A friend in need is a friend indeed!

"Gajamu! Shall we go to the lotus pond today? We can enjoy, play, and take a bath?" said Kurram.

"Certainly! I walk slowly. Won't you be bored to walk along with me?" asked Gajamu.

"No issues at all. It is such fun to talk with you. I will walk along with you, happily sharing stories. Well, Gajamu, you start walking towards the pond. I will keep the horse gram bags in the house and join you quickly," said Kurram.

Kurram, the horse, and Gajmu, the elephant, were close friends.

Gajamu took quick steps. He walked as fast as he could. He wanted to cover a sizeable part of the distance before Kurram came.

Kurram did not come soon. He got delayed as he was collecting some crunchy snacks for Gaja and himself.

Gaja had reached the lotus pond.

"Why didn't Kurram come yet? What happened to him? Has he gotten involved in some other errand?" wondered Gaja.

"OK, let him come. In the meanwhile, it is better to get into the pond and start taking a bath. I can scrub myself well," thought Gaja after waiting for Kurram for a considerable time.

The lotus pond was not very deep. Gajamu could not take a complete dip in it. However, when Kurram called, he agreed to come there because of its cool and fragrant water.

Gajamu started scrubbing himself, splashing the water over his body with the help of his trunk. He hummed his favorite tune as he was splashing the water.

"Hi, Gajamu! What are you doing? Bathing or fighting with water?" a voice said.

Gajamu turned his head. Bilvan, the mischievous monkey, was standing there with a sarcastic smile.

"What a great style of bathing!" chuckled Bilvan. The monkey made fun of Gajamu. He jumped into the water and swam here and there.

"Look here, Gaja! I am going to dive into the pond!" shouting proudly at Gajamu, Bilvan climbed up the nearby tree and jumped from one of the branches.

"Hey, Bilvan! Stop your jibes! I came here as Kurram wanted to come here. You come to the big pond in the north. I will show you how to take a plunge in the water! You will get drowned if you step into that pond," warned the elephant.

"Clip clop, clip clop…" The sound of hooves… Kurram had neared the pond.

Meanwhile, Bilvan had climbed onto the tree again. He caught hold of a branch and hung from it.

"Bilvan! Be careful! That branch is weak! It may break!" shouted Gajamu.

The branch of the tree gave in and broke, and the helpless Bilvan fell into the part of the pond where it was slushy.

Bilvan could not get up from the slushy water.

"Gajamu! Help me!" wailed Bilvan, and in no time, he was sucked into the muck and slush.

Gajamu moved fast towards the slushy side of the pond. He wanted to save the monkey.

At that moment, Kurram arrived there.

"Hey, Gajamu! Why do you go to that end? After taking a bath in the fragrant water, will anyone go there and get dirty?" questioned Kurram, the horse.

"No, my dear Kurram! Bilvan has gotten stuck there," said Gaja. His voice showed concern and care.

"Oh! Bilvan got into the slush! He deserves it! Let him be there. He always makes fun of you. He ridicules anyone and everyone! Why should you go there to help him?" argued Kurram.

Gajamu searched for Bilvan in the slush and pulled him out of the slush with his trunk.

Kurram also reached where Gaja was standing. He cut the creepers which were around Bilvan’s legs.

Gajamu cleaned Bilvan in good, clean water.

"Bilvan! Bilvan!" Both Kurram and Gajamu called him. But, Bilvan did not open his eyes at all.

"Kurram! Take him to our doctor. I will inform his mother and bring her there," said Gajamu.

Bilvan opened his eyes after two hours.

"Gajamu! My brother! I am very sorry. Please forgive me. I will not make fun of you hereafter. Although I make fun of you, you saved me when I was in a dangerous situation. Thank you so much," said Bilvan apologetically.