THE SWAY OF TERROR
The parrot continued his story in a lamenting manner. He described that the
jungle was full of different animals. Although feeble animals were a source of
diet for ferocious animals yet there was great charm in life along with the
preservation of entity. Every animal tried to breed hi race and no one could
think that he would be deprived of the fascination of life one day. 2
Quite surprisingly, the fox became the head of all the animals of the jungle. In
fact, the acquisition of throne was the result of his painstaking labor. That
imposter presented the theory of snobbery to wild animals and sowed abomination
among them in a cunning way. As a result, they developed hostility and started
killing one another. Likewise, that swindler poisoned the ears of innocent and
lean animals saying that beasts had no soft corner for them and created a gulf
between them. So he achieved his cherished goal by creating hate and
superiority.3
But the vindictive fox did not remain content with it and resort to tale-bearing
in order to enmesh them I animosity. Calumny was also resorted to and anyone was
tempted to captured throne. In short, the whole wood was presenting the sight of
commotion and hurly-burly. It was the golden opportunity to overcome and, if
anyone tried to obstruct, he could not escape from horrible end.4
The parrot stopped for a while, probably he was facing some problem. The master
took out something from the bag and give it to him. After eating it, there
appeared glamour in the parrot’s eyes and he started narrating the story
fluently as well. When massacre and hurly-scurry was in its extreme, the fox
claimed a rock and shouted “My friends I feel that our king, loin is unable to
mould politicians according to latest rules and he has no any policy to check
the present tumultuous situation. Y must elect me your leader and I assure you
that there would be complete tranquility and order and no one would be injured.
I have so rare and excellent plans with sway and I would not shake your trust.”5
They kept silent for sometime then a group of animals came ahead and chose him
their king and assured of their loyalty. At last, this treacherous fox succeed
in his object and every bird, animals and beast accepted his sovereignty.
Everyone raised the slogan that the fox was great and gifted him with such other
epithets. In other words, he was not only a liege but their liberator too.6
This fraudulent fox divided all the territory and ordered that none would
interfere in other land. Lions were allotted the land near human border and
other carnivorous animals were given the land near loin’s area. Feeble and
vegetarian animals were also granted their own specific land. The middle portion
of the jungle was spared for crawling animals. It was decided that every animal
should provided food, including human meat, to the fox. 7
Loins entered the human territory and, in this way, created destruction. People
got frightened and left this area, on the contrary, the hunter hatched plans get
rid of them. Sometimes, flesh- eating animals went to the area of loins
unknowingly and met a sudden death.8
On the other hand, the carnivorous animals looked out for the vegetarian and
entered their land. So the lions had become the sign of death and terror. Man
who had been a fervent antagonist of the dwellers of woods, had to migrate or
was killed by loins. Loins were either shot by hunters or imprisoned. Other
flesh-eating animals were tortured to death by loins wittingly or unwittingly.
Likewise, the carnivorous animals started killing the vegetarians.9
Every animal felt rejoiced and praised the wisdom of the fox. They wee satisfied
at the division of the jungle and, on the top of all, they were supplying diet
to the fox honestly and dutifully and human flesh was included in it. Owing to
the use of animal and human flesh, there appeared some radical changes in the
fox and he became beast to some extent. All loins, carnivorous vegetarian
animals and men ceased to be. Now there was no animal in the woods expect the
fox but, in fact, he could not become a perfect loin.10
The parrot kept silent and perhaps he demanded some mashed-bread. The whole
crowd remained silent and listened to the parrot’s speech carefully. Probably,
they were enjoying the story. The owner of the parrot put his hand into the bag
and showed him the empty hand and the parrot only said that the remaining part
of the story would be narrated tomorrow.11
Now his master said that they would have to come tomorrow because the parrot was
not in a mood to continue the tale. You would definitely feel happy to hear this
story tomorrow. But we are hungry and, if eat something tomorrow, we will enjoy
the remaining part of the story. People started throwing coins on the sheet
which was spread by the master on the ground during his address to the people.12
Written by: Maqsood Hasni
Translated by: Najam
Taken from “JIS HATH MAIN LATHI”)