The Tiranga Award

As soon as Vaili butterfly saw Toto ant riding his brand-new bicycle with the tricolour flag fluttering on it, she flew over and asked, “Toto, where are you headed with a tiranga on your bicycle?”

- Kumud Kumar

“Vaili, I’m going to the Republic Day program at Shantivan’s Presidential Palace,” Toto replied.

“Oh wow, Toto!” Vaili exclaimed, “I’m heading there too. But I have a problem.”

Toto looked at Vaili; she looked perfectly fine. Curiously she said, “Vaili, with your colourful wings, you look as good as ever! What could your problem possibly be?”

“My wings are pretty but they sometimes get tired from flying long distances. Can you take me with you to Shantivan on your bicycle?”

“Of course! Two is always better than one. I’ll ride the bicycle for some distance, and then you can take over,” Toto said cheerfully.

“Oh, Toto, I don’t know how to ride a bicycle; I only know how to fly,” Vaili said in dismay.

“No problem, hop on,” Toto said. She agreed to take Vaili on her bicycle all the way to the Presidential Palace.

Vaili fluttered down and sat at the back of Toto’s bicycle, and the two of them set off to Shantivan. They had only traveled a short distance when they heard a loud pop and hiss, and had to stop. The bicycle was unable to bear their combined weight, and one of the tyres had given up. Toto and Vaili got off the bicycle and began examining it.

Momo mouse was passing that way and seeing his friends in trouble, approached them. He was wearing a tricolour cap.

“Toto and Vaili, are you headed to Shantivan too?” Momo asked them.

“Yes, but our bicycle tyre is punctured, and there’s no repair shop nearby,” Toto replied.

“Is that all? Let me handle this,” said Momo and put the bicycle safely near a thicket. “The problem is gone! Now, we can go together to Shantivan, and chat all the way so we don’t get tired.”