The Game For The BrideGroom
Once a couple of young elephants, one male, and the other female, went out on a long journey, to see the wide-wide world. They left their own forest far behind and entered another much bigger forest beyond a range of hills. They were thrilled to see the new world. There were plenty of green vegetables to eat and excellent lakes to bathe in. There were fresh springs from which they were delighted to drink. One evening they reached a valley. The cow-elephant was quite tired. She relaxed near a lake. "Let me see if this place is safe enough for us," said the bull-elephant. He then went to make a survey of the valley. The valley was the home of a horde of elephants. Their leader, an old elephant, spied upon the cow-elephant. "This one does not belong to this forest.
She is certainly the most beautiful cow-elephant I have ever seen. Let me marry her," the leader elephant told the members of his horde. The cow-elephant was scared at the proposal. But she had commonsense to understand that the old elephant was a tyrant and it would be dangerous to quarrel with him. She waited patiently. Soon it was night. The elephants fell asleep. The cow-elephant saw her mate returning to her. She went near him and forbade him to come closer to the horde. Both discussed the situation for some time and then the cow-elephant returned to the old elephant. She woke him up and said, "Let us play a game. How sweet is this moonlit night!" The old elephant, though tired, did not like to disappoint his would-be wife. He stood up and asked her what game she would like to play. "Let us have a stroll. Let me see how green is your valley!" she said. The old elephant was happy to guide her through the valley, while the horde lay asleep. The two went near a lake at the foot of the hill.
"In my land, the bride and bridegroom, before their marriage, play a game in the lake. Both duck in the water. One who can remain longer, wins," said the cow-elephant. "If that is the custom, we can also play the game," said the old elephant. Both entered the lake and went underwater. The cow-elephant came out in a minute and ran towards the hill where her mate was waiting. Both crossed the other side as fast as possible. The old elephant remained underwater for some time. Then he raised his head but did not see the bride elephant. He concluded that she was still under the water. Not to lose the game, he went under the water gain. Minutes later he raised his head only to marvel at the endurance of his bride! He ducked again, not to be outdone. A long time passed. The old elephant could no more bear the pressure of the game. He came ashore and lay on the bank, exhausted. In the morning when his followers reached there in search of him, he was about to die. By then the young couple was far away, happily heading towards their home.
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