Queen

“Queen is missing…Queen is missing,” the man could hardly speak. He was so scared. 

The king was shocked to learn that his dear Queen had gone missing.

“Listen to me very carefully, if you fail to find Queen by sunset then I will have each one of you beheaded.” The king was looking fearsome when he said these words.

All the king’s men ran helter-skelter. No one knew where to look for Queen. Some searched for her in the rooms, some men searched on the roofs and some men searched in the lawns and gardens.

The king was pacing his room like a caged tiger. No man had ever been beheaded in his kingdom. Even the worst criminals were not given harsh punishment. He was angry with himself for having given such a cruel order. But he had decided that he would punish everyone if they did not fined Queen before sunset.

Suddenly, someone thought of talking to Milki. Milki was very old and almost blind; but age had not rusted his brains.

Milki thought for a moment and asked, “What does she like to eat?”

“Chicken sausages. She would do anything for chicken sausages.”

“When was she last given chicken sausages?”

No one knew. 

Milki suggested that they should keep fresh chicken sausages at different places on each floor of the palace.

Just before sunset, a person on the top floor saw Queen appearing from nowhere. She silently walked to the dish containing sausages.  The person approached her silently like a tiger and very carefully picked her up.

Sun was about to set and everyone was terrified. But the man who was carrying Queen ran to the King’s Chamber.

The king jumped from his throne.

“My darling, my daring! Where did you go? Where were you hiding? Why? You don’t know how I missed you!”

He kissed and patted his beloved dog and smiled at the man who had found her. Everyone heaved a sigh of relief.

The king too was greatly relieved; he would not have to behead any of his men. 

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A post for A to Z challenge

Today’s letter Q

You may like to read my earlier post here Pumpkin Boy

 

Pumpkin Boy

Once upon a time, in a far-off village, lived a boy who was very poor. He had no one to look after him and no home to live in.

He helped people in their daily chores and they gave him food to eat and a place to sleep. Sometimes he slept in a house, sometimes on a farm and sometimes in the open, under a bench or a bush.

One day he helped a farmer to water his plants. But the farmer was a wicked person. He didn’t give the boy anything; not even a small piece of bread crumb. Instead, he picked a small pebble from under a tree and gave it to the boy, “Take this seed and plant it somewhere. One day you will become rich and famous.”

The boy was sad and disappointed. He had not eaten anything since morning. Tears fell from his beautiful, sad eyes.

“Why are you crying?” asked an old woman.

The boy looked at her. He had never seen her in the village.

He recounted his story.

“Let me see that pebble,” she said. The boy gave her the pebble.

“Are you hungry? Take this apple and eat it.” She gave him one apple. Then she closed her eyes, muttered some words and blew on the pebble. She smiled at the boy and said, “I think the farmer was right. Plant this pebble somewhere.”

“But where should I plant it? I am homeless,” the boy liked her smile.

 “You can stay in my hut and plant this pebble in the backyard.”

He followed her to her hut, which was in an isolated place outside the village. He planted the pebble in the damp soil behind the hut.

Next day he saw a small sapling where he had planted the pebble. He rushed in to tell the old woman. But she was not in the hut.

By afternoon the sapling had grown into a large creeper. By evening, one flower was blooming on the plant.

Next morning, the boy saw a large pumpkin on the plant. He wanted to tell everyone about this pumpkin. He plucked the fruit and took it to the wicked farmer.

The farmer thought the boy was making a fool of him. “Since I gave you that pebble for free; I will take this fruit as a gift from you.” And he snatched the pumpkin.

The boy felt hurt. He was unhappy that he had lost his pumpkin. But when he reached the old woman’s hut, he was astonished to see another large pumpkin on the plant.

This time he took the pumpkin to the carpenter who happily bought it and gave him a fair price.

Within a week he had sold more than fifty big and delicious pumpkins. Every time he plucked one fruit, another would grow on the plant within no time. And in the village, everyone was talking of delicious pumpkins that the boy was growing.

The wicked farmer got jealous of the boy. One day he insulted and abused him and called him a pumpkin boy.

But the boy did not feel insulted. In fact, he started calling himself the pumpkin boy.

And soon he was rich and famous. 

But he knew that he owed his fortune to the mysterious old woman who had turned the wicked farmer’s pebble into a magic pumpkin seed.

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A post for A to Z challenge

Today’s letter P

You may like to read my earlier post here Orange Peels

 

 

 

Orange Peels

Rinkoo monkey was a great detective.

One day Teetoo bear called him early in the morning. “Rinkoo, please come, quickly. Someone has stolen my blue diamond,” Teetoo bear said.

“You had a blue diamond?”

“Yes, my grandfather gave it to me on my fifth birthday. But now I have lost it.” He seemed to be in tears.

Rinkoo almost came running to Teetoo’s place.

“Where did you keep the diamond?” Rinkoo asked

“In the refrigerator.”

