Chhel and Chhabo .

- Chhel took a few steps forward and saw the cheetah growling and making attack gestures at the bear

- Chhel was a witty, sharp, and clever boy, brimming with wild ideas. Chhabo was smart too -sensible and calm, with his head firmly on his shoulders..

- Chhel lifted the cheetah by its tail. He swung it around and flung it away. The cheetah's ribs got hurt

Jivram Joshi

T he vacation was over. After having loads of fun at Nana and Nani's house in Ahmedabad, Sonu and Monu were back home in Mumbai. This time, Nana and Nani had come along to drop them off and spend a few more days with them.

That night, as always, Sonu and Monu called out together,

"Nanaji… Naniji… it's story time!"

Nana chuckled. "What kind of story do you want to hear?" he asked.

Sonu grinned. "Something totally new that we've never heard before!"

Nana started thinking. Nani smiled and said,

"Why don't you tell them a Chhel and Chhabo story?"

Sonu's eyes lit up.

"Who are Chhel and Chhabo, Naniji?"

Nani sat up a little and began explaining with excitement:

"Chhel and Chhabo were two of the most famous characters created by a wonderful writer named Jivram Joshi. Chhel was a witty boy-sharp, clever, and always full of crazy ideas. He could talk his way out of anything and was always up to something mischievous.

And Chhabo? Well, he was just as smart and full of fun. But he also had a good head on his  shoulders. Whenever Chhel got into trouble, Chhabo would use her clever thinking to help them out. He balanced his wild plans with his calm smarts."

"They were a perfect pair," Nani continued. "They were always getting into funny adventures together. Their stories were full of laughter, cleverness, and a little bit of mischief-just like the fun you two have together!" "Wow… they sound awesome!" Monu exclaimed. "Please, please tell us one of their stories now!"

Nani smiled warmly.

"Alright then," she said, settling in.

And then, she began…

***

O ne day, Chhel and Chhabo were going somewhere through the forest.

For some reason, Chhabo was not feeling well that day.

Chhabo said, "Chhel, today I can't even walk properly."

Chhel immediately lifted Chhabo on his shoulders.

He sat him on his back, just behind his neck.

He held both legs from the front and started running.

They went a little ahead. Chhel felt a bit tired.

The Naga people had used real force while attacking.

Chhel had gotten so pumped up then, he wasn't even aware of what was happening.

Now, after running like this, he thought, "Let's rest a bit."

He let Chhabo down.

It was almost evening.

He thought they should look for a place to stay the night.

Chhabo said, "Brother, we should rest on a tree. If the wild forest tribals see us, it'll be troublesome."

Chhel liked Chhabo's idea.

They saw a tamarind tree. Its branches were quite dense.

They decided to climb and sit on it.

They lifted Chhabo up first. Then Chel climbed up.

Chhabo said, "Brother, I'm thirsty. What should we do?"

Chhel said, "Oh, you're thirsty? Good thing you remembered now. If it had gotten darker, we couldn't have gone looking for water. You sit here. I'll go find water and bring some for you."

Thinking maybe he'd spot a river or pond, Chel climbed the higher branches of the tamarind tree to look around.

He saw hilly slopes and dense patches of trees.

Just then, birds suddenly flew off all around.

It wasn't too far.

Birds usually go to their nests at sunset, but also stop at rivers or ponds to drink.

But here, a large group flew off from the same place.

What could it be?

Chhel wondered.

Then he saw a kingfisher fly up high and dive down.

Chhel understood - there must be a river or pond there.

The kingfisher dives into water to catch fish.

It wasn't too far.

He told Chhabo to sit tight and set off.

The sun, hidden behind the tree's thick branches, looked as if it had already set.

He had to cross a slope.

Then he ran downhill and reached near a pond.

But just as he reached the edge, Chhel stopped.

He saw something interesting.

A bear was standing in the water.

Water was up to its shoulders.

Its front legs were still above the surface like an elephant's.

It lowered its face to drink, but something splashed on it.

The bear sneezed and snorted.

Chhel realized - the bear had fallen into the pond and couldn't get out.

Then he heard a growl.

Just near the edge stood a cheetah.

Chhel hadn't noticed him earlier.

He took a few steps forward and saw the cheetah growling and making attack gestures at the bear.

Now Chhel understood.

The birds he saw earlier had flown because of this cheetah.

Whenever a big animal like a cheetah, tiger, or lion passes by, birds flee.

Everything was clear now - but it was an entertaining scene.

Chhel stood there watching.

The cheetah growled and crept forward.

It looked like it might leap any moment.

The poor bear, scared, moved deeper into the water.

But now there was nowhere to go - water had reached its neck.

The bear was truly panicking now.

When we suddenly fall into danger, we often get an idea to save ourselves.

But panic stops us from using our brains.

Chhel stood watching, amused.

The cheetah growled louder.

Suddenly, the bear panicked and lunged forward.

The water was deep.

The bear sank.

No one likes to drown.

You must save yourself.

Swimming is a natural skill - many animals learn it on their own.

The bear had sunk but started paddling its limbs.

Soon, it came up.

It began to splash and paddle.

That's how it learned to swim.

Any four-legged animal can stay afloat in water because their body spreads out due to the legs.

So they don't sink immediately.

The bear now realized - this is fun!

I can stay above water and even move forward.

It thought, "If the cheetah is waiting here, I'll go to the other side."

The cheetah kept watching.

He thought, "Let the bear go to the other side. I'll catch it there."

Cheetahs are clever.

He didn't move.

The bear swam to the opposite edge.

Its thick fur had soaked water and weighed it down.

Still, it somehow climbed out.

It seemed tired.

Just then, the cheetah sprinted - quietly like a cat chasing a mouse.

Chhel kept watching.

The bear shook off water and started walking forward.

Then the cheetah leaped.

But something funny happened.

Somehow the bear noticed the leap.

It moved slightly.

The cheetah missed and fell.

Now the bear realized: danger!

It ran.

But cheetahs don't let prey escape easily.

Then something else happened.

The bear got a clever idea.

A slanted tree stood nearby.

The bear ran up its trunk and reached a branch.

The cheetah came too.

He saw the bear climbing further.

There were two branches running parallel.

The bear grabbed the upper one and walked on the lower.

The cheetah stared.

He thought: Good, now I won't lose this bear.

Even I can climb trees well.

He climbed up the trunk.

Chhel ran closer.

He thought a fight was about to begin.

He hid carefully to watch.

He didn't want the cheetah to notice him.

The cheetah's focus was on the bear.

The bear kept moving across the double branches.

The cheetah followed - fast.

Then - another twist.

The cheetah got too close.

He lunged at the bear's leg.

The bear lost balance.

The cheetah grabbed with its paws.

They both fell.

Now the cheetah had the advantage.

The bear fell hard - like a bag falling from a moving cart.

The cheetah aimed for the neck.

Chhel saw all this.

When the strong hurt the weak, good people don't stay quiet.

They help.

Chhel got fired up.

He ran.

The cheetah was on top of the bear.

Chhel grabbed the cheetah's tail with both hands.

He pulled with force.

The cheetah fell back.

The bear rolled too.

But the cheetah's grip loosened.

The bear was free - though tired, still lying there.

Chhel lifted the cheetah by its tail.

He swung it around and flung it away.

The cheetah's ribs got hurt.

He didn't even stop to check who flung him.

He just ran into the bushes.

The sun had already set.

It would get dark soon.

Chhel didn't wait to check on the bear.

He folded large leaves to make a cup.

He filled it with water and returned to Chhabo.

They spent the night on the tamarind tree.

At sunrise, they resumed their journey.