Question

What was the birthday gift that Maharaja spotted in a toyshop?

Hint:

Irony is a powerful literary device where events turn out contrary to expectations. The Tiger King’s death by a wooden tiger shows that destiny cannot be escaped.

Answer 1

Step 1: Setting the context.
The Tiger King, after killing ninety-nine tigers, was desperate to find the hundredth one in order to escape the astrologer’s prediction of death by a tiger. However, he failed in this attempt as there were no more tigers left in his kingdom. Life moved on, and one day while passing through a toyshop, he noticed a wooden tiger which immediately caught his attention. Step 2: The choice of the gift.
He decided to buy this wooden tiger as a birthday gift for his little son. To him, it seemed an ideal present, for it symbolized his lifelong obsession with tigers. He thought it would be a harmless toy and an enjoyable gift for the prince. Step 3: The irony.
Ironically, the wooden tiger was badly carved and rough. While the Maharaja was playing with his son using the toy, a tiny sliver of wood pierced his hand. At first, it seemed like a minor injury, but it soon got infected. The infection spread, causing a deadly wound. Step 4: The fulfillment of the prophecy.
Despite killing so many real tigers to avoid his foretold death, the Maharaja ultimately met his end because of a toy tiger. This fulfilled the astrologer’s prophecy in an unexpected and ironic way. Conclusion:
The wooden tiger, intended as a gift, turned into the instrument of the king’s death. Thus, fate proved stronger than human effort.