Mountain Buck and Village Doe: Infatuation
There once existed a herd of village deer in northern India. They were accustomed to living close to villages because they were both born and raised there. They were aware that they needed to exercise extreme caution around people. This was particularly true during harvest, when crops were tall and farmers would trap and kill any nearby deer.
The villagers’ deer spent the entire day in the forest during harvest. Only in the dead of night did they approach the village. A lovely young doe was among them. She had large, bright eyes, a fluffy white tail, and soft, reddish-brown fur.
There was a young mountain buck that had wandered into the same low forest during this specific season. He came across the lovely young doe one day and fell head over heels for her. He had no information about her. However, for no other reason than her reddish-brown fur, her fluffy white tail, and her big, bright eyes, he imagined himself to be deeply in love with her. She wasn’t even aware of his existence, but he dreamed about her nonetheless!
The young mountain buck finally made the decision to introduce himself after a few days. He was entranced by her beauty and could not take his eyes off her as he made his way out into the clearing where she was grazing. Oh my sweet beauty, as lovely as the stars and as bright as the moon, I confess to you that I am deeply,” he said as he started to speak. The young buck suddenly fell and tripped, his face splashed in the mud, and his hoof got caught in a root! The charming doe in the village grinned because she was touched. But internally, she found this mountain buck to be pretty silly.
Unbeknownst to the deer, a clan of tree fairies was residing in that region of the forest. They had been observing the mountain buck as he covertly observed the doe in the village. The fairies laughed uncontrollably as soon as he entered the clearing, started to speak, and then fell into the puddle of mud. They cried out, “What stupid animals these are! One fairy, however, did not laugh. I fear this is a danger signal for this young fool, he said.
Although the young buck felt a little embarrassed, he did not interpret it as a warning. He followed the doe wherever she went after that. He was constantly praising her beauty and expressing his love for her. She wasn’t very attentive.
After that, it was time for the doe to descend to the village as night fell. The locals knew deer would pass by at night because they lived nearby. To capture them, they set traps. That evening, a hunter hid behind a bush and waited.
The village did proceed cautiously. She followed the mountain buck, who continued to sing her praises. “My dear buck, you are not used to being around villages,” she said as she halted. You’re unaware of how dangerous people can be. Even at night, a deer can perish due to the village and the route leading there. You shouldn’t travel down to the village with me because you are so young, inexperienced, and foolish. You should continue to be protected by the forest.
The tree fairies cheered at this. Naturally, the deer were unable to hear them.
The doe’s warning went unheeded by the young buck. “Your eyes look so lovely in the moonlight,” he just remarked. and continued to follow her. If you won’t listen to me, at least be quiet, she commanded. He was unable to control his thoughts because he was so infatuated with her. He did, however, finally stop talking!
They eventually arrived at the location where the hunter was concealed by a bush. When the fairies noticed him, they became alarmed and concerned for the safety of the deer. They nervously circled the tree’s branches, but they could do nothing but observe.
The doe was able to smell the man hiding. She feared falling into a trap. So, in an effort to save herself, she decided to pass the buck. She trailed behind a little bit.
The hunter shot his arrow and instantly killed the unwary mountain buck when he saw him. When the doe saw this, she became frightened and ran as quickly as she could back to the forest clearing.
The hunter made a kill claim. He built a fire, skinned the deer, prepared some venison, and devoured it all. Then he carried the carcass back to his house to feed his family after throwing it over his shoulder.
Some of the fairies sobbed when they realised what had happened. Some of them felt sick as they watched the hunter dismember the once noble-appearing buck. Some accused the cautious doe of guiding him toward the slaughter.
However, the knowledgeable fairy, who issued the first caution, said, “This stupid deer was killed by the ecstasy of love. Such blind desire initially produces false happiness, but it ultimately results in pain and suffering.”
The moral is: Infatuation leads to destruction.
