Basuri and the Turtle

It was a long time ago, a few guests came to visit a large temple near Kathmandu. On the path to the temple, there were large stone statues of animals. Living in a small house nearby was a twelve-year-old boy named Bansuri, who lived with his father. His father was the caretaker and guard of that temple.One day, Bansuri saw a procession of important people coming to the temple. There were palanquins and red umbrellas carried by people dressed in colorful clothes. He had never seen such a delightful sight before.After the procession went toward the temple, Bansuri also felt like following them. However, his father had told him not to follow tourists. His father used to say, "If you follow them, people will look down on you, thinking you are a beggar. We are not beggars; we are the protectors of the temple."Bansuri obeyed his father. Watching his friends joyfully run after the guests made his heart heavy, but he still quietly returned toward his own house.After the guests left, Bansuri suddenly looked toward a large door of the temple. In their haste, the guards had left that large iron door of the temple wide open. Since childhood, Bansuri had a great curiosity about what might be inside that temple.He happily entered the temple. There, in the middle of the room, was a large stone pillar on which strange letters were written. But even more surprising than that, the large pillar rested on the back of a giant stone turtle.Bansuri looked at the turtle in amazement and began to think, "Why would a turtle be placed here? If an elephant or a tiger had been placed, it would probably be even stronger!" He had asked his father about this before, but his father would only say, "This is just a tradition that has been followed since ancient times."Bansuri walked further inside and went close to the turtle. There was a lot of dust on the floor. Suddenly, there was a sound as if someone had come outside. Terrified, Bansuri hid under the stone turtle.Suddenly, a deep voice came, "Hey child! Do it gently, why are you kicking up so much dust? I am suffocating here!"Bansuri gasped. The turtle was talking! His father had said it was just a statue. Bansuri began to tremble with fear. The turtle said, "Don't be afraid, child, I won't do anything to you. You seemed a bit different from the others, which is why I spoke."Bansuri said softly, "I only came to look at you from up close."The turtle let out a long sigh and said, "Everyone only looks at the pillar on my back and the things written on it. Nobody cares about me. Do you know? My ancestors helped create this world!"Bansuri was astonished. Just then, the sound of people coming from outside was heard. The turtle told Bansuri to quietly close the door so that no one would know he was inside.Bansuri used all his strength to close the door. The sound of his father and others talking while walking outside was heard. They assumed the door was already closed.When everything became quiet, the turtle said, "Child, I have been trapped here for a hundred years carrying this heavy pillar. I want to travel the world. My back, legs, and eyes all ache. I want to be free from here."Bansuri felt pity seeing the turtle's suffering. The turtle came up with a trick, "Tonight, you open the door, and I will step out. You bring your father's key and close the door afterward, no one will suspect a thing."Bansuri cried, "If you leave, I will be lonely. I have no friends."The turtle laughed and said, "In that case, you come along with me too! I also need a good friend. Let's go travel the world together." Bansuri happily agreed.After night fell, Bansuri stealthily took his father's key and reached the temple. As soon as he opened the door, the turtle slowly began to step out. While coming out, the heavy pillar on its back struck the wall and fell to the floor.Bansuri was frightened, but the turtle said, "Don't be afraid, who would see at this hour!" Bansuri closed the door, climbed onto the turtle's back, and began the journey.The turtle was walking slowly. Bansuri asked, "Where are we going?" The turtle said, "We are going to the place where the world began. Hold onto my back, I will now fly you there."Right before his eyes, the turtle began to fly into the sky. When Bansuri looked down, the temple, forests, and hills started to look small. He was scared, but the turtle told him to hold on tight.They flew very far away. Along the way, they saw large cities and rivers. Bansuri actually fell asleep right on the turtle's back while flying. When he woke up, they had reached a strange and beautiful place.There, the turtle's friends—a large dragon and a colorful bird (a phoenix)—had also arrived. They all spent the whole day having fun together. The dragon gave Bansuri a golden scale, and the colorful bird gave him a beautiful feather.As evening approached, the turtle said, "Now we must return home, otherwise your father will look for you." They flew into the sky once again. Bansuri was extremely happy.But suddenly, the turtle stopped in mid-air, and Bansuri slipped. He began to fall down from the sky. He screamed, "Save me!" The further down he fell, the more terrified he became."Hey boy! What are you doing sleeping under the turtle? Get out of there!"Bansuri rubbed his eyes and looked. He was hearing his own father's voice. His father grabbed him by the leg and pulled him out. Bansuri had been sleeping under that stone turtle in the temple."Am I not dead, Father?" Bansuri asked, confused. His father laughed and said, "What do you mean dead! Sleeping in this dust all afternoon? It is already night now, come home, we must eat dinner." Bansuri slowly stood up and followed his father. He realized—it was just a sweet dream!