Anushka Paints Multicolor Appu: Chapter 1

Anushka Paints

Multicolor Appu, the Elephant.  

Chapter 1: Friends Tease Appu

One day Appu came to his mother and said,” Mommy, I'm bored ... What can I do?” 

1: Appu with his Mom

             Mommy said, “Go, play with your friends.”

“Nobody is playing with me.”

“Why? You have many friends. You must have quarreled with them.”

“No.”

“Have you finished your studies?”

“No, I don't want to study on holidays.”

“Then go, paint something in your drawing book.”

“No, I have already painted pictures. I'm bored. What can I do?”

“You can read your story books. Or play Synth.”

“No. I have read all the books many times and just now I don't want to play Synth.”

“Appu, why are you continuously doing ‘Bhun-Bhun’? Don’t irritate me. See, I am busy with work.”

“Mommy, can I go to Anushka?”

“Oh, you want to go to Anushka. Then why are you hesitating? Why are you not telling me straight away? Of Course, you can go to Anushka. But go early and come early before dark. There is a jungle on the way. So don't be late.”

“Ok Mommy.” Appu said.

“But what about your lunch?” Mommy asked.

“I will have lunch with Anushka. Her Mommy cooks delicious dishes.”

“Okay, Okay. But what will you give her? What does she like?”

“She likes everything. But yes, she likes Chakali, Besan Laadu, Cake and Jelly the most.”  

“I will give you one box of Chakali and in another two boxes I will give you Cake and jelly. Actually there are four Besan Laadus. But they are left-overs. I will give you freshly prepared Besan Laddus next time.”

“Oh! That's great.” Appu said. “But pack the jelly in a box with tight lid and tie it on my back securely. Otherwise it will move ‘Lubu-Lubu’, fall down and will be wasted.”

***    ***    ***

Then, with all these gifts Appu went to Anushka. He was going ‘Doolat-Dulat, Doolat-Dulat’ in a swinging, swaying gait. Then he entered the jungle.

Suddenly Grogor, the Tiger, jumped in front of him and roared. He started walking proudly in front of Appu.  

“Oh Grogor, you are walking very proudly. Why are you showing off?”  

“I am elegant, handsome, graceful and kingly with my golden yellow color and black stripes. I have stripes on my face also and have long whiskers. That’s why I am walking proudly. You walk ‘Doolat-Dulat’ and very slowly. And you are fat and dirty black.”

2: Appu meets Grogor, the Tiger

“Oh Grogor, you are my friend. Then why are you teasing me?”

“I'm not your friend. You can go anywhere you like. Don’t bother me.”

“OK. I will go to Anushka. She is my real friend.” Appu was sad, but he went on.

***    ***    ***

Then he saw Neelu, the Peacock. He was dancing with his long and beautiful tail feathers spread out like a big fan.

“It is not rainy season. Then why are you dancing?”

 “I am very happy, so I am dancing. I have peacock blue neck, golden brown wings and long, green tail feathers with blue eyes at the ends. I'm the most beautiful bird and National bird of India. I'm very proud of that. … But you are fat. You cannot dance. You cannot even walk properly. And you are dirty black.”

3: Appu meets Neelu, the Peacock

“Oh! You are my friend and you are teasing me unnecessarily.”

 “You are fat, black and ugly. I'm not your friend. Nobody can be your friend.”

Appu was very disappointed. He was sad and started to feel lonely. “You are not my friend then. I will go to my real friend Anushka.”

“You can go anywhere you like. Don’t bother me.”

***    ***    ***

When Appu went ahead he saw Tuntin, the Deer (fawn).

“You are jumping high and high, Tuntin. Why are you jumping?

“Because, I'm very happy. I have golden brown color with white dots. I'm looking very handsome. And I have strong legs and antlers (branched horns).

Now look at you. You are very fat and shapeless. You cannot even walk properly. Then how can you jump or run or dance?”

4: Appu meets Tuntin, the Deer

“Why are you teasing me?”

 “And you are dirty black. Ugly, fatty, dirty black. ”

“I thought, you are my friend.”

“I'm not your friend. You can go your way, anywhere you like.”

Appu was about to cry. But he held his tears and went ahead.

***    ***    ***

Then he met Pancharangi, the Parrot. He was flying ‘Zuik-Zuik’ around Appu’s Head, displaying his 5 colors and beautiful wings.

“Why are you flying unnecessarily? You will get tired.”

“I'm flying because I am very happy. I have 5 colors and I'm looking beautiful. You are dirty black. You cannot jump, you cannot run and you cannot dance. So flying is out of question. You are so fat that you cannot even walk properly.”

5: Appu meets Pancharangi, the Parrot

“Oh! You are also teasing me. I thought, at least you are my friend,” Appu said sadly.

“I'm not your friend. Don’t bother me. Go your own way.”

Appu was about to cry. But if they were not his friends, he decided, he should not cry in front of them. So he held his tears in his eyes and went ahead.

