrown into darkness forever. It is your duty as king to protect all the creatures that live in this forest.”
The lion was more baffled than ever. He was scared. Daylight had turned into silent, oppressive darkness. He didn’t wish to live in perpetual darkness. Feeding the fox his leftovers seemed a small price to pay.
“I agree,” said the gullible lion. A few minutes later, the veil of darkness lifted and the sun shone again. The eclipse had passed. “A king must keep his word,” the old fox said, as he thought to himself smugly, “They don’t call me ‘foxy’ for nothing.”
Thus Kapti, the wily, old fox outsmarted the lion. He never had to worry about going hungry again and lived a lazy life of leisure as the lion’s clever advisor till the end of his days.