Part-I
Gajaraj, the elephant, lived in the best booth
of the royal stables. गजराज नामक हाथी, शाही अस्तबल के सबसे अच्छे कक्ष में रहता था। The king was fond of Gajaraj, राजा गजराज से बहुत प्रेम करता था,and
he had ordered that the elephant should be well looked after. और उसने आदेश दिया था कि हाथी की अच्छी देखभाल की जाए ।
In spite of royal comforts, Gajaraj was sad
because he had no friends. राजसी सुख-सुविधाओं के बावजूद , गजराज दुखी था क्योंकि उसका कोई दोस्त नहीं था। The mahout,
or elephant trainer, was the only one he ever interacted with. महावत , यानी हाथी प्रशिक्षक, ही एकमात्र ऐसा व्यक्ति था जिससे वह कभी मिलता था। The mahout was a kind man who served
Gajaraj food, and gave him a
bath in the elephant pond daily. महावत एक दयालु व्यक्ति था जो गजराज को खाना परोसता था और उसे रोज़ाना हाथी तालाब में नहलाता था। He was a good caretaker,
but not a friend. वह एक अच्छा रखवाला तो था, लेकिन दोस्त नहीं।
"I wish I had a friend I can play with," thought
Gajaraj. One late evening, a dog strayed into the stable. Gajaraj could see that the visitor was
tired and hungry. He pushed some of the food he was munching towards the dog.
"काश मेरा भी कोई दोस्त होता जिसके साथ मैं खेल पाता," गजराज ने सोचा। एक देर शाम, एक कुत्ता अस्तबल में आ धमका । गजराज देख सकता था कि वह मेहमान थका हुआ और भूखा था। उसने उसे धक्का दिया।
The visitor wagged his tail, looked up at the elephant to convey
his thanks, and then turned his full attention to the food in front of him. As
soon as he finished eating, he fell asleep.
वह जो खाना चबा रहा था, उसमें से कुछ कुत्ते की तरफ़ उछाल दिया। आगंतुक ने अपनी पूँछ हिलाई, हाथी की तरफ़ देखकर धन्यवाद दिया, और फिर अपना पूरा ध्यान सामने रखे खाने पर लगा दिया। खाना खत्म करते ही वह सो गया।
The next morning, the mahout found the stray dog in the stable. He
did not mind the dog. He also noticed that Gajaraj seemed to like the company.
So, he threw some crumbs to the dog, which the animal accepted wagging his
tail.
अगली सुबह, महावत को अस्तबल में एक आवारा कुत्ता मिला। उसे कुत्ते से कोई आपत्ति नहीं थी। उसने यह भी देखा कि गजराज को उसका साथ पसंद आ रहा था। इसलिए उसने कुत्ते को कुछ टुकड़े दिए, जिन्हें कुत्ते ने पूँछ हिलाते हुए स्वीकार कर लिया।
When the elephant went out for a bath, the dog accompanied his
friend. Plunging into the water, the elephant gave himself a shower using his
long trunk, as the dog watched. The elephant took a trunkful of water and
playfully splashed the water on his friend. The dog yelped for he hated taking
showers. The mahout laughed.
जब हाथी नहाने गया, तो कुत्ता भी अपने दोस्त के साथ गया। पानी में कूदकर, हाथी ने अपनी लंबी सूंड से खुद को नहलाया, कुत्ता भी देख रहा था। हाथी ने सूंड भर पानी लिया और खेल-खेल में अपने दोस्त पर पानी छिड़क दिया। कुत्ता चिल्लाया क्योंकि उसे नहाना बिल्कुल पसंद नहीं था। महावत हँस पड़ा।
On their way home, the elephant picked up the dog with his trunk
and placed him on his back. The dog was delighted to get a ride.
घर लौटते समय, हाथी ने कुत्ते को अपनी सूंड से उठाकर अपनी पीठ पर बिठा लिया। कुत्ता सवारी पाकर बहुत खुश हुआ।
A farmer passing by saw the dog. "Buntee." he yelled.
The dog ran to him. The farmer hugged the dog and told the mahout that he was
looking for his dog ever since he disappeared from his house. He was glad he
found him now. The mahout had no objection to the farmer taking the dog home.
The farmer tossed a rope round the neck of the dog, saying, "Come
Buntee, let's go home."
पास से गुज़र रहे एक किसान ने कुत्ते को देखा। "बंटी," वह चिल्लाया। कुत्ता दौड़कर उसके पास गया। किसान ने कुत्ते को गले लगाया और महावत से कहा कि जब से वह घर से गायब हुआ है, तब से वह उसे ढूँढ़ रहा था। उसे खुशी है कि अब वह मिल गया। महावत को किसान द्वारा कुत्ते को घर ले जाने में कोई आपत्ति नहीं थी। किसान ने कुत्ते के गले में रस्सी डालते हुए कहा, "आओ बंटी, घर चलें।"
PART-II
Only when the farmer pulled the rope did the dog realise that he
was being taken away from his friend. He yelped, the elephant winced, but
neither the farmer nor the mahout noticed that the two friends were in tears.
जब किसान ने रस्सी खींची, तभी कुत्ते को एहसास हुआ कि उसे उसके दोस्त से दूर ले जाया जा रहा है। वह चीखा, हाथी सिहर उठा, लेकिन न तो किसान और न ही महावत ने देखा कि दोनों दोस्त रो रहे थे।
The next day at lunch time the mahout served Gajaraj his favourite
food. When the mahout came back after finishing his other chores, he was
surprised to see that the food had remained untouched.
