Kollam (Kerala): In a unique tale of friendship, a shopkeeper from Kerala's Kollam district shares a close bond with four crows that goes back 15 years.
Pankajakshan, who runs a shop at Mangad on the Kollam bypass is close friends with his customers, but it is his close relationship with a group of crows that features in all his stories that he passionately narrates.
Every morning, right from the time he opens up his shop, his four crow friends start visiting him at different times throughout the day. Pankajakshan gives all the four birds a fistful of the savoury mixture (a mix of sev, nuts, and lentils with spices) that he keeps handy in his Mundu Madikuthu (portion of the dhoti fold hanging from the waist).
Quite astonishingly, the crows eat the savoury mix right from Pankajakshan's hand, showing not even an iota of fear or doubt.
The crows visit Pankajakshan's shop at least 10 times through the day for their snack break with their human friend. Sometimes, Pankajakshan plays with his crow friends, hiding the mixture within his fist.
However, Pankajakshan's friendships are not limited to the crows. The customers who come to his shop have also developed a close friendship with him.
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Pankajakshan displays his friendship by providing half a pack of milk to customers who do not wish to buy the entire pack for Rs 23. His only condition is that the customers bring their own container for the 250 ml milk and pay him Rs 12.
However, this is not all that Pankajakshan is famous for. Over the years, he has also gained prominence as an expert cook. People from far off places reach Pakajakshan's shop to have the special buttermilk he prepares with a few magic ingredients.
Anyone who wishes to hear Pankajakshan's interesting stories, meet his crow friends and have a tasty glass of special buttermilk are welcome to his shop.
