Anushka Paints
Multicolor Appu the
Elephant.
Chapter 2: Anushka Paints Appu’s painting in 5 colors
When Anushka said that she can paint Appu’s
picture in 5 colors, Appu said, “Oh! That's great. Let’s do it.”
“A~~m~~~
… Where can I paint your picture? … ” Anushka saw around and saw 3 stone
benches near the pond. She pulled two of them in the centre of the lawn. Of
course, she needed Appu’s help because she couldn’t move them. Then with
special stone bench tapes and tacky glue she tied them together into a big
stone stool. “Appu, will you please stand on this stone stool?”
“Oh! It’s too small. I cannot stand on
this.”
“Haven’t you seen a circus? Even big
daddy elephant can stand on a stool smaller than this?”
“Okay. I will try.” Then Appu kept his
one front foot on the stool, then another, then he kept his third foot. And
then he hastily put his fourth foot on the stool. The Stone stool jiggled,
wiggled and wobbled.
Anushka shouted, “look out, be careful.”
But, Dhappaaaaa! Appu fell down with a
big thud. “Oyee, oyee, oyeeee.” Appu shouted.
“I asked you to be careful. Let me see …
Is there any injury? In that case we will have to go to my Aaba. He's a doctor and has
a clinic at the other side of global village. He will dress your wounds, give
some medicines and give you anti-tetanus injection.”
Appu said, “I don’t want any shot. I am
fine. I have no injuries.”
Anushka said, “don't be afraid of
injection. Let me see.” She lifted the magic wand and said, “Wwooosh!” And
there was a magnifying glass in her hand. She saw Appu all over with magnifying
glass. When she was satisfied that there was no wound, she asked Appu to stand
on the stool again, but very slowly and carefully.
Then Appu lifted one foot and slowly
another foot. Then he kept the third foot behind the first and slowly, very
carefully lifted his fourth foot and put it near the third.
Then Anushka said, waving her magic wand,
“Zigu Ziga Zueeek”, and there was an easel with canvas, charcoal, pallet
full of all colors and many types of brushes.
Then, just when she started to draw, she
saw Appu standing loosely with head down. “Oh Appu, lift your head and lift
your big ears. … Yes! And wipe the tears from your eyes. Do you want the
painting of crying Appu? … And lift your
trunk in a saluting gesture. … Now, can you please smile a bit? I want to paint
‘proud and smiling Appu’ in a graceful and beautiful pose. Now don’t move. I
will try to finish the painting in half an hour.”
Anushka quickly drew Appu’s outline on the canvas with charcoal. Then she painted Appu’s back with red color and belly with yellow color. She painted his four legs with green and head with blue color. Then she painted trunk and ears with purple color. “Oh”, she said, “with 5 colors you are looking beautiful”.
Let me see, let me see.” Appu jumped
from the stool and came running towards Anushka.
“Wait, wait, wait! The picture is not
complete yet. Go, stand there on the stool. And don’t jump from the stool like
this. You will fall. In that case, We will have to go to
my Aaba, to take the anti-tetanus injection.”
Then Anushka took a small brush and
painted Appu’s tail with golden color and tusks with silver color. She took a
still smaller brush and painted his eye with black color. Then she took a very
fine, special brush and painted a white dot in the eye.
“Yes, now there is a spark in your eyes.
Now you are looking lively. … The painting is complete.”
“Can I see it now?”
“Yes.
Now you can come here and see it. But be careful. Don't fall again. Otherwise
we will have to go to No. 4, my Aaba.”
He climbed down carefully. But then came
running towards Anushka.
“Anushka you are a great painter. It’s a
beautiful painting. Appu in the painting is just like the one I have imagined. You
have magic in your left hand. And it is a real magic, not imaginary like
the magic in the wand in your right hand. You are my real friend.”
Appu was so happy, he started to jump
and dance.
Anushka was also very happy to see the
glittering eyes of Appu. She said, “Appu, see! You came running towards me and
you are jumping and dancing now. You can run, jump and dance also.”
“Yes. You are my best friend. You have
made me happy.”
*** *** *** *** ***
There was a ‘Bong’ - the clock struck one. From inside the Palace Anushka’s Mommy, Queen Sonal, called them. “It's one o'clock, time for lunch. The lunch is ready. Wash your hands and feet and come quickly.”
Saya, who was playing inside the house,
was also sitting at the dining table. Anushka’s Mommy had prepared many tasty
dishes for the lunch. There were cheese sandwiches with lettuce, cucumber and
tomatoes, flavored with mint leaves; soup of bamboo shoots; green salad and a
vegetable with gravy made from tender branches of trees. These dishes were
specially prepared for Appu because he was strictly vegetarian. For Anushka
there were chicken wings and egg white and for Saaya there were boiled eggs and
bananas also.
