A Night in the Jungle

Introduction

This story took place a long time ago, when giants roamed the vicinity of men. Shyam lost his parents during his childhood. A gentleman named Sundar took pity on him and raised him. Sundar was anxious for Shyam to become self-sufficient as soon as possible. He urged the boy to learn various skills and often chastised him—sometimes even resorting to physical punishment—when Shyam failed to meet his expectations.

The Challenge of Growth

However, the result of Sundar’s efforts was not as he had hoped. Shyam developed in a lopsided manner; on one hand, he was intelligent and courageous, but on the other, he behaved abnormally when excited. He always felt nervous in Sundar’s presence.

Despite this, Shyam excelled in sports and was particularly skilled at playing and swimming. He could hold his breath underwater for an impressively long time, which amazed those around him.

A Path Forward

As Shyam grew into a young man, Sundar decided it was time for him to live independently. His father had left him some property, and Sundar even built a new house for him. Before sending Shyam off to live on his own, Sundar planned to arrange a marriage for him.

A gentleman from a neighboring village had a daughter of marriageable age, so Sundar took Shyam to meet her. On their way, he cautioned Shyam, “Be careful in your conduct. Leave your shoes at the threshold of the gentleman’s house and occupy a chair inside.”

He reminded Shyam repeatedly to remember this advice, yet Shyam remained confused. Upon arriving at the gentleman’s house, he took off his shoes and placed them on a chair, then sat at the threshold.

The Misunderstanding

The gentleman was shocked by Shyam’s behavior and concluded that the young man was insane. He politely refused to marry his daughter to Shyam.

On their way back, a furious Sundar admonished Shyam, saying, “You fool! Take it from me: in this wide world, no man would be foolish enough to give his daughter to you!”

Taking his guardian’s words literally, Shyam left the house that night and wandered into the nearby forest, sulking over his humiliation.

A Dangerous Decision

“No man will ever give his daughter in marriage to me, will he?” he thought. “Well then, I must someday find out the daughter of someone who is not a man.” With that thought, Shyam walked faster and faster into the depths of the forest.

Unknowingly, he entered a cave within which a giant lay asleep. It would be natural for Shyam, like any other boy, to avoid the giant. However, he was in a different mood. “Here is a creature who is not human. Maybe he won’t mind giving me his daughter if he has one!” he thought to himself.

The Unlikely Proposal

In an attempt to impress the giant, Shyam abruptly seized his hair and shouted, “Although I am not a giant, I am strong enough like one. Why not marry your daughter to me?”

The giant bellowed in panic. He was about to crush Shyam when his wife emerged from the inner cave and intervened.

A Unique Arrangement

It turned out that the giant couple had a daughter, and there were no suitable young men in their region to marry her. “It would be wonderful if we could arrange a marriage with such a handsome young man for our daughter,” the giantess suggested.

Though the giant was hesitant about making a human his son-in-law, he allowed his wife to proceed with the courtship.

The giantess apologized to Shyam for her husband’s outburst and offered him sweet fruits to eat.

An Enticing Encounter

“Where is your daughter, by the way?” Shyam asked. “She often wanders in the forest until midnight. You should rest now; you will meet her at the right time,” the giantess replied.

Shyam, feeling exhausted, quickly fell asleep. The giantess sat guard at the mouth of the cave.

When the daughter returned at midnight, the giantess exclaimed, “Great news, daughter! Here is your bridegroom, at last!”

A Bride’s Appetite

The giant girl chuckled at the sight of Shyam. As her mother introduced them, Shyam slightly opened his eyes and caught a glimpse of his prospective bride. He shivered in despair at what he saw.
“Mummy! This lad looks as though he is made of butter. Please allow me to eat him!” pleaded the daughter.
“What nonsense are you speaking!” her mother scolded. “He is a brave young man who would make a splendid match for you. Haven’t you eaten hundreds of human beings? How much do you lose if you spare one?”

Guardianship and Temptation

“All right, mother, I will not eat him. But what about father? Do you really think he will be able to restrain himself? He’ll soon be hungry enough to forget all about the proposed marriage and eat him!” said the girl.
“My clever daughter, that’s why I’m guarding the mouth of the cave. But I’m feeling sleepy. Will you keep watch for a while so that I can catch a few winks?” asked the giantess.
“Gladly, mummy,” the daughter responded.

A Risky Escape

Before long, the giant girl felt an overwhelming urge to eat Shyam. She ensured both her parents were asleep before approaching him. Shaking him gently, she whispered, “I am the bride. Come out of the cave; it will be such a delightful surprise for my parents to see you in the morning!”

Shyam, who had overheard the conversation between the mother and daughter, knew well what was on the giant’s mind. However, he decided to follow her and stepped out of the cave.

The Deceptive Journey

“The two must go to another cave where the real treasure lies,” said the giant girl. “That is all right. But what about the dowry?” Shyam asked.
“Wait a minute,” said the giant girl, and she fetched a box filled with gold, sapphires, and diamonds. Shyam accepted the box with gratitude and followed the giant girl. As soon as they reached the riverbank, he remarked, “I must bathe before marrying you. That is a sacred custom.” With that, he jumped into the river along with the box and disappeared underwater.

A Prosperous Future

The giant girl waited and waited until she began to feel sleepy. “A crocodile must have swallowed him,” she murmured to herself before returning to her cave.

Meanwhile, Shyam swam as long as he could beneath the water. Eventually, he emerged on the outskirts of the forest and ran home.

With the wealth he gained from the giants, Shyam became a successful merchant and married into a respectable family, living happily for many years.