Baula: the cow

"Chakaraa, come and look in cow shed, cow has given birth to a calf" mother of Chakaraa called him. Chakaraa was enjoying sleep in a cold winter day. After hearing mother's voice, Chakaraa jumped from the bed with excitation and run to cowshed to see calf. In the previous night, the new creature came to this earth. Calf was trying to stand, but was falling down regularly. Cow was cleaning the calf by licking the it. In day one calf was able to stand. Mother asked Chakaraa the name of calf, and he requested mother to keep the name of calf as 'Baula'. The story of Baula was his favorite where a tiger does not eat the cow named 'Baula' due to her truthfulness. Mother agreed, and the name of calf was kept as Baula. Chakaraa played with Baula everyday. Mother also needed help of Chakaraa to feed rice grain and to Baula when she was young. Baula and Chakaraa became good friend. 

After one year, Baula's mother was gifted to family of Chakaraa's brother-in-law during marriage of Chakaraa's sister. Baula did not miss her mother in presence of Chakaraa. Five year Chakaraa grew up with Baula. Baula was a short stature and white color cow. He took Baula to grass field when Bharabau did not was ill and did not take cows for grazing. Chakaraa also gave Baula leaves of drumstick,  mango, coconut etc. for eating. Baula after 7 year became a mother and her milk was very sweet. Chakaraa also dressed Baula with flower garland and prayed her on Gamha purnima (Rakhi purnima) like other peoples as in his village, Chandrapur. When Baula fought with other cow of grazing herd and came home with with broken horn, Chakaraa felt bad, nursed Baula and scolded Bharabau for being negligent during her duty towards cows when they are grazing as herd. 

Baula brought Goddess Laxmi (money) to home of Chakaraa. They built a new house, purchased land and started lending money to others for interest. Cows from Baula gave milk and oxen were used for farming and bulling bullock cart. Chakaraa used cow dunk for getting electricity and dried cow dunk were used as fuel for cooking. Chakarra decided to marry a girl whose family has cow(s) so that she would have feeling for cows. After marriage also he told his wife to be careful about Baula and her children. 

With age, friendship of Baula and Chakaraa grow stronger. When Baula was ill and did not eat properly, Chakaraa did not feel like eating. But, Chakaraa took care of Baula with the same passion even if he was ill. Once draught affected Chakaraa's state. There was no water and no grass for cows and oxen. Chakara forcefull sold all his cow and oxen except Baula. With very difficulty he managed to maintain Baula. Villagers prayed to god of rain, Indra and performed Yagya. There was enough rain after that.

When Baula became old and did not get milk, neighbors Chakaraa suggested him to sell Baula to butcher. After listening this blood pressure of Chakaraa increased and he scolded the neughbours. How he can be so selfish? "Baula fetched money and when she is old she need more care, not butcher" Chakaraa argued. After her 20th birth day, Baula felt ill and did not eat food properly for days. Chakarra went to nearby city  to call veterinarian. Veterinarian asked name of his village and father. Chakaraa did not understand why veterinarian was asking such details, but he answered to his perfection. Veterinarian told Chakaraa that he would not come to treat the cow as Chakaraa's father had insulted him before few years. Chakaraa told sorry and tried to convince the animal doctor to do his duty. Chakaraa even tried to remind the story from  Ramayan where doctor of Ravan came to treat Lord Rama when solders of both sides were fighting. Every everything went in vain and Chakaraa returned home. Chakaraa could not eat properly as long as Baula was ill. Both Chakaraa and Baula became weak and after few days Baula passed away leaving Chakaraa alone in this selfish earth. 

After the cows die, villagers throw them to be eaten by vultures. Chakaraa could not do that. He buried the cow in his backyard. No body cries when a cow dies, but Chakarra day wept on that cruel day. Chakaraa did not loose a cow, he lost a friend and a mother like figure who feeded him milk and made him stong.