In a dense forest near a bustling village, a jackal named Kavi often watched the village dogs with envy. They were well-fed, petted by humans, and had warm places to sleep. One night, Kavi sneaked into the village, his fur slicked back to look more like the dogs.
A kind farmer saw him and mistook him for a stray. “Stay if you wish,” the farmer said, tossing Kavi a bone. Delighted, the jackal stayed. Days passed, and Kavi mimicked the dogs—wagging his tail, barking instead of howling. But he could never run as joyfully or bark as confidently as they did.
One evening, a distant call of jackals echoed through the fields. Instinct took over, and Kavi let out a long, wild howl. The village dogs froze. “You are no dog,” they growled, eyes narrowing. Chased out of the village, Kavi ran until he reached the forest.
Panting, he heard the rustling of leaves. A group of jackals emerged. One of them, an elder, smiled. “You are one of us, Kavi. No matter where you go, you can never be what you are not.”
At last, Kavi understood—true happiness comes from embracing who you are.
January, 2025
