10
Hiss in the School
The Wait That Turned Into Worry
The sun had started to melt into golden hues as the hills of Coorg Valley bathed in the gentle warmth of evening light. The air smelled of wet earth and coffee blossoms. At the edge of a tiled-roof house, Bollu, our friend with alert eyes and a loyal heart, sat wagging his tail. It was time. Every evening at this hour, his best friend Bopu returned from school with stories of his day. But today, Bopu didn’t come. Minutes turned into an hour. Bollu tilted his head. Then, without hesitation, he sprang up and bolted down the narrow trail that led to the valley school, barking loudly as if to say, "I’m coming, Bopu!"
The Terrifying Sight
The school stood quietly at the foot of the hill. But something felt… wrong. As Bollu dashed in through the rusting school gate, he spotted a crowd near Class 7A. Parents, teachers, and staff were whispering, too afraid to act. Inside the classroom, through the dusty glass window, Bollu saw it, a huge cobra, dark as night, coiled near the blackboard. Its hood flared. Its tongue hissed lightning. Children were terrified, standing on benches, clutching each other. Bopu was among them, standing near the middle, shielding younger kids. Right beside him was Kaveri, her wide eyes fixed on the cobra, her hands tightly gripping her satchel, whispering prayers to the forest gods. Bollu’s ears stood up, his eyes locked onto the snake. His instincts surged. He growled. Then, with all his strength, he rammed through the classroom door open, startling the onlookers. He leapt into the room.
Bollu vs. The Cobra
Gasps echoed. The cobra turned, facing its new challenger. Bollu stood firm, body low, teeth bared, eyes fierce. “Bollu, no!” Bopu shouted from the bench. But Bollu didn’t blink. The cobra hissed louder, slowly slithering toward Bollu. Then—a daring move—Bollu barked sharply, leaping left and right, distracting the snake. He kept its attention away from the children. Kaveri grabbed Bopu’s arm, whispering, “Do something… please!” Bopu, thinking fast, tossed his water bottle toward the open window. The clang startled the cobra. In a swirl of scales and speed, the cobra turned toward the sound. Bollu gave a final loud bark, lunging forward—but not to attack—just enough to herd the cobra toward the open window. And just like that, with a final hiss, the cobra slipped out and vanished into the wild.
Respecting the Wild
The room fell silent. Bopu rushed down and hugged Bollu tightly. “You’re the bravest dog in all of Coorg!” he said, voice trembling. Kaveri stood quietly, still holding her breath. She looked at Bopu with awe. “You made it go away without hurting it,” she whispered. Teachers hurried in, checking on the children. No one was hurt. One man rushed fetching a stick to chase the cobra, but Bopu stepped forward, his voice steady. “It didn’t harm us. Let it go back to the forest. That’s where it belongs,” he said. Kaveri nodded in agreement. “He’s right. Forest spirits must’ve sent it to test us.” The teachers and villagers agreed.
In Coorg, nature was sacred—and Bopu had reminded them of that. Word of the brave dog and his clever boy spread across the town. People told stories of Bollu’s heroic leap, and how the bond between a boy and his dog saved a classroom full of children.
The Medal of the Brave
Days later, under a big mango tree in the school courtyard, the Principal gathered students and villagers. With a smile, he called out, “Let us honor bravery guided by love.” He handed Bopu and Bollu a medallion, crafted by the local blacksmith. On it was engraved Boteykara Aiyappa and his Hunting Dog, the ancient forest and hunting God of the Kodavas—symbol of courage, balance, and protection. As everyone clapped, Bollu wagged his tail proudly, eyes gleaming. Bopu looked at the medal, then at Bollu. “Come on, buddy,” he whispered, "this belongs to you", then hooked the medal on Bollu's neck strap. Just then, Gange Maavi, Kaveri’s mother, stood up with a loud cheer. “That’s our Bopu! The protector of the valley and his loyal Bollu!” she laughed. “Even Kaveri has stopped teasing him—for today!” Kaveri grinned and clapped louder than anyone. “Only for today!” she shouted playfully. Later that evening, Bopu’s grandfather placed the Medal in the main living room display, right beside his own military service medals. It was the best recognition the valley’s youngest heroes could ever cherish.