Gauri, Farmer Shambhu's Favorite Cow

Raghu was a tailor in a small town in the Malenadu region of Karnataka. The farmers in the area around the town were his customers. Shambhu, a stout farmer who owned a few acres of fields and had a few cows, was one of them. 

One day, Shambhu came to Raghu with a piece of fine cotton cloth. Shambhu said, "Raghu, next month I am going for a wedding. I want to look smart! I have brought cloth for a kurta (Indian - style jacket). Please stitch one for me. I will pick it up when I come to town again."

Raghu took Shambhu's measurements and noted them in his book. He returned to stitching, and started work on the kurta after a few days. It was two weeks before Shambhu returned to collect his kurta. Raghu was astonished to see that the stout Shambhu had lost weight and become a little thin! When he tried the kurta, it was loose. Shambhu said, "The day I came to town, my favorite cow, my Gauri, got lost. Since then, neither I nor my wife have tasted milk, ghee or curd. I am still on the lookout for my beloved Gauri." 

Since the kurta was too loose for Shambhu to wear, Raghu took fresh measurements in his book. He promised Shambhu that he would have the kurta ready when Shambhu made his next visit to town.

It was another two weeks before Shambhu visited his shop again.  During this interval, Raghu stitched the kurta again, to match Shambhu’s new measurements. When Raghu saw Shambhu, he was again astonished. Shambhu was his stout old self again, and he had a smile on his face! Raghu realized that the kurta would now be too tight for Shambhu.

When Raghu asked Shambhu about his cow Gauri, Shambhu happily replied, "After I came to your shop on my recent visit to town, I met farmer Mahadeva at the market. I told Mahadeva about losing Gauri. He said he had found a cow wandering in the forest, not far from his farm. Since it was late in the evening, he had brought her to his farm. He tied the cow in one of the empty stalls in his barn. He had tried to find the owner, but had not succeeded. This news made me eager with anticipation. Mahadeva's description of the cow precisely matched that of Gauri. I asked him to take me to his farm immediately. After making our purchases at the market, we headed to Mahadeva's farm. When he took me to the barn, I immediately recognized my Gauri among the other cows! It filled me with joy to see her safe and sound. With tears in my eyes, I thanked Mahadeva. Mahadeva untied her and I took her home."

Shambhu continued, "My wife was even more happy than me, to see Gauri. She has been making sweets to celebrate Gauri's safe return. You know that I have a sweet tooth. I have been relishing the sweets, for the past few days. Due to this, I have become normal again!"

Raghu did know how to respond to Shambhu. While he was happy that Shambhu had got his favorite cow back, he was also dismayed at having to unstitch the kurta and stitch it one more time!