A Monkey Tale

We have a regular visitor at our balcony these days, for the past few months. We are kind of happy when he comes, because after the Corona season has started, we hardly have any visitors. The visitor is none other than a Monkey as you might have guessed. 

Even though I respect and adore our culture of treating guests with utmost respect and hospitality [ Athithi Devo Bhava ], I don't entertain giving  food items to monkeys especially when you stay in an apartment complex. So, we just watch him. But our visitor didn’t need our consent. He started plucking our tomatoes. The thing which made me sadder was he didn't even eat it completely. He just chewed and spat it. That’s not right. If you pluck it, at least you should finish it. After all, those were the most delicious tomatoes which I ever had (may be that is what everyone feels when they eat fresh vegetables from their vegetable garden). 

 

So, as our visitor started to pluck our tomatoes, that too he was more expert than us in planning and plucking them as soon as they ripe. So, we really needed to do something to protect our tomatoes.

First, we kept the plant inside for some days, hoping we can trick the monkey away (And the monkey might have thought that these silly people don't even know the basic needs of a plant.)

Finally, we moved our tomato plant to another balcony where monkeys don't come usually.

And when our next tomato had fully ripened, he came again. He searched for the tomatoes in vain and looked at us with a pity face and went away. That’s when our preschooler started screaming

 Monkey, Monkey, come come...!!!!

Me:  Why are you calling the monkey?

Kiddo: He doesn't know that the tomato plant is on the other balcony. We need to tell him.

Me: But then Monkey will eat all our tomatoes.

Kiddo: That is okay Amma. Monkey might be hungry. Where else does he get food from?

I tried to convince her by telling that monkeys get food from trees and plants in the forest, but I could see from her curious eyes that she was not convinced at all.

Isn't it really sweet? Kids are really amazing, aren't they? They are genuinely concerned about every single thing around them. They have not fallen into the idea that humans are superior to all the other living creatures on the earth. For them all creatures are equal. And everyone has their right to live and use the resources provided by mother earth.

When do we all stop thinking like them, and start thinking like adults? Sometimes things are better and much simpler when you can think like a kid. 

 

 

 

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