Three legged bird

Paul (not the Disciple), the soothsayer Octopus dropped the ball of the mighty Germans in their own net. The Germans lost 1-0 to the under-dogs Spain, true to the Paul prophecy. The majority of angry Germans now wants to make a salad of ‘Paul’ or to fry him or to put him to sharks. I suggest let them put Paul to the gas chamber which they are good at as they have done to the Jews during WW-II.

I recollect a folktale about a Paul in Kerala

Pyilee (a malayaleised version of Paul) was an Egg trader.

Once Pyilee was on a local train to Ernakulam with baskets of eggs to be sold in the Ernakulam market. Pyilee’s co-traveller was Prof Thomas, a well learned professor of so many sciences. The local train rolling on its parallels was on its way to Ernakulam occasionally bugling and coughing smoke.

Nothing else to do, Pyilee engrossed in counting profits of his day’s trade folding and unfolding his five fingers & knuckling them in between. Pyilee then noticed the handsome professor lost in deep thoughts. Pyilee was hurt for he thought that the professor was bored and really needs a joyful company to ride through. Pyilee, therefore, volunteered him a helping hand …..…“ Sar Engotta ” ( Where are you going, Sir?)

The professor, though not liked the countryman’s anxiety, murmured –‘Ernakulam’’
After some more time the simple Pyilee put another step to proceed the diologue…

Sare… Ernakulam is well two hours away… so why don’t we engage in some talks to pass time…

Smirking on the country-man’s advance Professor sarcastically put across “ “Thanickenthariam… Eee Lokathile” (What on earth you know about ?) chuckling and whispering “ other than the eggs”

You are right Sir, agreed the illiterate Pyilee… I am an egg-seller least literate… but yet we shall give a try” .

Time passed by.. but the tireless Pyilee did not give up.. So he offered the learnt Professor a way to pass time. He invited the Professor for a ‘Quiz’ session. The amused professor submitted to Pyilee with a condition that for any question un-answered by either, the loser will give the quizzer 100 rupees. Pyilee, pleaded for a 50% discount in his case as he was the poorer of the two The Scholar professor agreed to Pyilee’s condition and offered him to kick the first ball.

Sari Sare, Pyilee, after some meditation, kicked the first ball..

“ Bhoomiyile Ethu Pakshickanu Moonnu kalullathu’? ( Name the bird on Earth that has three legs)..

The sceptic professor chuckled, then decided to give a try to prove the idiot wrong. His scholastic medulla oblangetta browsed through various branches of zoology… but could not locate a creature with three legs, leave alone a bird with three legs.

He pulled out a crispy 100 rupee note and flashed it to Pyilee and challenged him to name that wonder bird.

Pyilee briskly put the crispy currency in his purse and pulled out a muddy old 50 rupee note and respectfully placed before the Professor and said, Sir, I surrender….

“Enickum Angine Oru Pakshiye Ariyilla Sare…” .(I too do not know such a bird on earth…)