Monday 16 December 2013

The twisted tale of the shape-shifting Jackal, the Monkey, the Donkey, and the half-blood Peacock-Hyena

Once upon a time, in a 4x4 concrete jungle, there ruled a she Jackal who could change shapes on will. The kingdom of Hierarchy had ordained the Jackal as the Queen as she was the oldest and the loudest of all. And of course, she could change forms as she wished - a huge plus in the hallowed order of Grapevine where wolves roamed in sheep's clothing, skunks walked free and cats imitated the tigers.

The Jackal had under her rule, a Monkey, a Donkey and a half-blood Peacock-Hyena. The Monkey jumped the highest of all, loved eating bananas, and yes-maned to whatever the Jackal ordered. The Donkey carried the burden of the entire world on her shoulders as if it was hers, never had an opinion of her own, and was used as a football by the team every alternate weekends.The Peacock-Hyena was the newest member of the Jungle. She had two sides to her - one for the world that mattered and the other for the world that didn't count. She exhibited her beautiful peacock plumes to the world at large, which attracted animals from far and wild. She was careful to show her brightest, cheeriest side to the Jackal, while on the other side the Hyena in her mocked and bullied her peers and passed on team gossip to the higher-ups.

The Queendom of Wishdom (as it was popularly called) was ruled with an iron hand by the Jackal. Only a selected few who bowed down to the pecking order could enter and none could leave. All was well in the Queendom until it was decided by the Higher Enterprise of Animal Loyalty (HEAL) to bring together all animals on a Jungle Safari.

As the order came from the all-powerful HEAL, the Jackal grudgingly decided to attend the Jungle Safari with her minions. But it was below her dignity to travel with the horde so she got her own Chariot and traveled in royal style. The two days went in a rush. The Jackal changed shapes to please the mass. The Monkey jumped around a lot and ate bananas to a bunch. The Peacock-Hyena preened and strutted displaying her best. And the donkey seeing the free wild, forgot herself,  tried to develop wings and fly away.

Now the poor donkey didn't know the unwritten rule that in the concrete jungle nobody changed their hues. A donkey can never be allowed to be a dove and fly without fear. Immediately after the jungle safari, the Jackal called an urgent meeting of her minions.

"How dare you?" howled the Jackal in righteous temper, "How dare you not lick my feet and follow my tail at the Jungle Safari? The Monkey got me two ripe and juicy bananas and the Peacock-Hyena pranced along with me all over."

"But wasn't the Safari about bonding with others? Being free and forgetting everything?" stammered the confused Donkey.

"Oh, silly Donkey! I proclaim you peevish, selfish, wildish, schemish, childish, howlish, singularish, animalish...!" the Jackal howled, adding up all the 'ish' she knew in the big world-wild.

"Don't forget to add that she showed 2 cms more teeth than she is allowed." said the oh-so-charming Peacock-Hyena.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" yes-maned the Monkey.

The Donkey cowered, searching for trees to hide behind but found none.

"Why don't we clip her wings to set an example?" suggested the trickster Peacock-Hyena.

"Right! None can have their wishes in Wishdom. Let the Donkey be the example on what happens when one wishes beyond their wildest wishes." proclaimed the Jackal.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" yes-maned the Monkey.

The three pounced on the Donkey suddenly. The Monkey and the Peacock-Hyena held her tight while the Jackal cut the Donkey's week-old-almost-invisible wings with much aplomb. Then they left the Donkey bleeding on the ground as if nothing had ever happened to ripple the mighty Pecking Order.

The next day, the Donkey went back to Wishdom carrying a heavy burden on her shoulders. The Jackal congratulated her on her dedication and commitment to the Kingdom of Hierarchy and Grapevine. The Monkey and Peacock-Hyena welcomed her with open hands.
Only the Donkey knew that what was lost, was lost forever. But she remained quiet and followed the Pack, one among many in the Kingdom of Hierarchy.



2 comments:

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