The Frog Princess
Based on the story by Sowmya Rajendran and the Brothers Grimm, Illustrated by Elizabeth Mayuku and Koyoharu Gotouge
Chapter 1: Prince in trouble
Prince Pinaki was furious. “I won’t marry her, Mommy,” he said. “She’s smelly and smug and slimier than a frog.”
“You don’t have to marry Princess Harinaksa now, darling,” said his father. “You can wait until you’re grown up.
“I never want to marry her,” said Pinaki. “I’d rather eat my toenails.”
“Pinaki!” shouted his mother. “Don’t be so rude! You’ve been pampered by your father, spoiled by your brothers… it’s time you did as I say.”
“Don’t be mean to Pinaki, Mama,” cried his brothers. “And Harinaksa has such beautiful big teeth,” wailed Pinaki.
“It’s because I’m the youngest,” Pinaki went on, sadly. “My brothers got all the best princesses. I hate being the youngest.”
“That’s enough!” said the Queen. “Princess Harinaksa is coming to dinner tonight and you must be polite to her. She is your future wife, after all.”
“I’ll find another princess to marry!” Pinaki declared.
“You can have until tomorrow morning,” said the Queen. “But you’ll never find a princess in that time.”
“Just you wait,” said Pinaki. He picked up his golden ball and stomped into the garden.
Chapter 2: Pinaki’s promise
Prince Pinaki ran down the path to the palace pond, throwing and catching his ball as he went.
“There must be another princess somewhere, he thought. “Anyone would be better than Harinaksa!”
Pinaki was so cross, he didn’t see the wobbly stone.
His beautiful golden ball flew out of his hands. With a loud splash, it disappeared into the deep, dark pond.
“I hope it doesn’t land on me.” The creature said to herself.
“Oh no! Pinaki groaned. “My birthday present from Mommy.”
“I’m in big trouble now.” he thought. Pinaki looked down into the pond, hoping to see his ball.
Instead, he came face to face with a pair of big, bulging eyes.
“Urgh!” he cried. “A frog.”
The frog cleared his throat. “Prince Pinaki,” she croaked. “Let me help you. I am at your service.”
Pinaki stared in surprise. “I’ve never met a talking frog before,” he said. “Still… I don’t see how you could help me.”
“I can fetch your ball for you,” said the frog.
“Oh,” said Pinaki. “Thank you. I suppose you might be useful after all.”
“But you must promise me something first,” she added.
“Anything, anything!” agreed Pinaki.
“Promise that you’ll let me live in your palace. I want to eat from your glass and sleep on your silken pillow.”
“Yuck. In your dreams,” thought Pinaki. But out loud he said, “I promise.”
Chapter 3: Frog to the rescue
The frog pushed down on her feet, leaped up with her legs and plunged into the pond.
Prince Pinaki waited. Suddenly in the deep, blue water, he saw a glimmer of gold.
“Ta-da!” the rose out of the pond. Above her head, she held the golden ball.
“Hooray!” shouted Pinaki. He snatched up the ball and raced back to the palace.
“Hey!” the frog called after him. “What about your promise?”
But Pinaki was already too far away to hear. The frog hopped as fast as she could, but she couldn’t catch up with Pinaki.
“Wait for me!” she cried.
Chapter 4: Into the palace
Pinaki arrived back just in time to change for dinner.
“Hurry up, Pinaki!” called his mother.
“I’m coming.” said Pinaki.
He had to sit next to Princess Harinaksa, who smelled of cabbage.
“Greetings, Prince Pinaki.” said Princess Harinaksa.
Just then, there was a faint tapping sound.
“Is someone at the door? asked the King.”
Pinaki had a sinking feeling. He rushed to the door, opened it and peered outside.
“Hello,” said the frog.
Pinaki slammed the door in her face.
“Who was that?” said the King.
“No one,” Pinaki said quickly.
“That’s funny,” Princess Harinaksa. “I was sure I heard someone.”
“Sshh!” hushed Pinaki.
The tapping noise came again.
“Pinaki, I really do think someone’s there,” said the King.
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“I’ll ask the footman to look,” said the Queen.
“No, Mommy don’t!” cried Pinaki. “It’s only a frog.”
“How horrible!” disgusted Princess Harinaksa.
“She rescued my golden ball from the pond,” Pinaki added, “and… I… sort of said she could stay with me.”
“Then you must keep your word,” bellowed the Queen. “Let the frog in.”
“I’d really rather you didn’t.” said Princess Harinaksa.
“Oh Mommy, I can’t,” said Pinaki. “She’s so wet and warty…”
“Pinaki!” said his mother, furiously. “Let that frog in right now.”
Pinaki dragged his feet to the door, praying that the frog had gone.
