A river dammed – The Hindu

A procession of catfish were walking purposefully towards the shore. The adults had bowls of water strapped to their backs. Schools of other fish swam in these. Cows and calves, goats and their kids, frogs and leeches, three cats and 14 dogs trekked with them.

“What happened?” asked, Koel.

“We don’t know. The brook flowed out as always; but, all of a sudden, no water flowed in! The salmon are guiding us upstream,” replied an elderly catfish.

“We are hoping there will be water there,” mooed a thirsty cow.

“Hmm…strange. Let me see if I can help,” thought Koel, as she raced upstream. She jogged by the riverbed through the meadows and into the ancient forest of towering trees.

She was a quarter of the way in when a voice boomed, “Mogu! You’d better get into that water. Now! You stink!”

“No, Mama! No bath,” declared an equally loud voice.

Luthana’s dam

Then Koel saw it. The brook had been dammed with a mammoth tree and humongous boulders. On the shore stood the giantess Luthana and her son Mogu. Luthana was trying to drag Mogu into the waters, and he was resisting with all his might

Luthana was extremely big and tall. In front of her, Koel was about as small as a puppy. But Luthana was very friendly. So, Koel put her hand into her magic pocket and pulled out a megaphone. “Luthana!” she called. The giantess looked around her. “I’m here!” cried Koel till Luthana spotted her.

“Hi, Koel,” she said.

“Hi, Luthana. You’ve blocked the waters going to the brook to make a bathtub for Mogu. It’s now dry downstream.”

“Oh no. If only Mogu had got into the water his bath would have been done in five minutes, and the brook wouldn’t have run dry. But he’s been refusing to go in for half an hour now.”

“Can’t he bathe as the brook runs?”

“He is a child, Koel. But he’s also a giant. The brook is too shallow; unless I block it so the waters are not deep enough.”

“I hate baths! Don’t want one,” pouted the little giant.

“What do you have against water, Mogu?” asked Koel.

“You like the rain well enough,” scowled his mother.

‘”The rain is fun! This brook bathtub is not,” declared the child.

Koel began to laugh. “I know what we need to do, Luthana. Give me your ear.”

A plan

Luthana bent down and Koel whispered her plan. Luthana’s face broke into a smile. She swiftly removed the blockade.

“Yay! No bath!” whooped Mogu and smiled at last. Luthana thanked Koel, picked up her beaming son, and set off towards the mountains.

Koel grinned and ran back downstream, trying to race the now rushing waters. Of course, the waters flowed faster. As she reached the meadows, she was greeted by a lovely sight.

The relieved fish were back in the brook. Thrilled by the return of the waters, the others too had jumped in; even the cats. Some animals swam and played. Others peacefully floated on their backs.

From a distance came the sound of Mogu’s delighted laughter. Hearing it, Koel knew her plan had worked. She had sent Luthana and Mogu to the largest waterfall in the highest mountain. The falling waters felt like rain to Mogu. He was playing under them without realising he was having a shower and getting clean. Grinning with glee, Koel dived into the brook for her own swim.

Published – August 30, 2025 11:54 am IST