My Calf
Once upon a time, there was a boy named Pinchu who had two sisters, Bindu and Indu. They lived in the village of Sohar, located in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh.
Pinchu was a mischievous and bright young lad. In their village, there was an annual fair known as Nalwar, where oxen were exchanged, sold, and bought.
Pinchu’s grandparents owned a variety of domestic animals. One day, young Pinchu had the idea to trade his small calf. He pondered, “Why keep so many animals at home?” At just eight years old, he decided to discuss this with his wise grandmother. He respectfully asked, “Dadi ma (grandmother), may I take this calf to the Nalwar fair for trading?”
After carefully considering his request, his grandmother replied, “This calf is quite small. Who would buy it? People usually purchase oxen for plowing. What use is a small calf to a farmer? However, if you still wish to take it to the fair, you may.” She granted him permission and even instructed him to carry grass and water for the calf.
Accompanied by his sister Bindu, Pinchu embarked on their journey to the fair. Their village, perched atop a hill, overlooked the Beas River, where the fair was held. The path down the hill, composed of naturally carved boulders, was challenging for city kids but routine for village children.
Pinchu and Bindu felt a sense of adventure as they discussed the money they might earn from selling the calf at the fair. They enjoyed the calm flow of the river and the soothing breeze, though it played havoc with their hair.
Upon reaching the fairgrounds, they were awed by the massive, horned oxen in comparison to their tiny calf. Looking for a place to tie their calf, they settled on a tree for shade, offering it grass and water. They enthusiastically called out to sell the calf for Rs 500, although no takers emerged.
Finally, an elderly man offered Rs100, to which Pinchu and Bindu firmly responded with a joint “no.” They were resolute about not settling for anything less than Rs 500. After the old man left, they decided to explore the fair further.
Engaging in various activities, they forgot about the calf tied under the tree. With little concern for theft in those times, they left Bullu and mingled with friends from their village. As the day turned into evening, they returned home with their friends.
Their grandmother inquired about the calf and whether they had sold it. Pinchu and Bindu’s faces revealed their mistake. Regretfully, they explained, “Dadi ma, we’re very sorry. We accidentally left him at the Nalwar fair. We met our friends and got carried away, enjoying ourselves.”
Grandma sighed deeply and suggested, “Leave him for tonight; bring him back tomorrow morning. It’s already quite dark outside.” However, the thought of their calf hungry and thirsty throughout the night weighed heavily on Pinchu and Bindu. They couldn’t bear it and firmly declared, “No, grandma, we will bring him back, no matter how dark it is or how far we have to travel. We can’t let him go without food and water for even one night.”
Their grandmother was pleased with their response, testing their concern for the calf. She said, “My dear children, I’m glad to see your care for the little calf. You’ve shown that every life, even an animal’s, holds value. Don’t worry; I’ll accompany you to retrieve him. Let’s go together.” Pinchu and Bindu were overjoyed that their grandmother didn’t scold them and agreed to help. That night, they witnessed stars and the moon conversing with each other. They watched Venus shimmering in the moonlight.
In the end, they arrived at the spot where Bullu was tethered. His eyes glistened with joy as he saw Pinchu and Bindu. They whispered to Bullu, promising him that they would never sell him. If you had been there, you would have witnessed a heartwarming demonstration of sincere care and love for another life.