Prince Had a Small Nose

(Please see my post of 5^th Jun for first part of the story)

Prince EsNose was no longer sad about his small nose.  He was happy with himself. He was proud of himself. He thanked the fairy and came back to the palace.

As he entered the palace he saw King ElNose. King was not alone. He was leading a hunting party. Any other day Prince EsNose would have felt scared of facing so many people. He would have been scared of their funny jokes, but not today.

King ElNose smiled at the Prince and scratched his small nose. The Prince did not feel hurt. Instead he smiled at his father. It was a sweet beautiful smile.The King was impressed by his attitude.

“Youngman, come along, we are going to Greenwood forest. A man-eating tiger has been spotted in that forest. We are going to catch that tiger.”

The Prince had never accompanied the King on a hunt. He was overjoyed by this invitation and happily joined the hunting party.By late afternoon the hunting party reached the Greenwood forest. Everyone was fully alert and ready to trap or kill the tiger.

Prince EsNose was also keeping a watchful eye. He sensed that the tiger was following them. He looked back but very carefully. He spotted the tiger. The tiger was hiding behind a bush ready to pounce on the hunting party. No one in the hunting party was even aware that the tiger was close by. Prince decided to warn the King.

“Your Highness, the tiger is behind that bush,” he mumbled softly, pointing to the bush behind which he had spotted the tiger.

King ElNose was taken aback. He knew that there was no time to trap the tiger. It had to be killed before it attacked the hunting party. He asked his best sharp shooter to kill the tiger.

The sharp shooter aimed and in a flash he shot the tiger. The King heaved a sigh of relief. He was proud of his son.

“Had Prince EsNose not been alert the tiger would have attacked our party. It would have killed or injured some of us. We are truly proud of Prince EsNose.”

“Yes, Your Highness, we are all proud of our Prince.” Every one of the hunting party clapped for the Prince.

Prince EsNose felt as if he was on top of the world. It was the happiest day of his life. And no one made fun of his small nose thereafter.    

                                                                 © i b arora