Light As A Feather

Each and everyone of us have some wishes in our heart. Likewise here comes the story of a little boy, who, like all other kids has a wish. But what does he wish for? And what if his wish turns out to be his aim...

 Once, in a village, there lived a boy named Ankush. He is the son of a poor daily wage worker, Somu. His father does all kinds of petty jobs for their living. Though Somu is poor, he has joined his son in a well-esteemed school. He had to earn a lot for his son's school fee. He is a kind of person who doesn't like to waste money unnecessarily. Ankush on the other hand longs for toys since his father has never bought a toy for him. Now he is in 4th grade. One day while he was studying, he became mesmerized by a picture of a kite in his book. He was really attracted to that picture. It did something in his mind.

"Wow, this kite looks awesome", he thought to himself. As soon as his father came home, Ankush rushed towards him and asked his father to buy him a kite. But his father somehow managed to divert his mind.

"Anky, it's already 8 pm now, your favourite Tom and Jerry show must have started already," said Somu.

"Yes father, I forgot it. I will go and watch it. I am very excited to see Jerry. He is my favourite," replied Ankush as he ran towards the hall to watch TV.

 The next day, at school, Ankush's teacher asked the students about their aim. Doctors and engineers were the most heard among them. When the teacher asked Ankush what his aim was, he thought for a while and replied that his aim was to fly in a kite. On hearing this, the other students laughed. The teacher shouted, "Silence!" and within a fraction of second there was pin-drop silence. Then the teacher turned towards Ankush and said, "No Ankush, it is not an aim, it is called wish." But Ankush shook his head and replied," No ma'am, it is my aim." Everyone including the teacher became confused. Before the teacher could speak, the bell rang and immediately the students rushed out. Ankush's classmates teased him all through the school. 

"Hey Hankey, I heard your father calling you as Hankey, why is it so?" asked one of his classmates.

"And what about your aim of that kite flying, uh?" asked another student, as they both started to laugh while Ankush started crying.

"It is not Hankey, it is Anky, my father calls me Anky because he loves calling me by that nickname and yes, my aim is to fly in a kite!" Ankush yelled at both of them as he ran out of their sight and hugged his father who, as usual, had been waiting for him outside the school gate.

"Anky dear, what happened? Why are you crying, son?" Somu asked worriedly.

"Dad, please don't call me Anky, call me Ankush because everyone is teasing me," said Ankush.

"Ok Ankush, hereafter I won't call you like that, come, son, let's go home," replied Somu as he gently lifted Ankush and put him on his shoulder. Then he walked towards the bus stop to catch a bus.

  Daily, as soon as leaving Ankush at home from school, Somu will go out for work and will return home at 7.30 pm. By the time, Ankush will have finished all his homework. Today, as usual, Somu came back home from work. Immediately Ankush started to ask his father for a kite. Again his father somehow diverted his mind. But Ankush never stopped to ask. Daily he started asking his father for a kite. Though his father advised him, he is not convinced.

"Listen Ankush, we should not waste our money on unnecessary things like this. We have to spend money only when there is a need. Those needs are only food, clothing, shelter and education. We have to be always cautious in this regard. We are not rich, son, please try to understand," said Somu.

"But father, it is just a small kite, it is just a small thing," pleaded Ankush.

"No Ankush, little things make a big difference. Always remember that tiny drops make a mighty ocean," replied Somu. But Ankush started to cry and ran to his room. Somu became really worried.

   

Day by day, Ankush's behaviour started to change. He stopped watching TV. He always stays in his room after he returns from school. His tests' performance became very low. He used to play with the pigeons who have built their nests in the banyan tree behind Ankush's house. But now he stopped playing too. Two years before, Ankush asked his father to paint their house. But at that time also his father rejected it. After that Ankush never asked his father for any unnecessary things. But this time he became very much attached to the kite and he is very obsessed with it. Somu felt very guilty as he thought that Ankush's change is because of him. So he thought of a plan. Somu called Ankush and told him that if he gets full marks in all the subjects in the upcoming exam, he will buy him a kite. Ankush was both shocked and happy. He accepted the challenge and from that day onwards, Ankush started studying real hard. Somu silently watched Ankush and was really surprised to see the hard work of Ankush. So Somu started to save some money daily so that he can buy a kite for Ankush.

  Though Ankush had put in a lot of hard work, he was not able to get full marks. But he had scored very good marks that he got A+ grade in all the subjects. Much to his delight, his father bought him a kite.

"Ankush, I know how much hard work you have put forth and this kite is a small gift for that hard work," said Somu as he gave the kite to Ankush.

  The kite had Jerry's (a fictional cartoon mouse from the Tom and Jerry show) picture printed on it. Ankush thought that it would be heavier since aeroplanes are heavier but to his surprise, the kite as light as a feather.

"Come, Dad, let's go and get the thread," said Ankush as they both went inside the house to fetch the thread. 

  When they came outside, they were shocked to see a cat, tearing their kite with its paws. It seemed that the cat had become angry on seeing Jerry's picture since it is a mouse. Immediately they shoved the cat away.

"What are we going to do now dad?" asked a sad Ankush.

"Don't worry Ankush, still we can fix this, all we need are some lighter materials to stuff in these holes. Let's search for them," said Somu as they both started to look here and there. 

  Soon Ankush's eyes caught the feathers of pigeons and crows scattered all around their yard. He picked some of them and gave them to his father. Somu placed them carefully over the holes on the kite and stuck them in place with a sticky tape. Then they attached the thread with the kite. And….. the kite flew. It floated in the air. Using the thread they controlled the kite. Ankush squealed in delight and thanked his father.

"You see my son, this kite is able to fly since it is very light. Likewise, we should also not have more stress in our mind. We should keep our mind light. If we follow this, success is ours," advised Somu as Ankush nodded happily.

20 years later, Ankush designed the first-ever kite in which humans can sit and fly. Ankush and his father flew in his kite as the birds accompanied them.