But as soon as he opened the door, the frog shot inside.
She followed Pinaki all the way back to his chair. He could hear her wet feet going splat, splat, splat, on the floor behind him.
“Poor you. She’s the slimiest frog I’ve ever seen.” said one of Pinaki’s eldest brothers.
“I thought I’d never make it.” said the frog.
Oh dear!” said Princess Harinaksa. “Suddenly, I’m not very hungry. I think I might be allergic to frogs.”
“Excuse me,” said the frog, “Prince Pinaki did promise that I could eat from his plate. May I sit at the table too?”
“Certainly not,” snapped Pinaki, crossly.
“Don’t be so rude,” said the Queen. “The frog is our guest.”
“I’m starving,” said the frog. “What’s the first course.”
“Cold watercress soup,” said the Queen, smiling at her. “Help yourself!”
“This is the life!” the frog dived into Pinaki’s bowl. “This is delicious!” she cried, between mouthfuls.
“I don’t think I’m hungry anymore,” said Pinaki, as the frog slurped up the last of his soup.
“I think I’m going to be sick.” replied Princess Harinaksa.
“Right,” said the frog cheerfully. “What’s next?”
Pinaki sighed miserably.
“What is the second course?” he asked a butler.
“Um… er the butler began nervously.
“Come on!” said the Queen. “You must know what’s for supper.”
“Well you see, your highness,” the butler went on, “Cook didn’t know about our extra guest… I’m afraid… it’s frogs’ legs.”
The frog gulped. “I think I might skip this course,” she said, weakly.
Pinaki didn’t usually like frogs’ legs, but that night he had seconds.
“Isn’t it time for bed, Prince?” said the frog.
“Oh no!” cried Pinaki. “You’re not coming anywhere near my bedroom.”
“But you promised…” said the frog. “You can carry me on a cushion.”
Pinaki looked at his mother pleadingly.
“Come on, dear,” said the King. “Don’t make Pinaki touch that green, slimy…”
“Princes don’t break promises,” interrupted the Queen, sternly.
Pinaki took a deep breath. Then stretching out his arm, he picked up the frog by one foot.
His brothers gasped.
“He touched her!” moaned Princess Harinaksa, and fainted.
Chapter 5: The frog princess
Pinaki dropped the frog in the darkest, most distant corner of his room, before climbing into bed.
“But Prince Pinaki,” said the frog. “You promised I could sleep on your silken pillow.”
Pinaki didn’t answer.
“If you don’t let me,” the frog threatened, “I’ll tell your mother.”
“I’ve had enough!” snapped Pinaki. “You’re the meanest, ugliest, most horrible frog I’ve ever met.”
“What’s more,” he added, “if you mention my promise one more time, I’ll throw you out of the window.”
“No you won’t,” said the frog. “You wouldn’t dare. You promise!”
“I do dare,” said Pinaki. In a fury, he strode over to the frog, picked her up and threw her out of his window.
There was a long silence, followed by a loud splat. Pinaki suddenly realized what he’d done. He was horrified.
“Frog? Say something!”
“I hope I haven’t killed her,” he prayed, and raced down the stairs as fast as his legs could carry him.
Outside, the frog was lying sprawled on the palace lawn. Pinaki picked her up, as gently as he could.
“Are you all right?” he whispered.
“Yes,” croaked the frog, carefully feeling her head.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” said Pinaki. “I’m so sorry.” And he bent down and kissed her.
There was a loud crash of thunder, followed by a shower of sparks. The frog had vanished. In her place stood a beautiful young princess.
“At last!” shouted the Princess. “I’m human again. No more slimy skin, no more webbed feet, no more flies…”
One by one, the place windows flew open and everyone looked out.
“What’s going on?” yelled the Queen. “I’m coming down.”
“What happened to you?” Pinaki asked the Princess.
“A wicked wizard cast an evil spell on me,” she said. “I could only become human again if a prince kissed me.”
“So it’s because of me that you’re a princess again?” said Pinaki, feeling rather proud.
“Well, yes,” said the Princess, “but you did throw me out of the window first.”
“Still,” said Pinaki, “there aren’t many princes who would kiss a frog.”
“That’s true. How can I make it up to you?” asked the Princess.
“Well… you could marry me.” replied Pinaki.
“Excuse me,” said Princess Harinaksa, “but Pinaki is going to marry ME.”
“No I’m not,” said Pinaki. “It hasn’t been arranged yet. And Mommy, you did say I could find my own princess.”
“That’s true, said the Queen, with a sigh.
“In that case,” said the Princess, getting down on one knee. “if you promise not to throw me out of the window again…”
“I promise.” replied Pinaki.
“…Prince Pinaki, will you marry me?”
“I will,” said Pinaki.
And he did.
— The End —
