“Appa! There is a cow in the field,” cried Meena, as she barged into the dining room where her father was having his breakfast. He was a farmer, and as it was the harvest season he had a long day ahead of him. Meena and her brother, Ramesh had decided to help him in the field, during the vacation. They did not want to attend the summer camp being held at their school.
Shoo! Shoo!
“That cow,” said their father angrily, as he got up, “this will be the last time it strays into my field.” He quickly washed his hands and on his way out, picked up the stout stick, that was kept by the kitchen door, and ran to the field.
Meena ran behind him, shouting, “Appa! Wait! I will come with you.”
But, her father was so angry he never heard her cries. He ran to the field shouting, “Hey! Shoo! Shoo! Shoo!” waving his big stick in front of him.
The cow was grazing languidly in the field enjoying the summer breeze and the meal thoroughly. Hearing the shouts, she looked up startled. She realised that the man waving the stick and charging down was about to attack her. “I must act soon,” she thought. She mooed loudly. Her big eyes rolled wildly, and then, with no warning, she kicked up her legs and with her tail flying she began to run out of the field.
The farmer followed close behind still shouting, followed by Meena, crying out to her father to wait. Loudly, the little band ran around the field. Ramesh, who had been stacking sheaves of hay looked out and saw a strange sight. His father running after the cow, followed by Meena. All of them were shouting.
“What a to-do,” he thought to himself. “I must stop them!”
He ran behind them yelling, ”Hey, stop! What’s up with you guys?”
The cow ran around the field. She passed the hens, who stopped their scratching and looked up in surprise. They let off a frightful clucking when they saw the cow, the farmer, Meena and Ramesh running past.
“There’s something amiss,” said the cockerel. “Let’s find out.”
So the cockerel and the hens joined, feathers flying and clucking loudly in distress.
All this clamour was upsetting the cow even more. She found a low fence and jumped over. The farmer was in such a frenzy that he did not realise that the cow was now out of his field. He continued the chase. Meena and Ramesh followed him, and behind him the cockerel and the hens.
The cow ran into the woods and frightened some ducks that were enjoying their morning swim. A nasty cackle rose up as the disturbed ducks quacked their distaste for the ruckus. Then they saw the cockerel and the hens.
“Let’s not be left behind, “said the head duck. Quickly herding her flock out of the water they waddled off behind the cow, the farmer, Meena, Ramesh, the cockerel and the hens.
The noise was deafening.
Soon, they had run way beyond the woods and into the neighbouring farm. There was a horse in the paddock. He looked up and saw the most amazing sight.
“Looks like a lot of fun,” he said. He quickly jumped out and joined the melee.
The cow ran out of the field onto the dirt track that ran beside. She realised that the noise had not subsided, instead it had become louder.
“This is unbearable,” she thought. “I wish I had never stepped into that horrid field.”
Up ahead a dhobi and his donkey were walking at a leisurely pace. The dhobi had strapped the freshly laundered clothes on the donkey’s back. The morning calm was suddenly shattered by a terrible racket that seemed to be drawing close. He turned around to see a cow, the farmer, Meena, Ramesh, cockerel, hens, ducks and horse run by. Not wanting to miss the fun, the donkey joined in and the dhobi, wanting to save his precious bundle, ran behind screaming, “Stop, you silly donkey!”
The contingent passed the village school where the summer camp was being held. Hearing the to-do, the children rushed out. They were shocked with the sight they saw.
“The summer camp seems dull in the light of all this fun,” said one boy.
“Let’s join them,” said a girl.
And before they knew it, the band of 15 children brought up the rear, shouting and laughing at the great comical sight they were a part of.
The cow rushed into the village square. The policeman on duty had just finished his delicious breakfast. His eyes were heavy and was about to nod off under the great big banyan tree, as was his custom. Then he heard the hullabulla.
“Is that thunder I hear? Or is it those nasty dacoits with their villainous war cry?” He peered into the distance and saw a big crowd coming towards him.
“What in heaven’s name is this!” he exclaimed. “STOP! STOP!” he shouted. He blew his whistle repeatedly. The cow spotting an ally drew up suddenly right in front of him, frightening him so much that he almost swallowed his whistle.
Never ending pile
The farmer went crash! bang! into the cow and Meena and Ramesh fell on their father. The cockerel and hens, the ducks, the horse, the dhobi and the donkey and the children all fell on top of them. It was a fine heap of people and birds and animals.
It took the policeman almost an hour to disentangle them. And when he finally did, he asked, “What’s all this about?”
“This cow is always getting into my field. I was chasing her out!” said the farmer.
“What about the rest?” asked the policeman, puzzled.
“We were chasing him,” they said, pointing to the farmer!
