“This seems to be a very old well. Who might have dug this on this highway?”

“Yes, my grandfather once told me about its legend.”

“That’s interesting! Common tell me…… What is it?”

“Once lived a wood cutter in a near by village

They were waiting on the highway for the mechanic who is on his way from the village. They are going to the village for their summer vacations and their car broke down on the way.

“The legend says there was a wood cutter in a near by village who comes to the forest which was here. Those were the times when there was only a mud road surrounded by thick woods instead of this highway. He used to come here daily along with his donkey, cut the trees and then goes back to the village in the evening carrying the timber on the donkeys back. Then he would sell the timber to the dealer in the village for a small price. That would give him and his wife food till the next evening and adds a little to their savings.
On a hot summer afternoon when the wood cutter was busy cutting trees, heard a cry from the road. He then rushed towards the mud road and shocked to find a man lying unconscious. Without wasting time he fetched some water in his leathered pouch and sprinkled on the man’s face. The man slowly opened his eyes without showing any fear or surprise. The woodcutter made him drink some water.
“Thank you for your timely help. I work in a nearby village and travel the same path everyday. I face problem in the summer as they were extremely hot and there is no water source on this way. This happens with me frequently. Most of the times there would be no one to give me water. This time I am lucky that you are there.”

“I am a wood cutter. I come here every day for work. From now feel free to share water with me. I bring water in this pouch along with me which is enough for two.”

The traveler used to share water with the wood cutter from the next day. The wood cutter used to give a break to his work and would sit with the traveler for a small chat. This way they became friends.

One day the traveler couldn’t find the wood cutter. Traveler thought the wood cutter took a leave. But this continued for three more days. On the fourth day the traveler found a stranger digging a well beside the road.
The traveler asked “why are you digging a well here?”

The stranger said “the wood cutter who used to come here wanted me to dig a well instead of money for his donkey which he sold to me. He wanted this well for his friend who travels this way.”

“But where is he?” asked the traveler.

“I am sorry if you don’t know about this, he committed suicide after selling his donkey to me. He was deeply depressed by the murder of his wife and theft in his house by a thief.”

After listening to the stranger the traveler went away without saying a word.

The next day the stranger came to complete the well, but shocked to find some body in the well. He removed it from the well and identified it. It was the body of the traveler.”

Later it was known that the thief who was responsible for the murder and robbery in the house of the wood cutter is no one but theTraveller."

After that people some times found these two friends sitting under the tree and chatting in the hot summer noon.”

“I don’t know if the legend is true, but its heart touching.”

“Yes, you are right.”

The end.