“Are you making fun of me. Who keeps a diamond in a refrigerator?”

“My grandfather had told me that a blue diamond must be stored in cool place. He himself kept it hidden in an icebox. We didn’t have refrigerator at that time.”

Rinkoo opened the refrigerator and carefully examined every item that was in the refrigerator. “One water-melon, two muskmelons, three apples, five orangs…….”

“No, there are six oranges,” interjected Teetoo.

Rinkoo recounted the oranges. “No, you are wrong. There are only five oranges.”

“What! The thief has also stolen one orange,” shrieked Teetoo.

“Where is everyone?”  Rinku asked.

“Wife is not here. She has gone to her mother’s place. Seetoo is in his room and Buntoo is in the guest room.”

“Who is he?”  

“He is Seetoo’s friend. He stayed here for the night.”

But Buntoo was not in the guest room. 

Seetoo was still sleeping. Teetoo jolted him harshly.

“Buntoo left early in the morning. He had  received a call from his father. I think his mother is unwell,” Seetoo said annoyingly: he was still half asleep.

Rinkoo said, “I don’t like it. Buntoo must have opened the refrigerator and perhaps…...”

“I can’t believe it, he such a nice boy,” Teetoo said.

“Let’s go and talk to Buntoo.”

They rushed to Buntoo’s house. His father opened the door.

“But Buntoo has not come back yet,” said his father.

“Is his mother unwell?” asked Rinkoo.

“No.”

At that moment Buntoo reached his home. He was taken aback when he saw Teetoo and Rinkoo talking to his father.

“Are you sure that diamond is real?” Rinkoo asked abruptly.

Buntoo was unable to say anything for a few seconds. He finally muttered, “Which diamond? I don’t have any diamond.”

“Was the orange sweet?” Rinkoo asked.

Buntoo was flustered. “I don’t know? I didn’t eat any orange.”

“You did eat one orange. I saw orange peels under the bed in the guest room.”

Buntoo felt cornered. “Yes, I remember now. I had brought one orange with me….”

“You took that orange from the refrigerator and when you were taking it out you saw something hidden in the refrigerator. Be a good boy and return the diamond to Teetoo.”

Buntoo could see that his father was very angry. “I am sorry, I should not have taken that diamond,” he said meekly.

“If you promise that you will never ever do such a thing again, I will not report the matter to police. And I will request your father not to give any harsh punishment to you.”

“I promise…I promise Papa.” He handed over the blue diamond to Teetoo. Buntoo’s father looked rather disappointed.

Rinkoo had done it again. He was surely a great detective.

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A post for A to Z challenge

Today’s letter O

You may like to read my earlier post here Nine

 

 

 

Nine

Nine little birds were sitting on a tree

Eight were quiet but one was carefree

Seven glared at the one who loved to dance and sing

Six were in no mood to laugh and grin

Five turned and looked up at the deep blue sky

Four always dreamed of flying very very high

Three were naughty and loved to mock others

Two were alike for they were brothers

One carefree bird was dancing and singing loudly

Nine little birds lived freely and proudly.

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A post for A to Z challenge

Today’s letter N

You may like to read my earlier post here Mango Grove

 

Mango Grove

A group of mischievous monkeys lived near a river. They all loved to eat fruits. But most of the trees near the river did not bear fruits.

One day, one of the monkeys spied a mango grove at some distance from the river. Every tree in the grove was full of sweet and juicy mangoes. He stealthily jumped over the fence and climbed the nearest tree. He started picking and eating the mangoes. The mangoes were very delicious.

Back in the group, he told everyone about the delicious mangoes that he eaten.

Every monkey wanted to rush to the grove but an old monkey cautioned them. “Let’s not be greedy and let’s us not all rush to that grove. I have seen that grove. And I also know that it is well protected. There are many guards and they are all fearsome. Anyone who gets caught gets a good thrashing.”

“But there must be some way to get those mangoes?” asked Ruskee, a young monkey, who was very eager to become the leader of the group.

“I suggest only six of us should go there around noon time when guards normally take their lunch. Two monkeys should keep an eye on the guards and the remaining should quietly pick mangoes. Once you have picked about thirty mangoes you should leave that place noiselessly. Every one will get one mango to eat.”

Some monkeys were not happy with this scheme and they started grumbling. Ruskee looked at the old monkey angrily.

“Do as you want, but you will repent if you are not careful,” said the old monkey.

Six monkeys including Ruskee went to mango grove. Ruskee and Minnti decided keep an eye on the guards and the remaining four started plucking mangoes.

But Ruskee was not keeping an eye on the guards. He had quietly climbed a mango tree. He plucked a mango and started eating it. It was very juicy and sweet. He could not resist saying, “This is the finest mango I have ever eaten.” And he had said these words so loudly that the guards heard him.

“Monkeys!” shouted one guard. All the guards jumped at once and started chasing the monkeys.

