AKSHATHA T
A Father had a son and a daughter by name Basayya and Acchu . The twins looked alike , except for the large , red birthmark on the daughters cheek . It happened one day that the mother had left her mirror sitting on a chair . Brother looked in the mirror “Ah , how beautiful I am”, he said , my skin is so smooth and perfect . Sister looked in the mirror and screamed , Ah , how ugly I am, my skin is rough and red , she hated the big red birthmark on her cheek, brother went on and on about how beautiful he looked . Sister felt ugly and angry . She ran up to the mirror and smashed it . Brother said , sister broke mother’s mirror , she’s so mean ! Sister hid outside in the chicken coop. Father helped brother see why sister was so mad .
Brother felt bad, and said to his father,” can we buy a mirror to a sister that will help her to see her true beauty,.” That’s a good idea !” Said father. They went to the market where many people were selling their wares. An old peddler women was at the market with a monkey. The monkey danced and sanged in front of an mirror. The mirror sang back . ” That’s the mirror for sister!”pointed brother . Father paid the old pleddler women . They placed the mirror in the back of their cart. The monkey jumped into the cartand hid in a sack. Brother ran into the house . ” Look sister , a new mirror ” I don’t wanta new mirror ,” she cried. ” Take it back ! ” But this one is enchanted ” sister looked in the mirror and couldn’t see anything , not even her own reflection . ” The mirror doesn’t work ! It’s broken ” said sister . Just then , the monkey jumped out of the sack . ” Ee , Ee , ! Can’t catch me ! He screemed as he ran from table to chair . Brother and sister chased the monkey all around the room. The naughty monkey hid behind the couch and wouldn’t come out ! Sister gave the monkey a banana ! He jumped out of his hiding place , plopped on the couch and stuck , the banana in his ear.
Basayya and Acchu laughed ” silly monkey ” we better get him back to the old peddler , said brother . Wait a minute ! Look !” Said sister . They stared at the monkey who was laughing at himself in the mirror . Acchu looked into the mirror but she could only see her own reflection . Acchu saw herself giving her doll to a friend who didn’t have one . She saw herself mending a bird’s broken wing . She saw herself giving the Baker back his money wing . She saw herself giving the Baker back his money when he gave her too much change . Then, something magical happened Acchu saw her face. The very first thing she once thought was ugly now looked beautiful . Acchu is glowing ! Father , mother and brother basayya embraced sister Acchu . The beautiful things you do are good and true , and the beauty that you are shines though ” then said oo oi ! So true agreed monkey ” Get that monkey said brother basayya .They all chased monkey right back to the old peddler women who was very happy to see him . So it is that brother basayya learned of his true beauty by helping his sister Acchu discover hers . Sister learned that true beauty isn’t how you loon , it is who you are ! As for the monkey , some say he is still in the village dancing with the enchanted mirror.
