Short Story: The Proud Peacock!

- P. Akshayaa

Once there lived a beautiful peacock in a jungle. He was very proud of his beauty. He never considered other animals as his friends. He thought they were ugly creatures and just ignored them. But the other animals madly wanted to be friends with the peacock.

One day an elephant came up to the peacock and said, "Hey Peacock, I want to be your friend. Why are you not talking to me? What beautiful feathers you have!" And he put out his trunk to gently stroke the peacock's long tail.

"Don't you touch me you Elephant!" the peacock flared up. "Get out of my sight you ugly creature!" he screamed in his strong shrill voice.

The elephant felt insulted and ashamed. He went away with his eyes full of tears.

The next day, a camel met the peacock as he was going to the pool for a bath. "Why do you live alone by yourself, peacock?" asked the camel. "Why don't you keep the company of other animals and enjoy yourself? Come away from your desolate spot and join us," he further advised.

The peacock again answered with vanity: "All of you are ugly creatures. Just leave me to myself." And he walked off in a huff.

On the third day, a monkey met the peacock and said the same thing as the camel and he was again soundly blasted by the peacock. But the monkey was not disheartened. "Come on!" he told the peacock. "We all live in the same jungle and will at some time or other need each other’s help or support. What will you do then?"

"I never seek help from ugly creatures," replied the haughty peacock and just returned home.

One day, three men came into the forest. They saw the peacock admiring himself. He had his tail fan spread out and was looking at its reflection in the pond. The hunters laid a trap to capture him for their circus company. Very soon, the peacock fell into the trap and was caught tight. He screamed at the top of his shrill voice.

A crow who was watching the whole scene now shot into action. He quickly flew over the jungle, cawing with all his might that the peacock had been captured by hunters. Very soon, all the other animals rushed to the spot. The elephants formed a wall and obstructed the hunters. The camels ran with sticks in their mouths to beat them. The monkeys screeched and chattered, jumping up and down in the branches overhead. The whole scene scared the hunters so much that they sped for life.

All the animals got together to rescue the peacock from the trap and our proud peacock now hung his head low in shame. "I am fortunate to have friends like you," he said in a small, trembling voice.

"What beautiful feathers you have..!" the elephant now put out his trunk to touch the peacock. "But you have a heart that is far more beautiful," replied the peacock. "And I like your thick and rubbery trunk too!" he said cheerfully.