Folktales from Bhutan

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...

Once upon a time, in a big forest there lived a happy hen, happy because she laid an unusually big egg that spring. She was busy preparing a nest for her baby. She was really excited and whistling familiar tunes, she would ook for twigs and old pieces of clothes human beings had carelessly thrown in the jungle. She really loved the jungle and its cleanliness but at times felt sad for Mother Nature. One day while she was on her way home from her normal work, she ran onto a fierce looking fox. “Hey you little chicken,” said the fox. “I am starving here.” “Please don’t kill me,” pleaded the hapless hen. “I have to take care of my egg.” “Egg or no egg, I am going to have you now.” “Even if you kill me, kill me once my child is big to be able to find food on his own.” But the greedy fox landed a heavy blow on her innocent chest. The pain was too much for her to stomach and it only increased as her enemy continued hitting her with no stint of mercy. Thus, the hen ceased to liv...

Once upon a time, there lived two friends in a big forest, a hen and a kirwa . A kirwa is a small animal that resembles a cat. The wild cat and the hen were the best friends, best in that part of the jungle. The hen and the wild cat lived a small house built out of bamboo and wood. It was a big house by any animal standard. They worked together and collected food together. And one day as the sun was about to set and darkness was yet to fall on in the forest, the wild cat asked the hen, "hey hen, where do you sleep today?" The voice sounded as if it came from a pair of jalings being blown by the monks to welcome the dawn. "Today I will sleep near the hearth," she lied and when the world was silent and shining stars were out, the hen was awoken suddenly by a loud crashing sound that landed near the hearth. "Hey cat, what are doing there?" asked the hen from the windowsill. " Byar rey mimang rama rema, gun ni mimang saka lung ," the wild ca...