गिलहरी रानी

Summary

A boy visiting his aunt's house rescues a baby squirrel from a dog and decides to keep it, naming it Rani. Despite his grandmother's initial reluctance, his grandfather allows it. The boy creates a comfortable home for Rani in a cage in his room, feeding her milk, fruit, and nuts. Rani grows and becomes very attached, following the boy everywhere. When taken to the garden, Rani shows a love for the outdoors, climbing trees and exploring. The boy begins leaving the cage door open, giving Rani freedom to come and go as she pleases. She spends her days playing in the garden and returns to her cage only to sleep. Over time, Rani appears less frequently. The boy eventually sees her with another squirrel. One night, he finds her cage empty; she has left. Months later, the boy hears a squirrel crying and sees Rani running toward him, then toward the back of the house. He follows and finds a large snake holding a squirrel. His uncle arrives and uses a bamboo pole to force the snake to release the squirrel, but the squirrel is dead. The boy recognizes it as Rani's friend. A vulture then swoops down and carries the dead squirrel away. Rani, watching from a tree, suddenly runs up to a nest at the top. The uncle suggests she has a baby there. That evening, Rani appears in the boy's room carrying her baby. She places the baby on the ground. The family believes Rani is afraid of the vulture and snake and wants the boy to protect her baby. The boy retrieves the old cage and places the baby inside. Rani enters the cage and begins nursing her baby. The boy's grandfather, moved to tears, offers a prayer and reflects on the importance of pure resolve, self-confidence, and the spiritual power of fulfilling one's commitments.