Aaloo had told Chilly a story about Taco and Brownie. Brownie was Taco’s best friend, who was obsessed with winning at the racecourse. He actually won the race, but he ran so fast that as soon as he crossed the finish line, he collapsed. He had to be admitted to the hospital. Taco was very sad about this and was waiting for him to wake up. Now, Aaloo will tell us what happened next.

“When Brownie woke up, the doctor told him that his lungs were damaged so badly that he could never run in a race again. If he tried to run, he could lose his life. The race he won turned out to be his very last race. Not only that, but he blamed Taco for what happened to him and broke off their friendship. Brownie wasn't even willing to talk to him.

“Taco began to hate the racecourse. What kind of competition is this that makes a person so reckless? Brownie didn't even care about his own life! And what was Taco’s fault in this situation? After that, the things that used to give him so much joy – the open sky, the wet soil, and the cheers of excitement - he gave up on all of them. After returning, Taco felt like running, but the thought of Brownie’s condition and the expression on his face put him off going to the racecourse again. 

“Six months passed in this way. Taco didn't want to go to the racecourse, but he was feeling restless without running. Then one evening, tired of his own thoughts, he went out of the stable and started running. He ran for almost an hour. As he kept         running, he started feeling lighter. There was no racecourse and no competition and no noise. But it was the same open sky and the same soil beneath him. Far away, the Sun was playing hide-and-seek amongst the hills, and cheering him on. Only when the sun set, did Taco stop. Looking at the sky, as if the Sun had given him a ray of hope, he said, ‘Thank you!’

“He realized that he could enjoy running even without a racecourse. Since then, Taco has been running every day - but not for a race and not to win. He runs simply because he loves to run. He now runs at double the speed than what he used to, and do you know why? Because now, he is competing with himself."

"How is that possible?" asked Chilly with surprise.

"He got a stopwatch from his father. He starts it every time he does a full lap of the jungle and notes down the finishing time. Every day, he tries to finish his lap in less time than the previous day. Chilly, he doesn't need to defeat anyone else to win. By            defeating his own past record, he wins every day.

“Yes, he still watches videos of the best horses on the racecourse on YouTube, but not to defeat them - just to make his own performance better. Chilly, he is happy. He may not be the best of all, but he is very happy!

“After losing his best friend, he understood that jealousy always leads to loss. And this was the same jealousy Brownie felt toward him. In that jealousy, Brownie lost everything. Even after winning the race, he actually lost.

“When you told me, ‘Why should I listen to Koko? She has to learn from me, I am the best,’ I saw the same fire in your eyes, and for a moment, I got scared. That is why I kept telling you that whether you win or lose, you will always be the best!

“I had purposefully displayed all your photos of you singing since your childhood because I wanted to tell you that your singing has improved so much over time. And you will do even better, not by competing with others, but by breaking your own record.

“Chilly, today it is Koko; tomorrow someone else will come who is better than you. If you keep running just to be the best out of everyone, you will end up exhausted like Brownie, and no matter how much you win, you won't be happy. Today, you are losing your peace by being jealous of Koko - this     jealousy will only grow. The winning that gives you joy now will become the reason for your sadness later. And I will never let that happen to you."