I want to
share a story that happened to me a few days back.
It was a
beautiful evening. I wanted to enjoy the weather and have a yummy meal. My lazy
body wasn’t ready to move, so I started slowly. I could see the big water drops
of the rainy season on the green grass, tall trees, and lush green fields.
This rainy
season was different. I felt something was missing. As I moved out of the trees
near my home, abundant sunlight obstructed my view. I wore my goggles. Let me
tell you, I am not used to this much sunlight. It was too much for me. I didn’t
understand the reason for so much sunlight. Then, I understood that many trees
were not there. I didn’t know where they had gone. It was just an empty land as
far as my little eyes could see.
Suddenly, a
yummy meal started inviting me. It was moving away from me, so I chased it. I
chased it through the trees, through the fields, through the grass, and the
iron gates. Finally, I caught it, and it was in my mouth. While enjoying this
tasty creature, I realized I had entered a new place where human beings lived.
I was in shock, and my heart was pounding in fear.
Three human
beings saw me. They were shouting and moving in random directions. One human
held her hands together closed her eyes and chanted something. I didn’t
understand what she was trying to do. I was afraid; I spitted my food out and
turned back to rush away. Terrified, I hid under a carpet.
The evening
was turning into night. And it was growing darker now.
These human
beings were making some gestures to each other. I understood that they were
still discussing me as they often pointed at me. I felt like running out of the
gate but was very afraid.
One more
human being came near the carpet and started to beat it with a stick. I came
out quickly and tried to slither away as fast as I could. He was chasing me
with the stick, and I didn’t want the beating of it.
The fuel of
the fear and the will to live made me outrun that human being. I went into a
deep hole and hid in it. Finally, it was time for rest. I relaxed. Some moments
passed. I thought that the danger was gone.
But a stick
coming from the hole's opening was touching my body. It was human beings again.
They were checking if I was still there. I did not make any sound or any
movement. I was terrified again. After some time, some water was released into
the hole. I was wet. I realized that human beings are stingy creatures; they
won’t leave.
I was
waiting for the night to grow darker totally so that I could slowly make my
way. So I waited patiently. Suddenly, it was totally dark and very silent. I
couldn’t sense any vibrations of human beings now. I felt that this was the
time to go home. I couldn’t sense any danger now. I moved out of the hole and
started my journey.
Suddenly,
there were light and thumping vibrations in the ground. It was human beings.
One human was standing behind me. He held me by my tail and lifted me. I was
trying to run away, but I couldn’t. I felt that my life was over.
I didn’t
know what would happen to me. I tried to frighten them by flicking my tongue
and by rearing up my body to strike. Nothing was working. Then, that human
being put me inside a bottle. I went in, readjusted my body, and settled inside
it.
All humans
came near to have a look at me. I was afraid and angry at them. After all, what
mistake had I made? Having dinner in their place?
The bottle
I was in was kept in a sack. It was dark. I felt that my life was over. I was
moving somewhere. I did not understand where. I just relaxed for death to come
and take me.
This travel
lasted for an hour. I didn’t know that the journey to death would take so long.
It was boring. Since these were the last moments, naturally, I recollected all
the moments of my life, of how I enjoyed with my family and friends, of how I
enjoyed swimming in waters and hiding in stones during the summer. My heart
longed for a few more years of life.
The
movement stopped. I thought that the last minute had come. I closed my eyes. I
felt my spirit moving out of the body. I was feeling lighter. I sneakily opened
my eyes to see how this happened. I saw a beautiful moon and bright stars. I
thought I was in paradise. Later, I realized that I was still in the bottle.
I turned
back to see the human being who had put me in the bottle. He opened the bottle
and kept it on the ground. He was not afraid of me.
I came out
of the bottle, reared up my body, and looked at him in his eyes. We were two
giants facing each other. I thought an epic battle was about to begin, but I
couldn’t sense any danger from him. He had kind eyes. I felt a sense of peace
and even a strange connection with the human who had set me free. Relieved and
happy, I moved back into the jungle. The human smiled.
From this
story, I realized that it is better to stay away from stingy human creatures.
It is better to enjoy the day to the fullest as we never know when our death
bell will ring. The tiny delicacies could lead you into danger if you are
unaware of your surroundings. And also that not all human beings are as evil as
I think.
Now, I live
in my new home. The only thing that confuses me even today is where the trees
went on that day near my old house.
