A Dragon-Filled Wish

“That’s how the dragon and the cub became best of friends and lived happily ever after.” The king lion completed the ritual bed-time story and closed the book.

“Dad! I too want a fire-breathing dragon as a best friend!” Narhari, the 8-year old prince of the WonderLand, wailed.


The king was used to his son’s daily demands of having a live fire-breathing dragon for a friend. “Son, you know that’s not possible. The god killed all the dragons to make the world a better living place.”

“But dad, they are so cool. Just see this Dolu Dragon in the story. He’s breathing fire and helping his friend. God should give me one dragon. He will help me win games in the school.”

“How can a dragon do that, son?” The king was baffled by his son’s logic.

“Oh Dad! He can breathe fire on my classmates who try to beat me in the race, can’t he? Especially, Chintu, the cheetah, who’s always ahead of me! ” Narhari was full of enthusiasm while saying this.

On one hand the king was amused, and on the other, he was exasperated. His son was already looking for shortcuts in life. “Let me tell you this, son. There are no shortcuts in life. If you want to beat Chintu, you have to practice running faster. Also, when God killed the dragons, he had his own reasons for that. Whatever happens, happens for good. You can’t change the past. Always focus on the future. Dragons are gone, and so you need to beat Chintu on your own.”

Saying this, the king tucked his son in the bed and switched off the lights. “Sleep tight and don’t let the bugs bite.”

After his dad was gone, Narhari couldn’t sleep. He couldn’t imagine why the God would deny his one wish. Mom always said that if you ask for something honestly, you always get that. Thinking to test this theory, Narhari started praying hard. “God, I promise I will be a good boy. Can you give me one dragon? Please, please, pretty please? I promise, I will always do my homework and will keep my room clean.”

Suddenly the room was bathed in light. When Narhari opened his eyes, he saw a lady firefly standing with an owl. For a second, he was scared but then he remembered that he was the future king. Dad said that he shouldn’t be scared of anything.

                                                          Source: www.ebsqart.com


Gathering all his courage, he finally asked, “Who are you?”

“I am Angel Firefly. The God has assigned me the duty of fulfilling the wishes of those living in the animal-dom. I am here to fulfill your wish of having a dragon.”

Narhari couldn’t believe his luck. His mom was awesome. She said that if he prayed sincerely enough, his wishes will get fulfilled and here he’s getting his own fire-breathing dragon. Awesome!

Before he could say anything, the angel disappeared. Narhari got out of the bed to look for the dragon. According to the book, the dragon would be 8 feet tall. He looked under the bed, under his study table, in the wardrobe but he couldn’t find the dragon. Just when he was about to get disappointed, there was some noise from his bathroom. Curiously he tip-toed to the bathroom. As soon as he opened the bathroom door, the dragon breathed fire at him. Giving a yelp of fright, he smashed the door closed.

Why is the dragon breathing fire on him? He’s supposed to breathe fire only to save him. With the decision to explain the dragon his correct duties, Narhari again tried to open the door. As soon as he opened the door an inch, the dragon pulled the door with his claws and got out of the bathroom. The sheer height and ugliness of the dragon’s looks started scaring Narhari but he was determined to be brave.

“Dragon, what are you doing? You are my best friend. Why are you breathing fire on me?”

Stamping and stomping around the room, Dragon was breathing small spurts of fire. Finally, the dragon settled himself on Narhari’s bed with a sigh.

“Hey, that’s my bed. I am supposed to sleep there.” The dragon, instead of replying the prince, just laid down his head and closed his eyes.

Intending to shake the dragon awake, Narhari approached him. As soon as he was near the dragon and about to lay a hand on him to shake him awake, the dragon opened his eyes and started breathing fire. Narhari jumped back to save himself from getting burnt.

He wanted to cry and call for his father. He didn’t want the dragon that didn’t talk with him and instead tried to burn him. Just when he was thinking whether to call his father or pray for that angel to come back and take the dragon away, the dragon got up from the bed and again started stomping around the room. It also started breathing fire. The room started getting hot and Narhari started sweating. The windows were open, sending the curtains flying.

The dragon, which was continuously breathing fire now, went near the window. The billowing curtains caught the fire. The fire started spreading in the room as the room and everything inside was made of wood.

Narhari ran to the door. He needed to call his father before the entire house was burnt down. But before he could open the door, the door was set on fire too. He couldn’t open the door. The smoke started filling the room along with fire. Narhari felt the zing of fire on him. He looked back and saw that his tail was on fire. Yelping for help, he tried to jump on his tail but his tail was not long enough to come under his feet. While jumping around, Narhari’s hand touched the burning wall and his palms got burnt. He started crying and screaming. He didn’t want a dragon, especially the fire-breathing dragon. He wanted to undo his prayer! He was burning. He wanted his dad! He wanted his mom!

“Dad, dad, help! Mom I will never pray for a dragon! I promise! God's promise! I am burning! I am burning! Dad! Mom! I am burning!”

“Wake up son! It’s a dream. Wake up.” The king and the queen shook their son awake. They didn’t know that their son was so obsessed with the dragon that he had started dreaming about it.

Source: Source: katikut.deviantart.com

When Narhari opened his eyes, he found himself in the arms of his mother. His father was standing behind the mother. “Son, what’s the matter? Did you have a nightmare?” The mother asked her cub lovingly.

Narhari realized with a start that the dragon was a dream. His father was right. Whatever happens, happens for good. Thank god, dragons were dead. He never wanted to see a dragon again.

“Yes mom but I don’t want to talk about it. But I know, there’s no shortcut to success. I will practice running faster.”

The queen couldn’t understand what her son was talking about, but the king realized it. He was glad that his son understood in his dreams what he was trying to explain him earlier.

Patting his son’s head, the king tucked him in the bed again and kissed him on the forehead. “From tomorrow, I will help you practice. We will beat Chintu soo.”