The Cruel Cock and the Innocent Hen

This is a story from my book The Cuckoo and the Pigeon published by Pilgrims Publication in Nepal.

In the middle of a big forest, there once lived a happy couple, a hen and a cock. They had seven chickens. Every day the two birds searched food for their little children who were so little to find on their own.

One day as usual, when they were searching for food, they found a grain of soya-bean.

“You take this grain and feed our children,” suggested the cock. “I will bring in some more tonight.” The hen agreed and took it home.

On the way, she became thirsty and as she kept on walking, she saw a little pond nearby. The happy hen went to drink water and as she opened her mouth, the grain, which was inside fell down…down into the deep water. She could not take it out. In extreme fear of her cruel husband, the hen continued her way home.

“Did you feed our children with that grain?” the cock asked her that evening.

“It fell down in the pond when I was drinking water.”

“You greedy fool, don’t try to cheat me, you must have eaten it yourself," the angry bird shouted at her. “You useless liar, go out of my house, I don’t want you.”

Feeling sad and lonely she walked out aimlessly.

“I have not eaten the grain, why would he not believe me?” she wondered as she walked on for many days.

That spring, the rooster could not believe what he saw; some yellow flowers have blossomed in the pond where the hen had dropped the grain.

“Oh! God, she didn’t lie, I was wrong,” he regretted.

The next day, the cock went to search his wife. He wanted to show her the flowers in the pond. He was proud that they no longer have to work. In hope of finding her, the bird continued his journey.

On his way he found a place where the hen had stopped once. He missed her even more and he sang thus;

You never lied, my dear

Yellow flowers have sprung

From the pond, my dear

Hen, wherever you are,

Please come back, my dear

I will never be rude to you again.

There was no sign of her. He followed the track again in hope of finding her along the way. After another day's walk, the cock found another place where the hen had took shelter much more recently. He sang the same song again and it brought to him happy memories of those days when they were together. Walking for another day, he found a place where the hen rested a day before and sang again;

You never lied, my dear

Yellow flowers have sprung

From the pond, my dear

Hen, wherever you are,

Please come back, my dear

I will never be rude to you again.

This time she heard her husband's song, but thinking that he was coming to beat her again, she ran as fast as she could. She ran and ran, and was soon out of breath. She fell down dead there. The next day the cock found the hen dead. Now he could never tell her how sorry he was and show her the beautiful yellow flowers in the pond. If only he had believed her they could be together at the harvest. In deep repentance he took his last breath resting his head on her chest.