THE MERCY CREATURES

        MERCIFUL CREATURES     
SHORT STORY WRITTEN BY BIJU.S
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        In a beautiful village called Massoori, an elderly grandmother and grandfather lived in a two-room hut at the foot of a  very green-covered  mountain. They were generous and patient. Even in loneliness, they were supported by a cute, white, fat, black-striped cat named Simpa. The grand father's name was Charlie, and the grand mother's name was Susan.Traditionally they have earned their livelihood by farming on the mountain slopes and catching fish from the pure Brook flowing south to north in the eastern part of the dense forest near their home.





                          Peacocks, quills and squirrels who came from the middle of the forest to the coutyard of the hut would jump with joy to see the beautiful kitten being caressed by its grandfather and merciful grandmother as if it were their own child.Birds and animals used to come to the hut looking for the crumbs of wheat that grandmother cheerfully threw.They were migrants from RatnaPura in SriLanka and settled in Manla. Banyan,Peepal,plum and Pear trees were planted by Elderly man around the house. They were growing and spreading awesomely. Then there was Krishna Tulasi in the yard, which spread fragrance.




              

                   Besides this, there was a garden at the south-east corner of the hut, full of fragrant flowers that evoked the beauty of nature.The most attractive thing in that garden was the beautiful red roses. When grandmother got time, she would come to the garden to caress the flowers, kiss them and gossip with them.In one corner of the room, there was a photos of Ram and Jesus and then the Prophet's Quran have been kept.All religions dictate human goodness, love and social development. Grandfather, grandmother used to say to the birds coming to the garden,The little hornbill and the baby squirrel used to hear it.Grandpa used to watch the baby elephant greedily drinking clean water from the river with a chuckle.





                      Wheat porridge and rice sweet cake soaked in ghee and curd were their staple food.As the flock of ducks frolicked in the river, Charlie would sing and feed.The deer, the woodpecker and the cuckoo used to jump around and watch the flock of ducks on the banks of the river.Charlie, Susan and the kitten would gratefully receive the birds and animals that come from the forest to the garden, feed them and send them back with  a strong desire to come again.Every day the cat would go with Charlie to cast  the net on the bank of the river. Charlie would take the fish that he caught . Susan would cook it and give it to grandfather and the cat. On the day when the fish curry was full of chili, the baby bear and the crow would look at Susan arguing with tears .Charlie would have covered his face and laughed at this.Charlie would comfort them by telling them to calm down.Charlie had said that my Susan would make curry without chillies tomorrow.Susan told them that not everything is the same every day. Man and other creatures should try to learn from each other according to the situation. The crow and the  baby bear who got a good lesson would change their sad faces and run away into the forest.








                      At night when they were sleeping, the kitten would come and lie between Charlie and Susan with 'meow'.
They would then lovingly pat on Simpa.
And while life was going on happily, an unfortunate incident occurred. One day before the snowy evening, Charlie went with Simpa to cast a net in the river and got a sack of fish.  When the sun had set, Simpa and Charlie left the river valley and returned home through the dense forest.
After some half an hour, Simpa's voice was not heard. When Charlie looked back, the forest was covered in darkness.  Then he started crying.  But Simpa did not come back.  Charlie saw a torch cut a short distance ahead. It was Susan. Charla said the matter. Susan was worried.They both searched for Simpa till midnight, but all hope was lost.





            
               They left the forest and came home weeping.  Charlie and Susan could not sleep at all that night.They understood the depth of Simpa's love.The sadness burnt the heart too much.Our Simpa was taken away by the fox.  Susan told Charlie.  "I can't bear the grief," said Charlie.The next morning, the birds rushed to the garden and looked for Simpa in and out of the hut, but they did not see the kitten.  They saw Charlie and Susan who were crying.Sensing the danger, the baby squirrel, the baby hornet and the woodpecker rushed to the forest.  Finally, they were surprised to see the cat's white fur under the devil tree. By that time, Charlie and Susan reached there. Charlie hugged the blood-stained soil of the bridge to his chest and cried his heart out.  He will never come again.  "Who will give us his innocent love," murmured Susan.They looked at Black board tree and wept bitterly.






                 Charlie and Susan burst into tears and asked the baby squirrel who will love us now.Squirrels, woodpeckers, and other birds and animals around them half-smiled lovingly.  Then every day at night they used to dream of Simpa. It seemed that Simpa also came and slept in our midst.  Some nights without sleep, Charlie and Susan would sit in the yard of the cottage and stare into the distance. They felt that animals have more love than humans.  Later, when the baby squirrel and the white rabbit became permanent residents of the cottage and garden, the intensity of Charlie and Susan's grief began to diminish.In modern Kali Yuga, people are fighting and dying because of caste, religion and wealth.Humans are creating monsters through evil deeds, but animals are becoming vessels of love in this kali Yuga.



            
           GENEROUS SUSAN WITH                          

              AFFECTIONATE SIMPA

   DEDICATION WITH HEARTY LOVE
  BIJU.S KERALA (Alleppey (DISTRICT)