A Lion's tale

There was a conspicuous silence. All talks had died to hushed whispers. The leaves fluttered in the wind and the dried twigs snapped under the weight of the rushing animals. Even the big predators like the tigers and the leopards stepped aside and bowed their head. The big Elephants raised their trunks. The small rabbits scurried to a corner. The birds flew up and started circling around the pool. The monkeys climbed the nearby trees and dangled from its branches. The King of the jungle had arrived at the pool for a drink. The Lion King arrived at the pool accompanied with his pack. He majestically walked up to the pool. He took a drink followed by his pack. As he turned to leave, he gave out a loud roar to acknowledge his subjects who were patiently waiting for him to quench his thirst. As the Lion and his pack left the pool, the animals resumed drinking the water.

After the Lion had left the pool he turned to his male cub and asked him,"Little one, Why do you think the animals waited for us to finish drinking the water?". The male cub replied gingerly,"Because, you are their King and they are afraid of you." The Lion laughed and patted the little cub's head lovingly. "My dear child, you are both right and wrong." "How's that father?", asked the little cub curiously.

"You are right that the animals waited for to finish drinking as I am their King. But, you are wrong to think that they do so out of my fear." He continued,"My child, they Respect me. You can make people bow to you out of fear. But, you can never win their respect in that way. A good leader is one who loves his people and treats himself in the same way as any one else. He does not trouble his people and is always ready to defend his people like he would defend his own family."

"But, father we hunt these animals. Aren't these animals afraid of us?" the little cub asked the Lion King not satisfied with his father's reply. "Yes, child. We hunt the animals but only when we are hungry. Eating flesh is our nature. We can't go against it. But, we don't hunt for sport. We protect the animals in our territory from predators outside our jungle. My subjects know this and show me their gratitude by giving me the privilege to drink first from the pool."

The little cub was happy to hear his father's reply. He said,"Father, I am proud to be your son. One day, I too shall become a great King like you."

After the Lion had left, the animals began talking freely. The Rhino said to his brother,"Did you notice how much fat this Lion has become?". "Yes, brother. All he does is to sit full day while his pack hunts innocent animals." replied his brother.

The hyaenas gathered around and laughed wickedly. Let us follow this foolish pack and snatch their kill.

One of the Elephants trumpeted loudly and exclaimed,"Gosh, my trunk is hurting. Why do we have to salute this stupid Lion?" The elder Elephant replied,"Our salute keeps the Lion and his pack happy. They don't attack our calfs."

The leopard whispered to the tiger,"This Lion thinks he is some kind of noble animal and we bow to him because he is someone special. He does not even know that all these animals laugh behind his back." "Why do you think they do that? He seems like a nice chap." the tiger wondered.

"After he killed his own brother to claim the jungle's territory, all animals are afraid of him. He thinks he liberated us from his brother. He does not even know that his brother was far less cruel than his pack. His pack feeds on at least ten small animals every day. While his brother only used to hunt only one or two buffalos every day." the leopard explained to the tiger.

The wise eagle had overheard the conversation of the Lions as well as the other animals. The eagle thought,"The foolish Lion thinks that his subjects love him and respect him. But, the lion cub was right. They are just afraid of him. In the end, everyone cares only about themselves and thinks they are on the right side. But, others look only look at our faults."

The End