Prakasam was in trouble, real trouble. He was a trader from Kampili. He was lost and had with great difficulty reached the edge of the forest. There, his cart, loaded with goods, had slipped into a ditch and his poor horse had died! He saw Hampi and realized it was the closest town. But how could he leave his goods and how was he to get his cart out?
Suddenly, he saw a man standing outside one of the houses. He ran towards him. It was Tenali Raman. “Sir, please help me!” he cried out. Tenali talked to him and found out the difficulty he was in. “We must take out your cart first. I have a horse here and we will try.”
Taking Prakasam along to the backyard, Tenali Raman unhitched a horse that stood there. It was a thin and miserable-looking horse. Prakasam stared first at the horse and then at Tenali Raman. “Is this man crazy?” he thought, “My horse died pulling out the cart. And this fellow thinks he will use this miserable creature to pull out that heavy cart.” But no other help was available, so Prakasam helped to take the horse along.
“My Shankara will help you,” smiled Tenali Raman, as Prakasam looked doubtfully at the frail Shankara who tottered to the cart. They hitched Shankara to the cart and he stood for a while, drooping and sad. “He’s ok. He’ll pull it out. You’ll see,” said Tenali Raman.
Suddenly, Tenali Raman shouted, “Pull Raju! Pull! Venu, Sama, pull! Pull hard, Vijaya! Ramaiah, pull! Come on, Shankara, pull!” Prakasam was startled out of his wits! Why was the man shouting? Whose names was he calling? There was only one old horse! Was this man mad or was he, Prakasam himself, crazy to ask for his help?
Then he saw a strange thing happening. The reins tightened and stretched. The old horse straightened up and stood with his head held high. With a plunge he began to pull the heavy cart as Tenali Raman shouted out encouragement and called out many names. And lo and behold! Within minutes the cart was dragged right out of the ditch and the trader stood amazed at the strength and power of old Shankara.
He looked amazingly at Tenali Raman, who understood what was puzzling the trader.
“My friend, Shankara led a team of horses earlier. They ran together, but now they are all gone. Yet, when Shankara hears his team being called, he feels the old fire of enthusiasm and strength again and the magic works!” Tenali Raman knew how team-work helps.
