The Vain Butterfly
The Beautiful Butterfly
In a large garden, a number of butterflies made their home. Among them was one little butterfly not only known for its beauty but was also considered the most beautiful of all. Butterflies from other gardens visited simply to admire its beauty. The gardens buzzed with admiration, the sun kissed its wings, and the flowers blushed as it rested on them. This little butterfly certainly basked in its glory, flitting from flower to flower, laureled and loved wherever it went.
A Questioned Vanity
One idyllic afternoon, under the shade of a large Sunflower, this butterfly seemed to be lost in thought. It reveled in being the prettiest butterfly, showered with praise, and adored by everyone. Just as it was musing over its good fortune, a swallowtail butterfly went by. The swallowtail, with its blue, white, and black pattern, had the largest wings the little butterfly had ever seen. A pang of envy fluttered within the little butterfly, making it doubt its place as the luckiest butterfly alive.
A Sudden Change
This realisation affected the little butterfly deeply. It began distancing itself, no longer participating in games but preferring its own solitude. The change worried the other butterflies, but they were helpless in easing its sadness.
A Desperate Plan
On a gloomy day, the little butterfly had an idea. It planned to visit the Queen of fairies in fairyland and request a change in its wings. Without letting anyone know about its endeavor, it flew away from the garden to embark on this journey. The butterflies were surprised to see the butterfly with the largest, most brilliant wings. Though the other butterflies admired its beauty, some older ones looked puzzled and voiced their concern. The little butterfly shrugged off their doubts, confident that it was now undoubtedly the most beautiful butterfly alive.
The Heavy Price of Vanity
Life continued, now with the little butterfly reigning as the Queen of the garden. One day, a sudden rainstorm trapped the butterfly, drenching its oversized wings. Following the rain, a boy found the immobile butterfly and brought it into his house. The fate of the butterfly remained unknown. However, occasionally, the butterflies flying past the boy’s window notice a familiar figure framed and hung on the wall.
What is a Mongoose?
Rikki-tikki-tavi, a character in one of Rudyard Kipling’s stories, was a legendary mongoose from India. About 18 inches in length, this greyish creature is famously known for hunting snakes, even the deadliest ones such as cobras. It is also related to cats and makes for an attractive pet in India.