Anushka Paints Multicolor Appu - Chapter 4

 Anushka Paints

Multicolor Appu the Elephant.  

Chapter 4: Friends Have a Surprise

When all the friends of Anushka were going home they were thinking about the fun they had and how the experience of changing colors was exciting. Next Sunday what more exciting things could they do?

They were not satisfied with change in only the color. They wanted something more. They wanted to change the features and body parts. So they decided, next Sunday they will ask Anushka to change their features and body parts.

“Appu, we have a more exciting plan for next Sunday.” Tuntin said.

“What is it?” Appu asked.

“You will know when we will go to Anushka. But please come early next Sunday.”

“But tell me what is it?”

“That is a surprise.” All shouted and laughed and went to their homes.

Appu also went to his home, thinking.

During the whole week they were imagining what will happen when they will change their features and what fun they will have. They played and ate and slept but in their minds there always was a thought of what features they will change?

At last it was Saturday. Now, only 24 hours, or 24 X 60 = 1440 minutes or 24 X 60 X 60 = 1440 X 60 = 86400 seconds to wait. Oh, no!!! So many seconds!

At last it was evening.

“Now we will go home, have dinner and sleep.” Tuntin Said.  

“Then we will wake up in the morning and Oh …” Neelu said.

“It will be Sunday morning.” Pancharangi said.

“And Appu will be coming.” Grogor said.   

“And we will go to Anushka. And He~~~!!!”  All shouted.

Next morning, at their usual meeting place, they were waiting for Appu. They were very excited at the thought of changing their characters and body parts and they couldn’t wait.

“Why this Appu is not coming?” Tuntin said.

“Why he is late?” Neelu.

“He is always late.” Grogor. 

“I can see him coming. But he is coming Doolat – Dooooolat, very slowly.” Pancharangi.

“Oh, yes! I can see him also. Appu, Come fast, come running” Tuntin shouted.

Friends waiting for Appu

When Appu came, he was panting.

“Why you are late? Why you are coming so slowly?” Everybody was shouting at him.

“I am not late. See the clock. And I came running. It is just that you are so eager to go to Anushka that you are impatient and restless. Why are you so excited?”

“We are going to ask Anushka to do her magic and change our characters.” Grogor said.

“Just like we changed our colors last time.” Pancharangi.

“I am going to have big tummy and Pancharangi wants a big trunk like yours.” Tuntin said.

“Oh, No!!” Appu said. “So that was the surprise.”

“Yes. And Grogor wants a beautiful and delicate long neck like Neelu and Neelu is going to have big head.” Pancharangi said.

“Everybody says, I am beautiful but dumb. I have no brains.” Neelu.   

“Oh, No!! Don’t do that. Are you out of your minds? Are you not satisfied with your original and unique characters?”

“What are you going to change?” Pancharangi.

“I am not going to change anything. I am satisfied and proud with what I have.  I am not a fool like you. Last time you had changed the colors and saw the results. It was a fun for a short time but it was dangerous. Similarly it is very dangerous to change the characters.” Appu said.  

But nobody listened to Appu.  

When they reached Anushka’s palace they opened the big iron gate and entered a large garden in front of the palace. Anushka was wondering in the garden. Saya was wandering behind her and running and jumping and climbing the trees. Anushka was learning more magic. She was now in the 7th grade and she has advanced in her study of magic. She was now changing the mango tree into guava tree and guava tree into papaya tree and papaya tree into apple tree and orange tree into pineapple tree. All were very surprised to see her magic. They thought, now she will definitely be able to change their features and characters also.

Friends come to A&S's Palace

“Hi Anushka! How are you? We have come to play with you.” All said.

“Welcome to my home. I and Saya were waiting for you.”

Seeing all the friends of Anushka gathered together, ‘Blumini’, the cat, came running from the palace and ‘Sonya’, the dog, came from behind the palace.

They asked, “Can we come to play with you? Can we join you?”  

Everybody said, “Oh yes! You are Anushka and Saya’s friends. So you are our friends also. Anushka, today we want you to do magic and change our characters and body parts.”

Anushka said, “Oh, why you want to change your characters? You all are very beautiful and I like you as you are.  And your characters are very important for you also. So don't change them.”  

“But we want you to do your magic and you can do it”

Anushka said, “I have learnt more magic in these years and my magic has developed to 7^th grade. But it is not enough. To change your characters I will have to do a big magic, which I cannot do. For that I will have to get a degree first, then master’s degree and then I will do Ph.D. in magic and then I will be able to do a big magic like changing your characters”

“But, at least you try.” Everybody said.

“No!” Anushka said. “Your characters are very important for you. They are according to your living habits. And they are important for your protection. It is not advisable to change them. And it is not allowed to do such a harmful magic.”

“Oh Anushka, but it is not harmful. It is only a fun.” Grogor said.

“You are the best magician we know. You can do it” Tuntin said.

“We have come with big hope. Please, please do the magic.” Neelu said.

So Anushka tried and tried and tried very hard but she could not do the magic. She concentrated and concentrated and tried again and again and again. But, Phusssss. Nothing happened.

“I am helpless. What can we do?” Anushka asked.

“Let us call your friend, the fairy Sevening.” Everybody said. “Last Sunday she had done the magic of changing colors.  So today we will ask her to change our characters.”

So Anushka dialed the number 300 850 1100 and called Sevening.

Sevening arrived immediately and asked “Hi Anushka. How are you?  Hi everybody, how are you? What can I do for you?”

Sevening Arrives

“Hi, Sevening! We are fine. How are you?” Everybody said. “Today we want to change our characters and body parts. We asked Anushka to do this magic but she couldn’t do it. Can you do this magic for us?”

“Yes. I can.” Sevening said. “But why you want such a magic? You have all character and body parts according to your habitat and living conditions. According to what you eat, where you go and what you do. They are important for your daily living and for your protection also. So, why you want to change them? Are you not satisfied with them?”

“Oh! We are satisfied. But we want to have fun. Please change them if you can.”

“It is not fun. It is very dangerous. I strongly advice you against changing them.” Sevening said.

“All my friends are very eager to change their body parts.” Anushka said. “Can you please do the magic temporarily? Just like last time you changed their colors temporarily?

“Yes! Yes!! Do the magic.” Everybody shouted with excitement.

Then the fairy Sevening said, “Ok! I will do the magic. But see, this is a big magic. Though temporary, it will last longer.”  

Everybody said, “Okay. We are ready for that.”

 Sevening said, “Remember. This magic will last for one week. Now it is 11 O’ clock. So the magic will be over at 11 O'clock next Sunday. Till that time, whatever happens, I will not be able to reverse the magic. Think again before changing the characters. And you will be responsible for what happens next. Don't blame me. Are you ready?”

 “Yes!!! We are ready” everybody shouted. “We are very excited about changing characters.”

End of Chapter 4

Told by

Rajan Aaba & Anushka

Illustrated by

Rajan