On the banks of the mighty Kaveri River in Karnataka, there lived a monkey named Makku on a tall jamun tree. The tree was full of sweet, juicy berries.

In the river lived a crocodile named Karu. One day, Karu swam near the tree and looked longingly at the berries.

“Would you like some berries?” called Makku from above. He plucked the sweetest ones and threw them down to Karu.

“These are delicious!” said Karu. “Thank you, friend!”

From that day, Makku and Karu became good friends. Every day, Makku shared berries and Karu shared stories about life in the river. Karu even took some berries home for his wife.

But Karu’s wife was cunning and greedy. “These berries are so sweet!” she said. “Imagine how sweet the heart of the monkey who eats them every day must be! I want to eat the monkey’s heart!”

“But Makku is my friend!” protested Karu.

“If you don’t bring me his heart, I will stop eating and die!” threatened his wife.

Karu was torn between his friend and his wife. Reluctantly, he made a terrible plan.

The next day, Karu said to Makku, “My wife wants to invite you for dinner! Come, sit on my back and I’ll take you across the river.”

Makku was excited. He jumped onto Karu’s back. But when they reached the middle of the river, Karu told the truth.

“I’m sorry, Makku. My wife wants your heart. I have to take you to her.”

Makku was shocked! But he was very clever. He thought quickly.

“Oh, Karu!” said Makku calmly. “Why didn’t you tell me before? I don’t keep my heart WITH me! I left it hanging on the jamun tree! Take me back and I’ll get it for you.”

Karu believed him! He turned around and swam back to the tree.

The moment they reached the bank, Makku jumped off and climbed up the tree swiftly.

“You foolish crocodile!” said Makku from the safety of the tree. “Nobody keeps their heart outside their body! You betrayed our friendship. I can never trust you again.”

Karu hung his head in shame. He had lost the best friend he ever had.