The Dog Who Went Abroad

The Dog Who Went Abroad: Once upon a time, in a small town in ancient India, there lived a dog named Chitranga. He was a sturdy, street-smart canine who had spent his entire life roaming the familiar alleys of his neighborhood. However, fate took a cruel turn when a devastating famine struck the region. The rains failed. The crops withered. The humans struggled to feed themselves. There were no leftovers to spare for the animals. Chitranga, once well-fed and energetic, found his ribs poking through his skin.

Desperation often drives one to make bold choices. Circumstances and a bit of deception can change the course of a life. This is just like in the narrative of The Story of the Potter. Chitranga decided that staying in his homeland would surely lead to his demise. He thought to himself, “In a place where even humans are starving, a dog has no hope. I must seek my fortune elsewhere.”

The Journey to a Foreign Land- The Dog Who Went Abroad

Chitranga set out on a long and arduous journey. He traveled through scorched fields and crossed dried-up riverbeds. His spirit faced challenges at every corner. It reminded one of the endurance found in tales like The Crows and Owls. In those stories, survival depends on wit and perseverance. After many days of wandering, he finally arrived at a large, prosperous city in a distant kingdom.

This city was unlike anything he had ever seen. The houses were grand, and the smells wafting from the kitchens were intoxicating. While exploring a wealthy neighborhood, Chitranga found a mansion where the mistress was somewhat careless with the kitchen door. He slipped inside. There, he discovered a feast fit for royalty. Bowls of rich curds, pieces of tender meat, and mounds of fragrant rice awaited him. He had never imagined such a luxurious life. It was perhaps even grander than the lifestyle of The King Devoted to His Wife.

The Price of Plenty- The Dog Who Went Abroad

For a few days, Chitranga lived like a king. He would sneak into the house. Then he would gorge himself on the finest delicacies. After that, he would find a quiet corner to sleep off his meal. He grew plump, and his coat began to shine again. However, this paradise came with a hidden cost. Every time he left the mansion and walked through the city, people ignored him. They did not show any hospitality. Instead, they met him with fierce hostility.

The local dogs of the city were territorial and aggressive. They saw Chitranga as an intruder, a foreign usurper who didn’t belong in their streets. They didn’t care that he was just a hungry traveler; to them, he was an enemy. They would surround him, snarling and baring their teeth. To them, he seemed weak. They viewed him as much like the unsuspecting victims in the story of The Greedy Cobra And Frog King.

One afternoon, the local dogs caught Chitranga in a narrow alleyway. They attacked him from all sides, biting his legs and tearing at his ears. Chitranga fought back as best as he could, but he was outnumbered. He barely managed to escape with his life, bleeding and limping back to the safety of the mansion.

The Realization and Return- The Dog Who Went Abroad

As he licked his wounds in the dark corner of the kitchen, Chitranga began to reflect on his situation. He had plenty of food, yes, but he lived in constant fear. He couldn’t step outside without being hunted. He realized that the physical hunger he felt back home was insignificant. It was nothing compared to the psychological torment of being an outsider in a land that hated him. He felt as foolish as the character in The Lion and The Foolish Donkey. His basic instincts overrode his common sense.

“It is true,” Chitranga sighed. “In my own country, there is a famine and I am hungry. But there, I have friends and family. No one tries to kill me just for walking down the street. Here, the food is plentiful, but the atmosphere is poisonous. A home with a little is better. It is better than a foreign land with a lot, if that lot comes with constant fear.”

Determined to return to his roots, Chitranga waited until his wounds healed. He then set out on the long trek back to his village. When he finally arrived, his old friends gathered around him, amazed to see him so well-fed and healthy-looking. They asked him, “Tell us, Chitranga! How is the foreign land? Is it as wonderful as they say? Why have you come back to this place of hunger?”

Chitranga looked at them and replied wisely, “The foreign land has everything one could desire. It offers food and comfort. The houses are filled with butter and meat. But there is one great flaw: your own kind will hate you because you are a stranger. I would rather starve among my own people than feast among enemies.”