Anushka Paints
Multicolor Appu the
Elephant.
Chapter
5: All Friends Change Their Features
Fairy Sevening
warned all the friends again. “This magic is not reversible. I will not be able
to reverse it. 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.”
Fairy Sevening
said, “Okay! Who is the first?”
Pancharangi parrot came
forward and said, “I want a thick and long trunk like Appu.”
Sevening said, “OK!
You will have what you want. "Phewish, Whick, Whick, Whick,” and Pancharangi had
a long and thick trunk. He was very happy and
started to clap with his wings.
Then came Neelu. He
wanted a big head. So she made it very big like Appu’s head. But while doing it
Neelu’s legs also became thick like tree-trunks.
Tuntin wanted a big
tummy like Appu. Fairy did the magic and Tuntin had a big tummy that was almost
touching the ground. ‘Now I can eat lots of food’ He thought.
Then she turned Grogor’s
neck into long, slender neck, like Neelu. The neck also had peacock-blue color.
But his nose also turned peacock-blue and he had a crest on the head like
Neelu. That was looking very funny.
Now Blumini and Sonya
said, “We also want to change characters.” Blumini wanted antlers like Tuntin
and Sonya wanted 5 colored wings like Pancharangi.
So, Fairy Sevening changed
their characters also. But while changing over, Blumini also had long and slender
legs like Tuntin and Sonya had a beak also.
Everybody was very
delighted and happy. All started laughing just by looking at each other. They
were enjoying the change in characters.
Then Anushka came to Sevening and said, “I also want to change some of my characters.”
“Oh Anushka! You also?” Appu said.
“Why not? It’s only
for a week.”
“Oh, Didi, don’t do
that. I like you and love you as you are. I want you as you are.” Saya said.
“Oh, Anushka, don’t
do that.” Appu also said. “YOU were advising us not to change our features and
characters; not even the colors. Are you not satisfied with what you have, and
what is unique about you?
“Anushka, think
again. It is not advisable.” Sevening requested.
But Anushka was not
in a mood to listen. “I want blue eyes and golden hair. Please do it for me if
you can.”
Just as Sevening was
doing the magic Anushka said, “Golden hair but just shoulder-length.” But the
magic was over. Anushka had very long golden hair almost reaching to her feet.
Sevening also asked
Saya and Appu whether they also wanted to change their characters. But Saya
said, “I am happy with what I have.” And Appu refused.
Sevening said, “Remember
the magic will last till 11 o'clock next Sunday. Till that time I will not be
able to reverse the magic.” And then she vanished. Nobody paid any attention to
her. They were so excited, laughing and trying to dance that they even forgot
to say goodbye to her.
Pancharangi started
to fly with joy. But he could not lift the trunk. He fluttered his wings very
fast. His body and tail were high in the air. But he could not lift the trunk
and he could not fly. He tried again and again but nothing happened. He fell to
the ground exhausted. He was very tired with the efforts. He could only walk backwards
very slowly and was just able to drag his trunk. That’s all he could do.
Tuntin started to
run. But while moving the tummy was moving lubu-lubu in between his legs and he
could not run. With excitement, he tried to jump but he fell down on his tummy.
At first, the big
head on Neelu’s long neck was properly balanced. But when he started to movie
its weight shifted to one side and he could not balance it. It fell to one side
with a jerk to his neck and he cried in pain. Everybody started to laugh. He
couldn’t lift it and when he tried to lift it with force it went to another side
and almost touched the ground. He could not balance it properly and it fell
down to one side and then to another side. His neck was aching and then he
became so tired he could not lift the head from the ground. He was crying and everybody
else was laughing.
Grogor had the same
problem of balancing his head on long slender neck. The head was moving and
turning and dangling uncontrollably and he was having problem maintaining his poise
and pride. As such he was looking so funny that everybody was laughing just by looking
at him. He was angry and started to shout loudly but only soft “miew-meu-meeyu”
came from his mouth. It was a mixture of sound made by cat and peacock. Everybody
laughed and his remaining pride came to pieces.
Blumini was jumping
with joy and excitement but could not keep her balance on long slender legs. When,
at last, she was able to keep her balance, she jumped so high that her newly
acquired antlers tangled in the branches of the tree. When she was trying desperately
to come down, everybody was laughing. Then, at last, one branch of the tree
broke and she fell down.
Sonya was admiring
his beautiful small multicolored wings. But then he saw his front legs reduced
to a very small size. He could not stand properly on all four legs. So he tried
to stand and walk on only two hind legs. Then he fluttered his wings in an
attempt to fly. But with small wings he could not fly. He was looking so funny that
everybody was laughing at his clumsy attempts to walk and fly. He was angry and
started to bark but the only sound coming from his parrot like beak was “Chu,
Chuh, Chuh, Chuh”. Then he also started to laugh.
All seemed very happy that they have
changed characters and some body parts. And they were very excited to try new
things. In that attempt they were doing many weird things and looking so funny
that everybody was laughing at each other.
But where were Appu
and Saya? They were standing nearby and looking at others in amusement.
“Appu, have you not
changed your characters?” Sonya asked.
Appu said, “No. I
am satisfied with what I am and what I have. I don’t want to change anything.
Anushka has told me last time that you should be proud and contented with what
you have. Everybody is different from others and is unique. First I was
reluctant to accept this. But now, seeing at you, I am fully convinced that it
is madness to look at others and wish to be like them. I am really surprised,
why Anushka also changed her characters.”
Then everybody said,
“But where is Anushka?” They searched everywhere in the garden, but could not
find her.
‘Bong.’ The clock
struck 1. “Anushka, Saya, please call your friends.” Anushka’s mommy, Queen Sonal
called from the palace. “Lunch is ready.”
