stories

The Curious Monkey and the Wedge A group of monkeys resided nearby in a sizable grove. Fruit plants bearing bananas, oranges, chikoos, and pomegranates were abundant in the grove. A juvenile, active monkey by the name of Makranda was present. He would scale the highest branches and leap from tree to tree all day, disobeying senior monkeys who cautioned him against the danger. One day, a party of people carrying axes descended upon the grove. The monkeys became alarmed when they started felling trees in one area of the forest. But it soon became apparent that the humans were only preparing a tiny portion of the land to erect a temple. The construction workers would depart the site each afternoon for lunch, and the monkeys would come in to play with the tools. Makranda once observed a sizable tree trunk that the workmen had felled. A wedge was positioned where a cut had been made to prevent the trunk from fusing back together as they attempted to split it in two. Makranda attempted to sh