***    ***    ***

There was an open gate with the sign, ‘Exit from Jungle - Entry to the Hill.’

There was a green hill in front of him. He started to climb it.

It was very green, full of green grass, full of tiny grass flowers with many colors. Colorful butterflies were wandering from one flower to another. But they reminded him of his black color and made him sadder.  Usually he liked the green grass very much but now he had no appetite. At the top of the hill there were tall trees full of flowers and fruit. But Appu was not looking anywhere. He was not interested even in small, tender and tasty branches of trees.

6: Appu goes to Anushka

While climbing, he was thinking about the bitter comments of his friends. All were saying, he was fat, ugly and dirty black. He wouldn’t have bothered about that also. But everybody said that they were not his friends. Just because he was fat and black?

He thought, all animals and birds are colorful. All flowers and fruits are colorful. That’s why they were happy. Except himself! He should change his dirty black color. Otherwise he will not be happy.  

From the top of the hill he saw a beautiful sight. Below the hill there was a beautiful garden with many green trees, flowering plants and green lawn in the centre. There was a small pond also. In the background there was a beautiful Palace. It was Anushka’s home. Behind the Palace there was a big tower with clock on the top.

And what is this! Appu thought. There was a small red dot on the lawn and that was moving. When Appu went closer, the dot grew bigger and bigger and oh, she was Anushka wandering around on the lawn.

7: Anushka's Home

Anushka was wearing a beautiful red gown and golden slippers. And oh, she had two white, delicate and semi-transparent wings also, made up of soft clouds. She had a magic wand in her right hand and a magic brush in her left hand. Appu was thinking, is she Anushka in fairy’s dress or is she fairy in Anushka’s dress?

She was busy doing some magic.

When Appu went closer, he heard, Zueeek … Zueeeeeeek … Zueeeek. He saw, she was turning yellow flowers into red and red flowers into blue and blue flowers into orange and purple flowers into white. She was also turning Jasmine flowers into rose flowers and Rose flowers into Chapha flowers and Chapha flowers into Gokarna flowers and Gokarna flowers into Jhendu flowers.

So, there were red Jasmine flowers, blue rose flowers, Pink Chapha flowers, yellow Gokarna flowers and purple Zendu flowers, everywhere in the garden.

Wow, what a magic! It was great! Anushka was great! 

8: Anushka - Learning to do Magic

Appu went to Anushka and said, “Hi Anushka. How are you?”

“Oh Appu! Hi! I was expecting you. From the morning I was thinking about you and you are here. I'm very glad.”

“Are you doing some magic?”

“Yes. I am learning to do magic. I am trying to change colors of flowers. But why are you crying?”

“On the way I met many of my friends with beautiful colors. But they are always teasing me that I'm fat and dirty black.”

“But why? You have Beautiful black color and you are big and strong. Why are you so upset and disappointed? Why are you complaining and crying? You need not worry about your color. It's very beautiful jet black. And you need not worry about anything at all. You are the biggest and strongest animal in the world. And you have two big tusks, two big ears and you are the only animal having long trunk.” 

9: Appu asks Anushka to Change his Color

“But I'm fed up of this color. I want to be beautiful. I want many colors like Pancharangi parrot. They are beautiful with their beautiful colors and that’s why they are happy. I want to be happy also. You are a great magician. Can you please do your magic and make me multi-color?”

“Is it necessary? Most of all, you have this much big head and big brain. You are the most intelligent animal in the world. Are you not happy with that? And, you see, intelligence is real beauty. So, that way, you are the most beautiful animal also. Then why are you crying?”

“No. But I want to be beautiful with many colors. Please do some magic.”

“I have just starting to learn. I am in 2nd grade and my magic is also ‘medium size’. But I will try.

Then Anushka lifted her magic wand and said, “Yigi Yiga Yammor, Zeg Zippu Ziga Zammor, Let Appu be Multicolor.”

But Phusssss! Nothing happened. She tried again and again. But Phussss, nothing happened.

10: Anushka Doing Magic

She said, “I think I haven’t concentrated enough. Now I will concentrate more and try again.” She concentrated and concentrated and concentrated and tried again and again. But Phusssss, nothing happened. She was very disappointed and was about to cry.

“Then, you paint me in 5 colors”, Appu said.

“You are so big, it is just impossible. It will need at least 1 barrel of each color. Total, almost 5 barrels. And I will need big wall painting brushes and a ladder. And still I won’t be able to reach your back.”

“But, …”

“Oh, Appu! And even if I paint you, the color will be washed away in the rain. It will be a waste of time and money.”   

Appu was so disappointed and sad, he almost started crying.

Then Anushka said, “I have an idea. I can paint your picture in 5 colors. Will that do?”

Appu said, “oh! that's great. Let’s do it.”

End of Chapter 1

Told by

Rajan Aaba & Anushka

Illustrated by

Rajan