After lunch all three played in the
garden.
Appu lifted Saya with his trunk and put
her on his back. “Saya, hold my ears tightly. Otherwise you will fall down.” He
said and then gave her a long ride. Then he lifted Anushka also and put her
behind Saya on his back. He asked her to hold Saya tightly. He gave both of
them a long ride.
14: Elephant Ride
Then, with both on his back, he ran and danced in the garden. At first both were frightened. But afterwards they enjoyed. Appu then touched his trunk to the ground and Saya and Anushka slid down. They played happily in the garden till evening.
*** *** *** *** ***
Then Appu said, “You have painted my
beautiful, multicolor and unique picture. The magic in your right hand is
imaginary but the magic in your left hand and in your brush is real. You have
done a real magic and made me happy. You are my real friend.
Thank you very much.”
“Don’t mention it. I am also very happy
that I could make you happy.”
“I will have to go now. It's late. I
want to reach home before dark.”
“Okay. Take this picture with you. This
will remind you of this beautiful, warm and happy day.”
Appu took the picture and started to
leave. But at that time a miracle happened. “Zinushka Zueeeeek” and
Anushka disappeared.
The sky was deep blue, the grass was
greener, and there were silver and golden sparkles on the grass. Were they real
sparkles or were they dew drops shining in the setting sun’s rays? In the
evening breeze there was a faint smell of Jasmine and Jui. Saya’s eyes were
also sparkling with joy. But where was Anushka? Appu was surprised.
“Anushka, where are you?”
“I'm here only. Can't you see me? See
the silver and golden sparkles on the grass. It’s me!”
Anushka reappeared again and said, “I'm
very happy today and that's why I can do this new magic of disappearing. See, Zinushka
Zueeeeek!” And she disappeared again. Then there were silver and gold
sparkles on the green lawn.
15: Anushka
Disappears
Anushka was so happy, she started dancing. Appu saw the sparkles dancing on the grass. “I am so happy, see, I am floating in the air”, Anushka said. The sparkles started floating in the air and went high and high and high and reached the sky.
Now the sparkles became stars in the
sky.
Appu stood there, looking at the now
emerging stars, with ‘Awe’. After some time he came to his senses and said, “oh
it's getting dark now. I will have to go to home. Bye Anushka”.
“Bye Appu.” Anushka’s voice came from
the sky. “Will you come next Sunday?”
“Yes, Of course! Bye Saya.” Appu said
and went dancing to his home.
*** *** *** *** ***
When Appu entered the jungle there came Pancharangi parrot, Bambi deer, Neelu peacock and Grogor tiger.
“Wow! Appu you are looking very happy.
You can walk gracefully, you can jump and you can dance also. How is it
possible?”
Appu said, “Anushka, my real friend, has
made this possible. She has painted me in 5 colors. See this painting. That's
why I'm very happy and dancing. She has magic in her left hand and brush. But
the real magic is, she has made me very happy. She's my best friend.”
“Oh! We are also fed up of these colors.”
All said.
Then Grogor said, “you are looking
handsome with that black color also and you are walking proudly.”
Appu said, “Anushka has made me proud
and happy of my real black color, my big size, my trunk and the ears. And she
said, I am the most intelligent animal in the world. So I should be very proud
and I am.”
“Can she change our colors?” All asked.
“Can she do the magic on us? Can we come to Anushka with you? Will she be our
friend?”
Appu said, “yes why not. I doubt if she
will change your colors. But you all can come to Anushka with me next Sunday.
Be ready at 10 A.M.”
*** *** *** *** ***
When Appu entered his home, Mommy said, “oh, Appu you are dancing. You must be very happy.”
Appu said, “Mommy, see this painting.
Anushka has magic in her left hand. She has painted me in 5 colors. And She
said, my real black color is beautiful; I should be proud of my big size, my
trunk and the ears and I am the most intelligent animal in the world. She is my
best friend.”
Mommy said, “her real magic is, she has
made you happy. She has also made you realize the true value of what you have,
your color, size, unique characters and intelligence. We will hang the painting
on the wall, so you can see it any time. This will remind you of this wonderful
day. Now, you must be very tired. Can we have dinner?”
After dinner Appu went to bed and slept looking at the
painting. In the dream, he saw, he was really a Multicolored Appu and his big
ears had turned into big wings and he was flying in the blue sky happily.
End of Chapter 2
Told by
Rajan Aaba & Anushka
Illustrated by
Rajan
Rajan
