Dangphu Dingphu

"Dangphu, Dingphu...some of us may remember tales told by our grandparents or parents while sitting around the kitchen fire, or wrapped up in blankets on a cold winter night...I vaguely remember a few tales and the excitement attached to the whole "story telling". But when I was asked by my sons to tell them "Bhutanese bed time stories" I could not really a single one fully. So I decided to recollect, collect and retell Bhutanese folk tales and stories in this blog. I hope all of you enjoy reading them and that few will narrate them to their children."

Monday, June 20, 2011

The long winded tale of Dangphu and Dingphu (assured to put any child to sleep)

Dangphuuuu Dingphuuu, there lived two friends Dangphu and Dingphu. They lived in a forest far far away.

One sunny day Dangphu was snoozing under the shade of a tree. Dingphu was bored, he quietly snuck up Dangphu and yelled in his ear "Wai!!!!".

Dangphu woke up with a start splutterring "Whaaa.." He saw Dingphu's mischevious face. "I am warning you Dingphu. Next time..." and he went back to sleep and started snoring after a little while.

Dingphu could not resist. "WAI!!!". Dangphu jumped to his feet. He was livid and Dingphu knew that.

Dingphu started running. Dangphu started chasing.
Dingphu ran. Dangphu chased.
Dingphu ran and ran. Dangphu chased and chased.

And just when Dangphu was about to catch Dingphu - "Alaaaaa!!!" Dingphu fell to the ground.
Dangphu, forgetting Dingphu's earlier prank rushed to his friend's side. "What happenned?"
"There is a long long long long looooong thorn that has gone through the sole of my foot...Ala la la laaa..get it out please.."

Dangphu sat beside his friend and looked. Yes, there was the notorious thorn. He tried to take the thorn out many diferent ways - using his nails, his teeth - but to no avail. Only a needle could do the job.

The two friends set off to look for a tailor. For only he would have a needle.
They walk and they walk and they walk. And finally they find a tailor.

Ap tailor is sitting cross legged on the floor chewing a doma and sewing a piece of cloth.
"Wai ap tailor, can we please borrow your needle?, I need it to take the thorn out of my friend Dingphu's sole", says Dangphu.

Ap tailor peers over the rim of his glasses at the two to them. "I am a tailor, I make a living working with my needles and I will not lend them to anyone", he says and goes back to his sewing.

The two friends stand there in front of the tailor for a long time but he gives them no heed. Dejected they start walking away, when they notice a rat.

Asha rat is all dressed up ans seems to be in a hurry to get somewhere. But still they cannot resist asking "Wai Asha rat, so good to see you. We have a small favour to ask. Could you please help us by nibbling your way into Ap tailor's bag and getting us a needle so we can take the thorn out of Dingphu's sole."

"Begone, begone, I am in a hurry and even if I was'nt I would not help you for I live in Ap tailor's store and he has never been unkind to me", says Asha rat, puffing up his chest.

Feeling really annoyed at the rat, Dangphu and Dinphu are about to leave when they notice a tabby cat sun bathing on the wall.
"Wai, Am cat, really lovely to see you. I hope we are not distrubing you but could you by any chance help us to scare Asha rat so he agrees to get us the needle from Ap tailor's bag so we can get the thorn out of Dingphu's sole?"
Am cat conitued to wash her face with her paws. "I just had a hearty lunch and I am in no mood for a chase", she said.

"What is wrong with everyone today?" thought the two friends and were about to leave when they saw an old black stray dog sleeping in the shade of a tree.
"Wai, Agay dog, how are you today? We were hoping you would kindly scare that tabby cat so she would chase the rat and the rat would get the needle from the tailor/s bag so we can finnaly take the thorn out of Dingphu's sole."
The old stray just lifted his head and looked at them sleepily. "Do I look like I can scare the cat? I am an old dog with barely any teeth, just let me go back to sleep."

Dazed, Dangphu and Dingphu started walking away, when they noticed a red bull with long sharp horns."Wai, Achu bull, such nice horns you have. You could use them on the lazy dog there so he scares the tabby cat and so tabby cat would chase the rat and the rat would get the needle from the tailor's bag and we would manage to finally get the thorn out of Dingphu's sole."
The big bull gazed over at the dog and said,"You see that dog? he is a friend of miine. I will instead use these horns on you if you try to hurt him".

Scared, Dangphu and Dingphu quickly started to walk away, when they saw a tall beautiful brown horse grazing in the meadow."Wai, Ashim horse, such long legs you have. You could use them to kick the proud bull there, so he that he scares the lazy dog, so the lazy dog scares the cat, so the cat chases the rat and so the rat gets the needle out of the tailor's bag and we finally manage to get thorn out of Dongphu's sole."
The brown horse looked down on them haughtily, "I share this pasture with the bull and we get along well, I would never kick him", she said.

Giving up all hope they walk away, when they notice a long thick stick. "Wai, Lopon stick, this is the time when you will come in handy. Could you kindly whack that horse, so she kicks the bull, so the bull scares the dog so the dog scares the cat, so the cat chases the rat and so the rat gets the needle out of the tailor's bag and we finally get the thorn out of Dingphu's sole."
"I have come a long way and I have whacked many on my way. I am in no mood to whack one more", said the stick and kept lying on the ground.

Shaking their head in disbelief, the two friends start walking away, when they notice a small camp fire burning. "Wai, Charo fire, how well you seem to burn. Please burn that useless stick, so it hits the horse, so the horse kiclks the bull, so the bull scares the dog, so the dog scares the cat, so the cat chases the rat, so the rat gets the needle from the tailor's bag and finally we get the thorn out of Dingphu's sole."
The fire burns merrily, "I am so happy today, I am in no mood to burn anybody, go away", he says.

Thinking this is te end, Dangphu and Dingphu start walking away when they notice water in a bottle. "Wai, Aye water, you are a sight for sore eyes. Please douse that fire, so he agrees to burn the stick, so the stick hits the horse, so the horse kicks the bull, so the bull scares the dog, so the dog scares the cat, so the cat chases the rat and so the rat gets the needle from the tailor's and we get the thorn out of Dingphu's sole".
"I prefer staying in the bottle", gurgled the water.

Bu now Dangphu and Dingphu were really angry. The thorn was the now the last thing on their mind.
"It is fine if you dont do what we say, we will drink you anyway", they said.

Water got scared and was about to put the fire out,
when,
the fire started to burn the stick,
when,
the stick began to whack the horse,
when.
the horse was about to kick the bull,
when,
the bull was about to hit the dog with its horns,
when,
the dog was about to bite the cat,
when,
the cat was about to chase after the rat,
when,
the rat ran quickly and got the needle out of the tailor's bag and handed it to Dangphu.

Dangphu fianlly got the long looong thorn out of Dingphu's sole and the needle was returned to the tailor. And the two friends resumed their game of chase.

No comments:

Post a Comment