Hello, this is Jana and welcome to Story Nouri.

We are here with an amusing story from the Punjab in the north of India.

We know we have lots of listeners in India, so to all of you I'd just like to say,

our do-a-hehah al-hamsha-kushra-ho, meaning we wish you happiness always.

The greedy bear.

Once upon a time, a poor woodman and his wife lived in a tiny hut close to the orchard of a rich man,

so close that the branches of a pear tree hung right over the cottage yard.

It was agreed between the rich man and the couple that if any of the fruit fell into the yard,

the couple were to be allowed to eat it.

So you may imagine with what hungry eyes they watched the pears ripening,

and prayed for a storm of wind or a flock of flying foxes or anything

that would cause the fruit to fall. Apart from the pairs, the couple did not have a rich choice of foods to

eat, but they did have yellow lentils, ghee and some spices. The wife was particularly good at making this dish called Dahl. What an

appetising smell it had to be sure. The woodman gobbled it up as soon as it was ready. But

one day, his wife said, No. Not until you fetch some dry wood, off you go. So, off he went into the forest and began to hack and saw away at the wood,

and with each cut he seemed to smell the savoury dahl.

Just then, a bear came swinging by,

with its great black nose tilted in the air

and its little keen eyes peering

about. For bears, though good enough fellows on the whole, are just dreadfully inquisitive.

Peace be with you, friend, said the bear.

And what may you be doing with that bundle of wood?

...