Once upon a time there lived an ant and an elephant. They were best friends. One day, the ant and the elephant decided to go to a nearby hill station – Munnar.
Both of them packed their bag and started their two day journey to Munnar. The elephant used to take one step and the ant used to run behind taking 10 steps for every one step the elephant takes. After about 5 steps of the elephant, the ant stopped and started crying. He was unable to keep up with the elephant and told the elephant that he cannot make the trip to Munnar.
Elephant : “Don’t worry my friend , you can sit on my trunk and continue the journey with me ”
The ant felt so happy that he jumped up and got on the elephants trunk immediately. But then came the next problem. For every one step the elephant takes, the ant used to slide down his trunk. It was fun at first, sliding down the elephants trunk and then going up again. But soon the ant got tired. He started crying again.
The elephant concerned again asked the ant what happened.
Ant: “your trunk is so slippery that I cannot sit here… I am sliding down your trunk every step you take”
Elephant: “Don’t worry about that.. You can sit on my head… You won’t have to slide from there”
The ant jumped and sat on the elephants head. For the next 100 ant miles, the journey was smooth. But then came the villain of the story. The Fleas !! The fleas came and surrounded the ant!
Fleas: “How dare you trespass our land.. we own the black round head of the elephant… you have no right to be here”
Ant : “The elephants head belongs to no one apart him… you should go back to where you came from.. and tell your brother fleas on the tail to move out as well.. Otherwise I will tell the elephant to rolll over in mud till all of you get drowned”
Fleas : “But where will we go”
Ant : “I don’t care where you go, but you must leave the elephant”
The fleas got scared… went all the way back on the back of the elephant, got on his tail, told the other fleas to pack their bags and jumped off…
The elephant having a lighter head now said thanks to the ant and resumed their two day journey to Munnar
Short Stories from Kerala 