There once was a group of joyous, carefree monkeys who loved dancing. They had everything one could ever ask for: abundant fruits of all varieties, a sprawling tree home in the forest, and wonderful friendships with one another. The happy monkeys had been living at peace for as long as they could remember, never bothered by anything, having all their desires fulfilled by simply being as they are. 

But Mesther, a young monkey with golden fur, one day was feeling curious and slightly mischievous. He decided to venture outside of the forest, asking himself, What else is there in this world? 

He gathered some mangoes to keep his stomach full on the journey, and bravely set off to explore the unexplored.

Not soon after crossing the boundary of the forest, Mesther began seeing wondrous sights he had never seen before: magical hills towering into the skies, beautiful meadows, teeming with colorful butterflies and divine-looking deer. The young monkey was so curious to explore and, wide-eyed, dropping his mangoes, he rushed forth into the wild.

First, he came across a majestic elephant with long, smooth tusks. He asked the elephant, “What’s your name, and what are you doing?”

“My name is Tama-Raja, I am on my way to play with my friends. Come along, curious monkey.” 

Mesther trotted along with Tama-Raja to a glistening waterfall, where there were many other similar elephants, playing and splashing. The two happily joined in with the other elephants, playing chase with one another and relaxing under the falls. Mesther was having such fun, and so, the golden-furred monkey stayed with the elephants to his heart's content, unaware of days, weeks, and months passing.

Waking up from his nap one day, amidst the pleasant sound of the water pouring on the rocks, Mesther felt a strange emotion he had never experienced before. He felt something was lacking; he was unsatisfied and somewhat agitated, but he didn’t know why. Getting up, he told Tama-Raja, “My elephant friend, I must go. I want to seek something more.” 

And then Mesther rushed away, in search of something else to satisfy his desire. After some time, he came across a royal tiger with vibrant orange and glossy black stripes. He asked the tiger, “What’s your name, and what are you doing?”

“My name is Asat, and I am going to eat dinner with my family. Come along, young monkey.”

Of course, Mesther, eager to eat, followed the regal-looking tiger to a vast, cool cave in the side of a mountain, where many tigers were waiting, with a prepared feast of all foods that one could imagine. Mesther and Asat took a seat and gladly partook in the meal, thoroughly enjoying the array of sweet fruits, delicious breads, and savory vegetables, while chatting away with the tigers. Mesther was enjoying the feast and his feeling of satisfaction had returned, so he was unaware that days, weeks, and months passed by. 

Taking a piece of watermelon one day, Mesther suddenly felt a sensation, as that feeling of lacking crawled back up into his awareness. Quickly dissatisfied with the food, standing up from his seat at the feast, he told Asat, “My tiger friend, I must go. I want to seek something more.”

And so, Mesther dashed away, in search of something else to satisfy his desire. After some time, at the edge of a jungle, Mesther came across an elegant peacock, with its beautiful turquoise feathers fanned out like thousands of eyes. He asked the peacock, “What’s your name, and what are you doing?” 

“My name is Ahamkar, and I am going to help my brother arrange precious stones. Come along, golden-furred one.”

Mesther was captivated by the mention of these valuable stones, and tagged along with 

the peacock to the top of a hill, where another equally-graceful peacock was sitting, arranging shining crystals and gems of all colors from sunset-red to deep-sea blue. Mesther and Ahamkar began helping the peacock arrange them into piles and stunning patterns on the grass of the hill. So deeply enchanted by the magical looking jewels was Mesther, that days, weeks, and even months passed by. 

Placing a certain jade-green triangular stone in a pile on day, the all-too familiar feeling of disappointment and lacking hit Mesther as he jolted in his spot. Upset, he sprung to his feet and told Ahamkar, “My peacock friend, I must go. I am not satisfied here.”

And so, Mesther began his descent from the hill glumly, in search of something else to satisfy his desire. However, while Mesther was young, he had a very sharp intelligence, and noticed something about his predicament. No matter what I do, I don’t feel fulfilled here, he reasoned. Turning his head towards the distant forest, he suddenly had a pang of remembrance of his home. How foolish I have been searching blindly in this strange world! All I need is in the forest, my home!  

Thus, Mesther made his way back to the place where sorrow and disappointment cannot reach.