The Royal Guests

King Shersingh of Champakvan was known far and wide for his hospitality

- Kumud Kumar

If a foreign citizen came to his court, he welcomed him warmly.

Baddy wolf and Jojo monkey knew this, too.

Baddy and Jojo were fond of enjoying free treats. They attended many marriage ceremonies uninvited, where they enjoyed feasting to their hearts' content.

They had been caught many times doing that but they found it funny and did not stop their bad habit.

One day, Baddy said, "Jojo, my friend, if we can attend a feast thrown by the king, then that will be an achievement!"

"Yes, you're right! A royal feast will be a different affair altogether! There'd be so many dishes: kebabs, biryanis, kheer with almonds, and many other delicious delicacies. My mouth's already watering!"

"And hearing the names of those dishes is making me hungry already! It's as if a hundred mice have started jumping restlessly in my stomach!"

They laughed heartily.

Then Baddy said, "Listen, Jojo, if we visit the king disguised as foreign guests, we'd automatically be given a royal feast."

"That's true, but how do we become foreign guests?"

Jojo came up with an idea, and his eyes twinkled. He shared his idea with Baddy, who became overjoyed.

Baddy said excitedly, "Wow, Jojo! What an idea! Now a royal feast surely awaits us!"

The next day, they went to Jumpy monkey, the best tailor in Sundervan and got him to stitch two outfits for Arabian sheikhs.

When they wore them, they could not be recognised. Then, as planned, they went to the palace pretending to be businessmen dealing in Arabian horses.

They told the guard, "O' guard! Please inform the king that two businessmen, Abdullah and Rehman, have come from Saudi Arabia, and we deal in Arabian horses."

When the guard told the king, he was delighted. He was fond of well-bred horses and had many horses of different breeds in his stable.