Roll Along, Pumpkin—Tunuk Tunuk!

Once there was an elderly woman who wished to visit her daughter. To reach her daughter's village, she had to cross a thick forest where a tiger, a lion, a wolf, and other wild animals lived.

As the grandmother walked through the forest, a tiger stepped onto the path. “Old woman,” he growled, “shall I eat you?”

The grandmother kept her courage. “Not now, dear tiger,” she replied. “I am going to my daughter's home. There I will eat ghee and bhakri and become nice and plump. You may eat me when I return.” The tiger agreed, but warned her not to forget her promise.

Farther along, the grandmother met a lion, a wolf, and several other animals. Each one wanted to eat her. Each time, she gave the same clever answer and continued safely on her way.

When she reached her daughter's house, the grandmother explained what had happened. Her daughter thought carefully. Then she brought a huge pumpkin, hollowed it out, and helped her mother climb inside.

The daughter fitted the top back onto the pumpkin and gave it a strong push. “Roll along, pumpkin—tunuk tunuk!” she called. The great pumpkin bounced and rolled down the path toward the forest.

Soon the tiger saw the pumpkin. “Pumpkin, have you seen an old woman?” he asked. From inside came a disguised voice: “What old woman? Roll along, pumpkin—tunuk tunuk!” And the pumpkin bounced away before the tiger could stop it.

The lion, the wolf, and the other animals asked the same question. Every time, the pumpkin answered, “What old woman? Roll along, pumpkin—tunuk tunuk!” Then it rolled onward, wobbling and bouncing through the trees.

At last, the pumpkin reached the grandmother's home. She climbed out safe and sound. The hungry animals had been outwitted, and the grandmother had crossed the dangerous forest through courage, quick thinking, and a wonderfully round pumpkin.