The monkeys dropped the mangoes and ran away. But Ruskee was very greedy. He did not drop the mangoes. He was holding one mango in each hand and one in his mouth.

Of course, he could not run and jump over the fence. Other five managed to escape.

The guards caught and gave him a sound thrashing and then threw him into a filthy ditch.

The old monkey was watching from a distance. He took pity on Ruskee and helped him to get out of the filthy ditch.

“You should have listened to mee.  Greed always leads to misery and pain.”

Ruskee was in tears. But he had learnt his lesson.

*****

A post for A to Z challenge

Today’s letter M

You may like to read my earlier post here Lemons

 

Lemons

The bear came rushing like a wind. The monkey was leaving for the market. The bear crashed into the monkey as he stepped out of his house.

“What’s the matter?” the monkey shouted. “You almost broke my back.”

“Please help me! I am undone! They have come! Again!” the bear appeared terrified.

“Just calm down and tell me what has happened? Who have come?”

“No, no…... we can’t wait. Come with me, right now. Let’s also ask the elephant and the giraffe to come with us,” The bear said, huffing and puffing like a steam engine.

The monkey requested the elephant and the giraffe and they all accompanied the bear to his house.

As the entered bear’s house, the monkey and the elephant and the giraffe looked around. They were watchful and alert.

There was no one in the bear’s house.

“I can’t see anyone here? Not even a fly?” the monkey asked.

“Look at that tree? Can’t you see anything?” the bear said, hiding behind the elephant. He was pointing to a tree in one corner.

“I don’t see anything on that tree except the lemons?”

the elephant said.

“Yes, yes. Please do something, quickly. I am so scared!” said the bear.

“Are you making a fool of us?” asked the giraffe in an angry voice.

“You don’t understand? These lemons are an ill omen. I am undone. Please help me.”

The monkey smiled.

“Big brother,” he said to the elephant. “This is one of his usual pranks. I should have known that he is up to some mischief.”

“Well,” the elephant caught hold of the bear by his neck. “He had gone too far this time. I think a little punishment will do him some good.”

The bear laughed loudly. He had again played a prank and made a fool of his friends.

But he didn’t know what was coming.

The elephant was in no mood to let him off lightly. He thought for a moment and looked at the lemon tree, “Let’s feed him some lemons.”  

The monkey laughed and plucked some lemons and pushed them into the bear’s mouth.

Giraffe too brought some lemons and thrust them into the bear’s mouth and said, “You are right, my friend, lemons are an ill omen.”

“That’s enough,” said the elephant looking at the bear’s tearful face. “Enough ill omen for the day.”

The elephant and the monkey and the giraffe laughed loudly.

The bear, his mouth full of lemons, looked pitiful.

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A post for A to Z challenge

Today’s letter L

You may like to read my earlier post here The King and the General

 

 

 

The King and the General

The king thought that his general was a fool. The general knew that the king was a fool.

One summer the king summoned his general.

“I want you to immediately wage a war, leave now for the battlefield!”

“Your Majesty, I don’t understand? Why do you want to wage a war? No one is threatening us. We have cordial relations with all our neighbours.’’

“You are a fool! The locusts have invaded our kingdom. We have to defend ourselves. If we fail to vanquish them, they will destroy us.  Leave with your army! Right now! That is an order!” the king was almost screaming.

The general was very angry because the king wanted the army to wage a war on insects.

“Your Majesty, I will do as you command. I will take fifty soldiers with me. I will catch the king of locusts alive and bring him before you.”

As the general was leaving, the king looked at his queen and smiled mischievously.

After a few days the general came back.

“Your Majesty, the king of locusts is willing to sign a peace treaty. But he has laid one condition. He says that his armies will keep attacking our kingdom unless we accept this condition.”

“And what is that condition?”

“He wants that Your Majesty should host a royal dinner in his honour.”

“How can we invite an insect to a royal dinner?”

“Sir, if your great army can fight with the insects, then what is the hesitation in inviting their king to a royal dinner?”

The king was not happy.

“Your Majesty, my spies have found out that many armies of locusts are waiting in northern lands. If they invade our kingdom then everything here will be destroyed.”

The king looked at his queen. The queen nodded. The king hosted a royal dinner in honour of the locust king.

A man dressed as a locust came to the place.

“Are you the king of locusts?” the king asked him sneeringly.

“No, Your Majesty, I am his loyal servant. My king is resting in this gold box,” the man masquerading as a locust answered.

He opened the gold box and out came a large locust. The insect looked this way and that way and jumped, suddenly.

It jumped straight towards the king and landed on his forehead.

The king let out a scream of terror. The queen fainted.

The general wanted to laugh but he thought that it would be better to remain silent. His eyes were, of course, sparkling with joy.

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A post for A to Z challenge

Today’s letter K

You may like to read my earlier post here J for Joker