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Modern Stories : The Coconut Tree
Let us enjoy reading this one of Modern Stories of The Coconut Tree.
There was a small island named Tanaiya. In the middle there was a beautiful lake of crystal clear water. By the lake there was a small hut in which lived a girl whose name was Aina.
Aina loved nothing more than swimming in the lake all day long. One day, while swimming she felt something passing by, touching her body. She got such a fright that she stopped swimming, jumped upon the bank and ran towards her hut.
Next day again it happened but she saw that it was an eel. But the eel wriggled away and Aina went on swimming. It became a daily practice. After a few days both of them started swimming side by side upon the blue lake.
One day, after a long swim, when she came out of the water and sat upon the beach, the eel also swam out of the lake. Aina’s eyes opened wide in astonishment. The eel changed its shape and within moments there stood before her a man.
So handsome was he that she was wonder-struck and could not speak!
He addressed her `I’m Tuna, the god of eels. I’ve a great liking for you and have really enjoyed swimming by your side. But the time has come so I’ve to leave you.’
Aina asked sadly, “You’re going away?”
“Yes, because I have to, but before going away I wish to give you a gift so that you may always remember me.”
She asked, “What’s the gift?”
He replied with a smile “It’s difficult to tell you. But you must do as I tell you.”
Anxious, she urged him to go on.
He said, “Tomorrow I’d come to your hut in the form of an eel. You have to cut off my head. I mean the eel’s head and bury it near your hut.’ Aina was shocked and confused.
Suddenly the eel dived into the lake. Immediately the sky became overcast and Aina returned to her hut.
Next morning Aina saw an eel swimming up to the hut. The eel reached the doorstep and placed its head upon it.
The eel’s eyes seemed to implore her, “Don’t hesitate; don’t delay; do as I bade you, please!”
Aina picked up an axe and hacked off its head. Then she buried it behind the hut. At that moment the rain stopped, the storm abated and the sun smiled upon the island. After a few days she noticed a sapling grow at the spot where she had buried the eel’s head.
Gradually it grew into a tall and magnificent coconut tree. It swayed majestically when the wind blew hard and sang through the leaves. Its sweet milky water was refreshing and wonderful to taste. When the fiber covering the fruit is removed, one can still see on it features resembling the face and the eyes of an eel.
The coconut tree, of which every part is useful, is the gift of the god of eels.This is the history of the coconut tree that we use now.
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