Crocodile and the Monkey

In a city called Cherrapunji in India, there was a big jungle with a wide river flowing through it named the Brahmaputra. On one side of the river, there were lots of coconut trees, and on the other side, there were lots of mango trees.

The monkeys lived on the side with the coconut trees. They could see the mango trees across the river but could never reach them because the river was too wide to jump across, and it was full of crocodiles.

One day, two crocodiles named Magarmach (the husband) and Magarmachi (the wife) were in the river. Magarmachi was a bit of a "drama queen." She told Magarmach, "I am not hungry for fish today. I only want to eat a monkey's brain. You have to find a monkey's brain for me."

Magarmach said, "How will I get a monkey? They are all up in the trees. I cannot climb a tree."

But she threw a tantrum. "I don't know! You have to catch a monkey and get me his brain, or I will not talk to you!"

Magarmach was a bit silly and didn't realize she was just being dramatic. He sadly agreed to try. He swam to the riverbank and saw a monkey named Bandar jumping on the coconut trees.

"Hello, what is your name?" asked Magarmach. "My name is Bandar," said the monkey. "What is yours?" "My name is Magarmach. Have you ever eaten a mango?" "No, I haven't," said Bandar. "The mangoes are on the other side, and I cannot cross the river."

"Those mangoes are very sweet and ripe," said Magarmach. "I am a friendly crocodile. I don't eat monkeys; I am a vegetarian. Hop on my back, and I will take you across so you can eat them."

Bandar was greedy for the mangoes, so despite the risk, he jumped onto the crocodile's back. Magarmach started swimming slowly into the river.

Midway across, Magarmach said, "I am sorry, Mr. Bandar, I lied. My wife wants to eat a monkey's brain because she thinks it will make her strong and smart."

Bandar started shivering with fear, but he was very clever. He said, "Oh, Mr. Magarmach! You should have told me earlier! My brain is very heavy, so I took it out and left it safely in the tree. I don't have it with me right now."

Magarmach was confused. "Really? You can take your brain out?"

"Of course!" said Bandar. "We monkeys jump around so much that we can't carry our heavy brains all the time. Take me back, and I will get it for you."

Magarmach believed him and swam back to the shore. The moment they touched the bank, Bandar jumped off and climbed high up into a tree.

"Come, give me your brain!" called Magarmach.

Bandar laughed. "You silly crocodile! Nobody can take their brain out of their head! You tried to trick me, but I tricked you back!"

He threw a big coconut at the crocodile's head—BOOM! Magarmach got a big bump on his head.

"Now go tell your wife to eat that bump on your head!" shouted Bandar. And that was how the clever monkey saved his life.