Everybody went in
the palace. “Where is Anushka?” They asked Anushka’s mommy.
“I don't know. I thought
she is with you.” Queen Sonal said. “And what is this? What have you done to
yourself? You are looking very funny.”
“It’s a magic.
Fairy Sevening has changed our characters. Anushka has also changed some of her
characters. That much we know. But now we cannot find her. She is probably in
the palace.”
Then, all searched for
Anushka in the palace. There were 100 bedrooms in the palace. They searched 99
rooms and at last they found one girl in the last bedroom. She had long golden
hair up to her heels and blue eyes. She was standing in front of a large Oval
mirror and looking in the mirror at herself.
“What are you doing
here? Come for lunch.” Appu said.
But she paid no
attention. She was totally lost in admiring herself.
Mommy called her
for lunch but she paid no attention. Then, as if coming out of a dream Anushka
turns slowly towards Mommy. Mommy could not recognize her. “Who is this girl
with Long Golden hair and Blue eyes? She is not Anushka. Is she Goldilocks or
Rapunzel or Cinderella? And what is she doing here in Anushka’s bedroom?” Queen
Sonal asked.
“Oh! We don’t know.” All said.
Then everybody
except Anushka went for lunch.
But nobody could
eat anything. Pancharangi could not even lift his trunk to eat fruit and cheese.
When he was desperately trying to eat chili Grogor placed it in front of his
trunk. Pancharangi sucked it in his trunk and Oy-Oyy-Oy-Oyy. It was burning
inside the trunk and he started to cry. Then at last he was able to sneeze it
out. But still it was burning inside for few hours.
When Grogor tried to
swallow a big piece of mutton the piece stuck into his delicate slender neck.
It was not going down and it was not coming out. He was choking and his eyes
went white. At last he could manage to cough it out.
When Neelu the
peacock bent forward to pic a piece of cake he could not balance his big head and
it fell into the cake in the dish in front of him. All his face got smeared
with the icing and cake. Everybody started to laugh.
When Blumini tried to
eat she could not reach the food in the dish because of her long legs and when
she folded her legs and managed to reach the food the antlers came in between
the dish and her mouth. It was impossible. And in the efforts the dish of milk
turned upside down. Again everybody laughed.
Sonya was unable to
stand and when he somehow sat down on his hind legs he was unable to eat. Saya
tried to feed him but with his parrot-like beak he could not open his mouth
properly.
Tuntin was eating
and eating and eating. But he was not satisfied. His tummy was not getting full
at all. Queen Sonal was tired of serving him. All food supply from the kitchen
and from the stores in the palace got exhausted after serving Tuntin. But his
stomach was empty and he was not satisfied. Then Queen Sonal ordered for all
the food from the town. But still his stomach was not getting full. He was feeling
hungry and was demanding for more and more food.
Anushka, in the 100th
room, was not even present for the lunch. She was so engrossed in looking in
the mirror and admiring herself that she forgot to go to lunch. She was looking
in the mirror and laughing madly and saying again and again, “Oh! My eyes are
blue and my hair are so long and beautifully golden and Ohhh!! My blue eyes are
so beautiful and my hair are silky blond and long and Oh-hoh-hoooo!!! My eyes
are sparkling blue! … and My golden hair … and my …”
Only Saya and Appu
could eat their lunch.
So, with all types
of tasty cuisines available, nobody could eat anything. Then they tried to play
but they could not even move properly. They all were looking so funny that they
were busy laughing and teasing each other.
At last it was
evening and it was getting dark. All friends were very very tired. With their
changed characters they had tried hard for the whole day to move around and were
very exhausted. They hadn’t had their lunch also. So they were very hungry. All
were eager to go home. But they couldn’t find Anushka. So, all said goodbye to
her Mommy.
Sonya and Blumini
went to their homes behind the palace. But Sonya’s mother couldn’t recognize
him and didn’t allow him to enter the house. Blumini couldn’t even try to enter
her house with her long legs and antlers.
“Appu, we are very
tired and cannot walk also. Can you please carry us back to our homes?” Friends
from jungle asked Appu.
“Okay.” Appu said.
He lifted them one by one and put them on his back and went to the jungle.
And on the way also
they were teasing each other and laughing at each other. They looked very happy
but really they were not. And they all were feeling very weak because nobody
has eaten anything since morning.
When they reached
their homes in the jungle their parents also refused to let them in their
houses. They could not even recognize them.
Tuntin, Neelu and Grogor
had to sleep outside their houses. They were tired and hungry. And now they
were very frightened also because it was dark and cold in the jungle. And their
parents could not even recognize them. That was the most heart-breaking thing. Now
they were feeling sorry for changing their characters. But now they couldn’t do
anything about it. They were crying but the magic would not get reversed for 1
week.
Pancharangi’s home
was at the top of a tall tree. But he was unable to fly to his house. He was
very tired and he could not even lift his trunk. He was crying and calling his
mommy. On the top of the tree, his mommy was also flying around the tree and searching
him. But he was far below on the ground so she could not hear his cry. At last
he slept on the dry leaves below the tree, alone, tired, frightened, hungry and
miserable.
In the palace, Anushka
was also very tired and hungry. But she was looking at her blue eyes and golden
hairs in the mirror. She was so engrossed in admiring herself that she forgot
to go for dinner also. So, at last, due to fatigue and tiredness she fell down
in her hair and slept there.
Now Appu was in his
home and Saya was in her palace, both having dinner with their parents. But
they were also not happy because all their friends and Anushka were hungry, tired,
cold and miserable.
End
of Chapter 5
Told by
Rajan Aaba & Anushka
Illustrated by
Rajan
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