अगले दिन दोपहर के भोजन के समय महावत ने गजराज को उसका पसंदीदा खाना परोसा। जब महावत अपना बाकी काम निपटाकर वापस आया, तो उसे यह देखकर आश्चर्य हुआ कि खाना अभी तक नहीं छुआ गया था।
"Why Gajaraj, aren't you hungry?" he asked concerned.
The elephant did not react. "He may have slight indigestion, Let me not
force him to eat," thought the mahout.
"क्यों गजराज, तुम्हें भूख नहीं लगी?" उसने चिंतित होकर पूछा। हाथी ने कोई प्रतिक्रिया नहीं दी। महावत ने सोचा, "शायद उसे हल्का अपच हो गया है, मुझे उसे खाने के लिए मजबूर नहीं करना चाहिए।"
That night too, Gajaraj did not touch his food-nor the next day.
Now, the mahout was worried. He ran his hand on Gajaraj's tummy and felt there
was nothing wrong. "Why was he not eating then? Is he missing his friend,
that dog?" the mahout wondered.
उस रात भी गजराज ने अपना खाना नहीं छुआ—और न ही अगले दिन। अब महावत चिंतित हो गया। उसने गजराज के पेट पर हाथ फेरा और उसे लगा कि कुछ गड़बड़ तो नहीं है। "फिर वह खाना क्यों नहीं खा रहा था? क्या उसे अपने दोस्त, उस कुत्ते की याद आ रही है?" महावत ने सोचा।
Meanwhile at the farmer's house, the dog had also not touched his
food ever since he was brought home.
इस बीच, किसान के घर पर कुत्ते ने भी उसके भोजन को तब से नहीं छुआ था जब से उसे घर लाया गया था।
"Are you missing your friend?" asked the farmer
remembering the happy look on Buntee's face while sitting on the elephant's
back. "I cannot see you go hungry," said the farmer, "If you
miss your friend so much, go to him."
"क्या तुम्हें अपने दोस्त की याद आ रही है?" किसान ने हाथी की पीठ पर बैठे बंटी के चेहरे पर दिख रही खुशी को याद करते हुए पूछा। "मैं तुम्हें भूखा नहीं देख सकता," किसान बोला। "अगर तुम्हें अपने दोस्त की इतनी याद आती है, तो उसके पास चले जाओ।"
The farmer removed the rope with which he had tied the dog. The
dog, though weak, sprang to his feet. He licked the farmer's hand once and then
ran. He stopped only when he arrived at the stable.
किसान ने कुत्ते को बाँधी हुई रस्सी हटा दी। कुत्ता, कमज़ोर होते हुए भी, उछलकर खड़ा हो गया। उसने एक बार किसान का हाथ चाटा और फिर भाग गया। वह तभी रुका जब वह अस्तबल में पहुँचा।
The elephant picked up the dog with his trunk and gave him a
joyous swing. The mahout was relieved. He quickly brought the food. "Both
of you eat first," he said.
हाथी ने कुत्ते को अपनी सूंड से उठाया और उसे खुशी से झुलाया। महावत को राहत मिली। वह जल्दी से खाना ले आया। "पहले तुम दोनों खा लो," उसने कहा।
By then the farmer who had
followed the dog, joined him. The two of them watched with satisfaction the two
friends eating food. "It's not only Gajaraj who has found a friend,"
said the mahout hugging the farmer, "I've also found one."
तब तक कुत्ते के पीछे-पीछे आया किसान भी उसके पास आ गया। दोनों ने संतोष से दोनों दोस्तों को खाना खाते देखा। महावत ने किसान को गले लगाते हुए कहा, "सिर्फ़ गजराज को ही दोस्त नहीं मिला, मुझे भी मिल गया है।"
Summary:
“The Unlikely Best Friends” is
a heart-touching story about an unexpected friendship between an elephant named
Gajaraj and a stray dog named Buntee. Gajaraj lived a comfortable life in the
royal stables but felt lonely. One day, a hungry and tired dog wandered into
the stable. Gajaraj offered him food, and they soon became inseparable
companions. They played together, went to the pond, and shared moments of
happiness.
One day, a farmer recognized
Buntee as his lost dog and took him home. Both Gajaraj and Buntee were
heartbroken. They stopped eating and grew weak due to missing each other.
Seeing this, the kind farmer realized the strength of their bond and let Buntee
return to his friend. Buntee ran back joyfully, and Gajaraj welcomed him with
love.
The story ends with a touching scene where not only Gajaraj and
Buntee are reunited, but the mahout and the farmer also become friends. The
tale teaches that love, empathy, and friendship can grow even in the most
unlikely pairs.
👤 Character Sketch
Gajaraj: A gentle and loving elephant who longs for true companionship.
Though he lives in royal comfort, his emotional need for friendship makes him
deeply relatable and endearing.
Buntee (the dog): A stray dog who finds kindness in Gajaraj. Loyal, cheerful, and
equally affectionate, Buntee values emotional connection over physical comfort.
The
Mahout: Kind and observant, he cares
for Gajaraj and eventually understands the elephant’s emotional needs.
The Farmer: Buntee’s original owner. He learns to value true friendship when he sees the deep bond between Gajaraj and Buntee and acts with understanding.