The Elephant's Nose And The Crocodiles Colour


Long Long ago, there used to be a very big Forest in India. In this Forest there were all kinds of animals and birds and there were elephants too. But during that time the elephants had very small and stubbed nose instead of a large trunk. There used to be a very cute elephant named Gajju. It happened that one year, it did not rain for many months. All the ponds and lakes began to dry up, and the streams had very little water. The animals in the forest were very thirsty, and were in search of a source of water. A river used to flow not very far away from the forest, and Gajju elephant decided to go there in search of water.

Walking slowly, he reached the river. In that river there lived a crocodile and the crocodile skin was bright green. The crocodile was very proud of his color. As the crocodile saw the elephant, he shouted, "Go away you naughty elephant! We don't have enough water here and If you start drinking, what will be left for me?" The elephant knew that the crocodile was very proud and powerful and he may harm him with his sharp teeth. So, he thought for a while and decided that he will come and drink water from the river once the crocodile is asleep.

In the same river, there also lived a shiny green toad. Whenever the crocodile would be swimming across the river, the toad would jump onto the crocodile's back and enjoy a ride. Over the time, the crocodile was angry giving free rides to the toad. Many times, the crocodile tried to shake the toad off his back, but in vain. "Ha ha ha!" the toad would laugh.

One hot summer day, the crocodile was resting on a rock. The elephant was watching the crocodile secretly from the bushes and seeing him asleep he went to the river silently and began to drink water. Just then, the toad as usual jumped onto the crocodile's back, disturbing his sleep. The crocodile was irritated! He furiously began to swim around the river and shake his body violently. "Now, I shall get rid of you!" he cried at the toad. But, the toad remained unmoved on the crocodile's back.

Suddenly, the crocodile noticed the elephant drinking water from the river. "How dare you drink from my river when you not to?" he shouted at the elephant. The crocodile was already frustrated because of the toad and so the crocodile decided to  show all his anger on the elephant. He caught the elephant's trunk with his sharp teeth and began to pull the elephant into the river. The poor elephant started to pull back, crying, "Let go of me....please! Leave me....my nose is paining!" But the crocodile showed no mercy. Then, with a mighty jerk, the elephant succeeded in freeing his trunk from the crocodile. But, in tug of war, the elephant's nose had become really long! The elephant was so angry seeing his long nose that he sucked all the water from the river. The toad was watching the fight from a corner of the river. He laughed seeing the elephant with a big nose. The elephant then sucked some mud from the river with his trunk and sprayed it on the crocodile and the toad. Since then, it is said, elephants have had long trunks, and crocodiles and toads are not bright green anymore.

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