The Elephant and the Ant

Once Upon a Time in the Forest of Sundervan...

There lived a mighty elephant named Rajan. He was the biggest, strongest, and most respected animal in the forest. His footsteps made the ground tremble. His trunk could break branches, lift logs, and shower water high into the sky.

Rajan was proud — very proud.

He would often walk through the forest declaring,

“I am Rajan, King of the Trees, Lord of the Rivers, and Champion of the Jungle!”

The other animals bowed before him — partly out of respect, and partly out of fear. Rajan was kind most of the time… unless someone dared to challenge his greatness.

The Tiny Ant Village

Not far from Rajan’s favorite pond, under the roots of an old neem tree, lived a small ant colony. It was led by a tiny, clever ant named Chikki.

Chikki was no ordinary ant. She read leaf-scrolls left behind by passing travelers. She solved problems for animals ten times her size. Her colony was small but organized, hardworking, and respected for their honesty.

But Rajan? He barely noticed them.

To him, ants were dots on the ground — nothing worth his time.

The Great Stomp

One summer afternoon, Rajan was walking toward the river, swaying his trunk and humming loudly.

As he walked past the neem tree, he suddenly crushed part of the ant colony’s roof.

Panic erupted underground. Tunnels collapsed, food was ruined, and several ants were injured.

Chikki came out, furious, and called up to the elephant.

“Rajan! You stepped on our home! You must be more careful!”

The elephant blinked and looked down. “What was that? A leaf speaking?”

“I’m not a leaf,” shouted Chikki. “I’m the head of the ant colony you just damaged!”

Rajan chuckled. “Oh please. I don’t waste my time talking to ants. You’re lucky I didn’t sneeze. You’d be halfway to the next jungle!”

He laughed and walked away.

A Plan is Hatched

Chikki gathered her ants.

“This is not just about our home,” she said. “It’s about respect. Size doesn’t give someone the right to crush others.”

“But he’s so big!” said one ant.

“He’s not bigger than truth,” replied Chikki.

And so, she came up with a plan.

The Great Ant Attack

That night, when Rajan was fast asleep under a banyan tree, Chikki and her bravest ants climbed up his massive leg.

Quietly, they crawled toward his ear.

Chikki gave the signal.

BITE!

“OWWWWWWWWW!!!” Rajan roared, jumping to his feet.

He flailed his trunk, stomped, and shook, but the ants were small and fast.

One by one, they bit his ears, his neck, even the insides of his toes.

“WHO DARES?!” he screamed.

A tiny voice echoed from his ear.

“It is I, Chikki the Ant. Remember us now?”

Rajan fell to the ground, whimpering, “Stop, please! I can’t bear it!”

Chikki ordered the ants to stop.

Rajan lay on the ground, exhausted and humiliated.

“How can something so small hurt something so big?” he whispered.

A Lesson in Respect

Chikki climbed to his nose.

“You were strong, Rajan. But you were not wise. You crushed us without care, and laughed when we cried. Now you see: strength is not about size — it’s about how you treat others.”

Rajan’s ears drooped.

“You’re right,” he said softly. “I thought I was too big to listen. But now I see, even the smallest creatures deserve respect.”

From that day on, Rajan changed.

He watched where he stepped. He helped rebuild the ant colony. He even carried water for them during the dry season.

And whenever new animals entered the jungle and laughed at the ants, Rajan would say,

“Be careful. That little dot might one day bite your ear off.”

The Best of Friends

Over time, Rajan and Chikki became unlikely friends.

They shared stories: Rajan told tales of river crossings and distant lands; Chikki spoke of underground wonders and teamwork.

They laughed, debated, and helped each other — the biggest and the smallest, walking side by side in the great forest of Sundervan.

One Final Test

One year, during the monsoon season, the river flooded. Animals rushed to higher ground. But many ant tunnels were filling with water.

Rajan saw Chikki struggling to evacuate her colony.

Without hesitation, he lowered his trunk and said, “Climb on!”

He carried hundreds of ants on his back, walking them to a dry hill where they could rebuild.

The forest watched in awe.

“Who would have thought?” whispered a monkey. “The mighty Rajan, helping ants!”

“Not helping,” said the elephant proudly. “Helping friends.”

Moral of the Story

Respect is not earned by size, but by heart.

No one is too small to make a difference, and no one is too big to learn a lesson.

Closing Thought

In our world, just like in Sundervan, we often underestimate the quiet voices — the ones who don’t shout, the ones who are smaller, slower, or different.

But just like Chikki the ant, their courage can bring even a giant to his knees — not to defeat, but to understanding.

i am AFTAB KHAN like and share my stores