Ricky was sad. He was sitting on one
of the rocks in the jungle, below a big tree. His head was down. It looked
like, he is in deep agony or thinking.
A peacock came to him seeing him
silent and sad. Asked him, “What happened my cheerful boy? Why you are looking
sad?”
“I want to fly like you. I tried it
with my hands. But couldn’t be able to take off.” Said Ricky without lifting
his head.
Peacock smiled, “you need to have
wings to fly. You can’t fly by your hand. It’s that simple.”
“Ok, so I will make my wings and try
again. Thanks, pretty peacock. I will also fly like you. Just wait”
Ricky started collecting the big leaves
from the ground that had fallen from the tree. Collected many. He started
weaving all these leaves with thread and made two big wings. He worn it on both
his hands. He was happy because now he can fly high like a bird. He took a big
run spreading his “new wings” and waiting to take off. Thud… he fell down big. He
tried again. Tried to fail only.
Peacock was seeing all these. He
smiled again on Ricky.
“Ricky, to make wings you should have
feathers and not leaves. Leaves would not help you fly. These leaves if fly is
not because of their own will but the wind let them fly.”
“But how can I get feathers?” Ricky
was in anguish of his failure.
“Take one from me and start
collecting it from other birds. Perhaps this way you may be able to fly like
us.” Peacock flied giving him a feather from his wings and advice on how to fly.
Ricky was happy. He was feeling as if
very soon he would be able to fly. He was sitting there on the rock; a pigeon
came near to him.
“Hello pigeon. Can you help me with your
one feather!”
“What will you do with my feather
Ricky!” surprised of this demand, pigeon asked him.
“I want to fly like you. I am making
my wings and so I am collecting feathers from birds.”
“Who told you this method of making
wings and that you can fly with these wings?”
“Peacock. See how far she can fly. I also
want to fly like that.”
“But Ricky… Ok take one feather from
me as well.” Pigeon held herself and gave him one of his feathers.
Ricky was happy as he has started
getting feathers from the birds. Very soon he would be able to fly. He was mesmerized
with this thought only.
He got the feathers from sparrow,
duck, geese, crow, cuckoo, flamingo, parrot and may such birds. Now he has got
many feathers to make it wings. He sat and started binding it with thread he
had. Now again he had made big pair of wings. He just had to tie it over his
hands and can fly. He will see the world from above. He will fly over river,
jungle, his house and where not. His friends will be surprised seeing him fly.
He will occasionally share his wings with his friends. But only for few minutes.
I will not tell them the method of making wings. He was daydreaming and was
feeling happy with those thoughts only. He started tying those pair of wings
over his hands. A hen came near to him seeing him struggling to tie the wings
over his hand.
The hen said, “Do you require any
help Ricky?”
“Yes hen. Can you help me tying these
wings over my hands? I could not be able to fix it.”
“Ok. But what is this for? Is there
any fancy-dress competition in your school and you are preparing for that?”
“No silly. I will fly with these
wings and fly higher than you.” Ricky had a shine in his beautiful eyes while
he was explaining this to the hen.
“Ahhhahhhahhahhah” Hen was laughing
hysterically.
“So, you are making these wings to
fly. But Ricky, we are born with wings so we can fly. Besides, our mom and dad
teach us how to fly. I don’t think you could be able to fly with these pair of
wings.”
“I know you are saying this because
you are jealous of me. You don’t want me to fly higher than you. You are not
even bird and that is what is making you discourage me of flying. But I will
fly and fly higher than you with these wings.”
“Ok, Ok. But why do you want to fly?”
“Because I want to reach places
faster. Any I want to surprise lot of my friends.”
“But Ricky, if you see all birds has
got wings by nature because our legs are not that strong to go places. God gave
us wings for that reason. But you have got quite strong legs. Why then you
require wings?” Hen said it almost in one breadth.
“So, I can’t fly with these wings?”
“No, even if you fly like whom would
you fly! You have wings of many birds. Some bird flies higher, some low. Some
can fly for hours some can’t fly long.”
“Oh yes, this I haven’t thought of.
So, I can’t fly?”
“No but you can run faster than any of
the bird. So, run fast and win the race with all of us.”
“Yes, I can run faster. Let’s have a
running competition with me. I call all the birds and will see if I can win you
all or not.” Ricky was happy again and dumped the wings he made.
All birds came to have a running competition with
Ricky. All started from the start line, but within second, Ricky was like running
faster than the wind and wings. All the birds were struggling to win though.
- Amitesh
