Anirudh Malpani, Class X A
As the light touched her limbs, she began to fly. She entered into a realm where she felt life was more about knowing, exploring and living than just sitting with the fear of height and the fear to fly.
Most of us have studied in our lower classes about birds and their different types. We know that ostriches cannot fly. But that day, I saw a flying ostrich! I was shocked. It seemed that the bird’s dream had come true. I was staring at her like a fool. She saw me and soon landed in front of me.
I got scared and took some steps back. She walked closer and I took some more steps backwards. But she kept coming nearer. Finally, she screamed, “Stop!”
I was shocked once again. It was not just a flying ostrich. It could even speak! She started speaking once again. “Why can’t we ostriches explore the world? We are also equal to you humans. We also want to fly, explore, know different things and be equal to the other birds that fly.”
I said, “Yes. What you say is all right and you can do all that but how are you able to fly! Ostriches don’t fly.”
The bird replied, “It is not true. We can fly but we don’t just because of a myth. Thousands of years ago one of our ancestor ostriches was flying very peacefully. But while she was flying, she laid eggs in the air and they fell on the ground and shattered. The same happened again with another careless ostrich and so from that time a belief was spread that if we fly, our eggs will crash and shatter.”
“That is great!” I said. “So from now you can do whatever you wish to. Now, I can understand that you can fly, but how are you able to speak?” I asked.
The ostrich replied in a menacing voice, “That’s a secret and let’s keep it that way.” She started laughing a wicked laugh and I ran away!
