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Greed Never Pays

By Ramendra Kumar; Illustrations by Kusum Chamoli

One day Hanoo was surveying the trees sitting astride Bhim when he saw a real mouth-watering sight. A ripe and juicy mango was hanging from a branch on the top of a mango tree. It was the first mango Hanoo had seen this season and was probably the only ripe one in the entire forest.

Hanoo's mouth started watering and he was about to jump with joy when he remembered. He would have to share it with Bhim. 'Oh! How I wish I could have it on my own. Wouldn't it taste really yummy?'

He had an idea.

"Hey Bhim, hoist me up. There is a ripe mango on top of this tree."

"A ripe mango! Wow! I love mangoes and ripe mangoes even more. Come on Hanoo pluck it fast, I want to taste the yummy fruit."

Hanoo had never seen Bhim this excited over anything. He was acting like a baby elephant being handed his first piece of sugar cane.

Bhim raised Hanoo and within a few minutes the juicy fruit was nestling in the langur's hands.

Hanoo smelt it. 'Aah! The aroma was exquisite.'

"Hey Bhim, I was meaning to tell you. I am suffering from stomach ache. Last evening I went to Dr. Bhola Bhaloo. He examined me thoroughly and advised me to eat a ripe and juicy mango.

"But in this season where will I get a ripe mango?" I asked him.

"Then you will have to wait for a few days. But that is the only cure," he said and sent me away.

"See Bhim how lucky I am. I got a ripe mango today itself. I hope you don't mind me eating it," Hanoo asked his friend.

Bhim, who was kind hearted, said, "No of course not Hanoo. Your need is greater than mine. But please describe to me how it tastes."

Hanoo ate the mango slowly, savouring every little bit. He spoke about its aroma, its sweetness and its juicy softness while poor Bhim satisfied himself with just listening to the description.

Next day Bhim asked Hanoo, "How is your stomach ache?"

"What stomach ache -?" Hanoo started to say when he suddenly remembered. Clutching his stomach he said, "Oooh! My stomach ache, it is better but not completely cured."

As they were returning from their hunt after collecting a substantial bounty of fruits, Hanoo saw a ripe guava. This was surely the biggest he had ever seen. When he was a kid he loved the raw ones but now with his teeth old and weak he cherished only the ripe guavas.

"Bhim, there is a ripe guava up there. Come on lift me up"

Hanoo plucked the guava and started eating it.

"Hey Hanoo! What is this? You know I love guavas," Bhim protested.

"Oh Bhim, my friend I forgot to tell you. Dr. Bhola Bhaloo had also told me that a mango followed by a guava was the surest way to get completely cured. I hope you don't mind."

"No..no...Hanoo, if it is the doctor's advice you have to take it," Bhim said looking longingly at the guava which was rapidly disappearing into Hanoo's mouth.

The same afternoon Bhim was taking a leisurely bath in the river. Filling his trunk with water he was spraying his body, enjoying the feel of the cool river water in the hot afternoon sun. He saw Dr. Bhola Bhaloo walking briskly by the river side. He was carrying his doctor's bag and a stethoscope hung around his neck.

"Dr. Bhola Bhaloo," Bhim shouted.

"What is it?" Dr. Bhola Bhaloo stopped in his tracks.

Bhim lumbered towards him, "Hanoo was telling me you had prescribed a ripe mango followed by a ripe guava as a sure fire cure for stomach ache, a couple of days back. I too am suffering from head ache. Can you please tell me as tasty a cure. Last time I came to you, you gave me bitter syrup to drink. I took a sip and vomited. It tasted awful. I just couldn't take it. Please, I too would love having a medicine as delicious as the one you prescribed for Hanoo."

"What are you taking about? I haven't seen Hanoo for six months. And who has ever heard of a mango and a guava curing a stomach ache? He must have been pulling your leg, Bhim," Dr. Bhola Bhaloo said and walked away.

Bhim sat down by the river side in deep thought. So Hanoo had played a trick on him. But why? If he wanted to have the mango and guava all by himself he could have just requested him. Why did he have to tell lies? For the last so many months the two friends had been hunting together and happily sharing everything equally. Now it looked as if Hanoo's greed had raised its ugly head and come in between their friendship.

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