Find out how Cheeku rabbit befriends a different animal in the forest!
The afternoon heat in Champakvan was unbearable. Cheeku rabbit was thirsty. He went to the nearby pond to drink water. No one was sitting by the pond except him.
“I will quickly drink some water and go home,” he thought.
But as soon as his tongue touched the water, he heard a terrifying animal hissing. He jumped back and looked up.
He saw large bubbles coming out on the surface of the water, but he could not see anyone there. He silently kept watching the surface for some time but saw no one.
“Is it a crocodile?” he thought. But he was sure that there were no crocodiles in this part of the forest.
He was still thirsty and went closer to the pond to drink more water. Again, he heard the hissing sound. He swiftly raised his head and saw bubbles.
A head popped out of the water.
“Oh no!” frightened, he ran away and hid behind the bushes. It was a strange creature. Cheeku observed it dancing in the water as its head would come out at a corner of the pond and then dive in. Then, its head would come out at another corner. This went on for a while. All of a sudden, it came out of the pond completely.
Cheeku was terrified. It was of the size of an elephant with a stout body, but small legs. The creature started grazing. Cheeku was greatly relieved as it meant the creature was a herbivore, an animal who eats plants. The creature was slow in movement too.
After observing it for a while, Cheeku thought that he need not be frightened
of it.
But he was scared to
approach the new creature. He tried to go close to it, but
it started hissing again and stared back at Cheeku.
“Go away! Get away from me! Who are you? I am angry with you. Go away!” the creature said.
Cheeku ran as fast as he could and hid behind a tree. But he was curious to know what this creature was doing in Champakvan. He gathered courage and went back to the pond.
“This is our forest. Who are you? And what are you doing here?” Cheeku asked, his voice stuttering.
The creature stared at Cheeku for some time, it then slowly went back into the water.
Cheeku was certain that this animal would not be able to harm him as he could run fast.
“You did not tell me who you are. You are not an elephant, are you?” Cheeku asked again.
“I told you to get away from here. Or I will run, catch you, and beat you up,” the creature threatened.
Cheeku started laughing. “Foolish fellow! You cannot beat me in a race. I am a rabbit, the one who flies in the air. And look at you…,” he managed to say just this much before the creature came out running fast towards him.
Cheeku ran away as he was scared the creature would crush him.
After chasing Cheeku for some time, the creature went back in the water. Cheeku was trembling with fear. He went and hid in the bushes.
The creature could sense Cheeku’s fear. “I am sorry but I am very sad, therefore, I am angry,” the creature shouted back from the water.
Cheeku came out of the bush. Seeing his sad face he felt pity for the creature.
“Why are you sad? If you want, you can share your problem with me. Maybe I can help you,” he offered.
The creature softened and said, “I am a Hippopotamus. My name is Harry.”
“A Hippopotamus!” Cheeku was surprised. “Oh! I know about you. You are the third-largest land animal after the elephant and rhinoceros. Also, Hippopotamuses are generally 12 feet long and 5 feet wide, and are heavy.
Am I right?”
Harry nodded his head.
“I know that you are very heavy, but I am unaware of the numbers,” Cheeku said eagerly. “Please tell me something