How the Elephant got its trunk?

How the elephant got its trunk?*

A long, long time ago, when the world was just created by God, animals and human beings used to play together; eat together and live together in a place called Jungle Nagar.

That time, elephants didn’t have the long trunks they’ve today. They used to have a nose just like that of the humans.

Amongst the animals, there was a baby elephant named Trunky. Trunky was the naughtiest kid in the entire Jungle Nagar. What to say of the animals, even the humans were fed up of his naughtiness. He derived immense pleasure from beating other kids of the other animals as well as humans.

Whenever his mother would tell him to study and complete his homework, he would run outside the house to play. No matter how much his mother scolded him, he would continue dirtying the walls of his house and others with his colour pens and crayons.

He had many toys to play with but he did not take proper care of them. Asking for a new toy from his parents every 2nd day and start crying if his demands were turned down had become the order of the day.

In school also, he was also up to some kind of mischief. He had got into a very bad habit of stealing things from his classmates’ bags. He would also forcibly snatch away the tiffins of the other animal and human kids of his class.

Finally tired of his mischievousness, all humans and animals went to the Jungle God and complained about Trunky. “If he does any mischief now onwards, just pull his nose. With every mischief, his nose would stretch a bit and if he doesn’t stop his mischief, he day would lose his nose one day.” God told them.

Trunky didn’t pay heed to the warning of the Jungle God. He continued with his bad conduct. As a result, one day his nose got stretched so much that it took the shape of a long rope touching the ground. Now all the other animals and human being started making fun of Trunky. He looked really strange with a long rope-like nose.

He realized his mistake and decided to pay a visit to the Jungle God to ask for his forgiveness and get back his nose.

The Jungle God lived at a faraway place. Trunky set off to meet the Jungle God all alone.

Meanwhile, the Jungle Nagar was ravaged by flood. Most of the homes got destroyed and many humans and animals even died. Jungle Nagar was virtually cut off from the rest of the world. In a matter of few days, all the food and water stock started getting empty. The habitants of Jungle Nagar had to wade through the flood water with great difficulty to reach to the far-off town and get food and water for their family and friends.

On the other hand, Trunky, not aware of the situation back home, was too happy to have finally reached the place where the Jungle God lived.

“I’m sorry God. Please forgive me. Nobody loves me. I’ve got no friends because of my earlier behaviour. All make fun of me because of my nose. Give me just one chance. I’ll be a good kid.” he pleaded to God.

Just then, Trunky spotted Daisy sparrow, his neighbour in Jungle Nagar, passing by that place carrying some food. “Daisy aunty, Daisy aunty!” he called out to Daisy sparrow.

“What happened to you Daisy aunty?” he asked.

“What to tell Trunky? Everything has been ruined back home because of the flood. “Daisy sparrow replied in a sad tone.

Trunky was taken aback. “What? What are you saying? How….how are my parents?” he asked, tears welling up in his eyes.

“They’re fine, they’re fine. Don’t worry about them. But they are too sick to fetch for food and water themselves.” Daisy told Trunky. “You take care Trunky and try to be back as soon as possible.”

Trunky turned to the Jungle God after Daisy sparrow left and requested him to do something for the Jungle Nagar residents. God, in reply, told him that he could be the biggest help to them in this hour of crisis. “Me? How…How God?....I mean I’m so small.”

“But you’ve a long nose Trunky. You could take back lots of food and water in it back to Jungle Nagar.” God suggested. “Or if you want your original nose back, I could grant that wish of yours.”

Trunky was in a spot. On one hand, he had the lives of his family and the Jungle Nagar inmates were at stake. On the other hand, he wanted his nose back too.

Trunky finally decided to put others before his personal wish and went back to Jungle Nagar with his long rope-like nose carrying lots of food and water in it.

He became a hero to all. He was even conferred with the ‘Jungle Nagar Ratna’ award for his selfless service.

One day, the Jungle God himself paid a visit to Trunky. “ I’m very happy with you Trunky. If you want, I can give back your nose to you.”

“No, God. It was this long rope-like nose only that helped save the lives of my family and others. I’ve realized that whatever happens, happens for the best. One should be happy and content with how they have been made by you and try to convert their weaknesses into strengths.” Trunky told.

God was very happy seeing this change in Trunky. “Trunky, now onwards all the elephants in this world will have this long rope-like nose like yours and it will be called TRUNK in honour of you.” God said and left.

So, ever since that day, every elephant was born with a nose like that of Trunky was it was called TRUNK after Trunky’s name.

(* registered with the Writers’ Guild of America)