Bhaloo, the bear, and other jungle animals were very happy to see little Mowgli and promised Raksha to help her bring the baby up according to the jungle law. In due course, Mowgli grew up playing with the wolf-cubs. Bagheera would often play with Mowgli teaching him the ways of jungle-life and telling him all about its secrets. Mowgli was very happy indeed. Also, Bhaloo and Chill, the vulture, both advised him to be alert against the tiger Sher Khan, the most-hated animal in the jungle. Bhaloo taught Mowgli how to communicate with other animals and to know all the ways to survive in the jungle. Bhaloo warned Mowgli against the monkeys as they often broke the rules of jungle-life.
But one afternoon while Bhaloo was enjoying a sound sleep, a group of monkeys gagged Mowgli's mouth and kidnapped him. When Bhaloo woke up and came to know what had happened, he shouted in anger, "I must teach these monkeys a bitter lesson."
Bhaloo was shocked to see that the monkeys had hung Mowgli upside down. Though the monkeys were afraid of Bhaloo, yet they mocked at him. Bhaloo attacked them with his powerful paws flinging them here and there on the ground. But they also counter-attacked him. Luckily, Kaa, the serpent, came to Bhaloo's help and the naughty monkeys were duly punished. So they had to run away for their lives. Seeing Mowgli free from the grips of the monkeys, Bhaloo and Kaa were very happy. Mowgli thanked Bhaloo and Kaa from the core of his heart. Just then Bhaloo brought a bunch of ripe bananas for Mowgli who put on a broad smile to see them. Then both of them made for their lair in a joyous mood.
Sher Khan, the tiger, had been sniffing around for a few days as he had come to know of Mowgli.
Roaming around, Sher Khan saw Mowgli and Bhaloo walking together. He quietly walked up to them and got ready to attack Mowgli. Seeing this, Bhaloo came forward to face Sher Khan. He grappled with the fierce tiger. Mowgli stood amazed as well as shocked. As for Kaa, he crawled away out of fear. Mowgli decided to help Bhaloo. He picked up a dry branch and set it on fire. Seeing this, Sher Khan got afraid. As soon as Mowgli went near him, the tiger ran away. The news spread throughout the jungle that Mowgli had defeated Sher Khan. All the animals were overjoyed and they praised Mowgli for his bravery.
In order to refresh themselves, Bhaloo and Mowgli had a hearty bath in a nearby river. One day, Bhaloo and Mowgli were strolling along the river-bank. Suddenly Mowgli caught sight of a strange face at the other bank. It was indeed a girl who had come to fill a pitcher with water. She was the first human being Mowgli had chanced to see. Charmed by the looks of the girl and to know more about her, Mowgli followed her. As he had been living with jungle animals, he was curious to know about humans. Bagheera and Bhaloo looked at Mowgli following the girl leaving all his friends behind. They felt very sad but seeing Mowgli happy, they wished him all the best as they knew that he belonged to the human world.
Seeing Mowgli's unusually strange face, the villagers asked him to stop short. Luckily, a kind woman, named Messua, came out of a hut and she recognized Mowgli in no time. Messua told the villagers, "He is Nathoo, my son. Some years ago, our family was passing through the jungle. He was a small baby then and we were carrying him in a small basket. Suddenly, we saw a tiger and we had to run for safety leaving the basket in the jungle." Mowgli and his mother were very happy to find each other. Messua taught Mowgli all the ways of human life so that he might mix with other people. From then on, they lived happily ever after.
Sunday 2 February 2020
