One old woman lived in a village near a forest’s edge. She was grand mother of Ishu, who lived with her parents on the other side of the forest. There was no road, and one had to climb a big hill and go through the dense forest to go to the other side.
One day the weather was fine and the Granny baked her favourite cookies. She put some good cookies in a jar and wanted to keep it on the shelf. Then she suddenly thought of Ishu. She could not help a strong urge to meet her Grand daughter. So she quickly got dressed and started to get ready to go across the forest.
She took an umbrella, a coat, the jar of cookies and a Dhol. The dhol is a big round drum that granny always took with her when she went into the forest. When she met any animal, she would beat the dhol loudly. The animal got scared and would run away. Some times a hunter would hear the drum and come to help Granny. She also took her walking stick and put on her glasses.
Granny started her journey and soon she was in thick forest, climbing over the steep hill. She saw beautiful birds and butterflies. She heard the song of the Koel. She always enjoyed her journey. She walked past the gurgling stream and was very happy. She began to hum some old song as she went along.
Then she suddenly saw a wolf sitting near a rock. The wolf was happy to see Granny coming with such sweet smelling cookies. He began to drool. But Granny did not have any extra cookies for the wolf. The wolf said,
“Morning Gran, please give me all the cookies or I will eat you up.”
But granny was not scared. She told the wolf,
“Morning, Wolf. I can not give you the cookies, these are for Ishu. So when I come back from Ishu’s house, you can eat me” The wolf was happy that he will get a big dinner. So he smiled as Granny climbed the hill further and deeper, into the forest.
She had hardly gone some distance when she saw a Bear. The Bear liked the sweet smell of the Cookies. He began to drool, too. But Granny had no extra cookies. The bear said,
“Morning Gran, please give me all the cookies or I will eat you up”. But this did not scare Granny. She said,
“Morning Bear, I can not give you the cookies, these are for Ishu. So when I come back you can eat me up.” The bear thought that he will have a big dinner and he was pleased.
Granny began to climb the last slope of the hill. After this climb it would be down hill and she will not tire any more. She held the Dhol in one hand and the Cookies in the other. As she neared the top she saw the Tiger near a tree. The tiger could not resist the sweet smell of the cookies and he began to drool too. The tiger said, “Morning Gran, please give me all the cookies or I will eat you up”. Granny was not scared; she looked him in the eye and said,
“Morning Tiger, I can not give you the cookies as these are for Ishu. So when I come back you can eat me up”. The Tiger was happy that he will have a very good dinner.
Granny walked on and soon she was at the edge of the forest. From there she could see Ishu’s house and she began to walk even faster.
Once at the house she was very happy to meet Ishu. Ishu was also very happy to meet Granny and they played in the Garden for some time. Then they went inside and Granny gave the cookie jar to Ishu. Ishu said “Thank you Granny” and began to enjoy the sweet cookies.
Soon it was getting dark and Granny had to go back to her house. She kissed Ishu Bye and prepared to return. She carried her walking stick, put on her glasses and carried the Dhol under her arm. Then she walked some distance and waved to Ishu from the edge of the village. Soon, she was climbing the hill and came to the top. Here the Tiger was waiting for her. The Tiger said,”OK Gran, now I will eat you.” Granny put the dhol on the ground and sat on top of it. She said,”Roll my Dhol, roll my Dhol”. Then she sat down on the Dhol and the dhol began to roll down hill very fast. The Tiger could not run so fast and he was soon left behind.
Granny stopped and took the dhol again in her arms. But soon she met the Bear. The Bear was happy that he could now have a big meal. The Bear said, “OK Gran, now I will eat you up”. Granny once again put the dhol on the ground and sat on top of it. She said, “Roll my Dhol, Roll my Dhol”. The dhol began to roll down hill very fast and the bear could not run so fast and he too, was left far behind.
Granny stopped once again and took the dhol in her arms. But soon she met the Wolf. The Wolf had waited for a long time and he was very hungry. He saw Granny and said, “OK Gran, now I will eat you up”. Granny put the Dhol down and climbed on top of it. She said, “Roll my Dhol, Roll my Dhol”. The Dhol began to roll down hill very fast. The wolf could not run so fast and he was soon left far behind.
Granny stopped now as she was at the forest’s edge. She could see her own house from here and smell cookies she had left at home.
She was soon at home drinking a cup of tea and munching at the cookies.