THE DRAGON FLY

I am a part of this universe or rather the Mother Earth. But I don`t know whether I am an indispensable factor on this globe. I have my own interests and ambitions. Along with that I run a very high risk factor about my life. My puny size and my fatuous existence are a game and an easy catch to my enemies. But I am happy as long as I can be hassle free and ramble along.
Yes, I am a Dragon Fly. My life is short lived. But I don`t care. As long as everything is fine in my world, why bother with what is to come in the near future? Even high species like man, is not able to fathom what is in store for him in the near future. So much for those high tech grey cells of his!
Wandering along is my life style. Sometimes I would come across small insects or lovely flowers. But I have heavy competition in all these fronts. Honey bees, beetle and small unnamed birds are all fond of everything what I vie for. Food is a struggle at times for me. It all depends on what or where I am. I am grateful to God for having given the ability to fly. We, Dragon flies need no petrol or money or diesel to move around. Sometimes I pity these high bred species. As if they are happy in this Globe! They have something called mind and intelligence. That is their boon as well as bane. Their
mind makes them think, hope and crave. With their intelligence and common sense, they try to pacify and satiate their cravings. But it does not stop them there. The more they conquer and achieve, the more they aspire. Their entire life is rat race. They never seem to be satiated. So seldom are they happy.
But let me keep all those mushy thoughts aside. My day has begun…..
What is it that I see afar? Is it some kind of an edible thing? It is so bright. I shall go in there and see. I flew in to a room full of small, bright lights. But, why have they put on the lights even in day light? Probably they have forgotten. So many garlands were hanging amidst the small bulbs. I flew in to them to meddle with all the little bulbs and flowers. The flowers had lost their charm. Still it was fun to fly around them. It looks as if there isn`t any one around. For a change I decided to play. If anything untoward happens, I could always fly out of the window. I once again thanked my Creator for having given me wings!
So I started gliding around. Then I saw something glittering on the wall. I flew to that object. It was so appealing. But the moment I sat on it, it stuck to my thin legs. ‘’My God! What is happening?’’. I can neither move nor fly. I tried and tried in vain. I was afraid to move or flutter my wings umpteen times as it might evoke interest in other beings around me.
All my consternations were coming true all of a sudden, as I saw a huge lizard popping it`s slithery head out of the lamp shade. So it was all going to end for me today. I did not know what to do. The lizard was slowly approaching. It must have thought that it`s movement might alert me to fly away. So it was being over cautious. ` How Silly! Little did it realize that I was trapped and was waiting to relish it`s appetite. I felt like laughing, thinking about the entire paradoxical situation. I could sense the lizard near me. It was waiting for an appropriate time to pounce on me. ``Ahhha! The bite was hard on my behind. Simultaneously, I saw a small girl entering the room. She immediately looked up. May be she heard the loud rattling of my wings. Or maybe, some unseen power forced her to enter the room and look up. As soon as she saw me trapped between the lizard`s teeth, she made a loud sound like a `shoo`! And threw her coloured ball up towards me. The lizard fled, leaving me tumbling down to the ground. Then that little girl ran to my side and scooped me up and put me up on her pillow. I was hurt and wounded. But my instincts told me that I would survive, if protected well. And that was exactly what she was doing. She patted me and poured some water over me. ``hmm…it`s so rejuvenating and I felt comforted. Then she placed me on a plastic plate. It had some rice on it. May be she was asking me to eat. I was not used to such tender care. So I forgot my agony. The little girl was now making some sound. What was that for? Soon an elderly lady came in. I did not understand anything what they said to each other. But one thing I was sure. That is, these people are not going to harm me. Also that they would see to it that, I would get better for sure.
Some kind of powdery substance was smeared on my wounded area. It felt so good. In my world, medicines were absent. We got well just like that. Or else we perished. Who was bothered if the world was devoid of one tiny dragon fly?
The little girl kept me on her dressing table. She often came in to look at me. Sometimes she pampered me. How could human beings be so nice? I had only vile opinions about them since long time. Now I felt that it was high time since I changed my opinion. That night, I slept with that little girl looking after me.
Morning Sun seeped in. I smiled at the dewy nature and then looked at the little girl sleeping soundly on the quilt bed. There was a huge fur doll in her arms. How sweet and serene she looked in her sleep! I felt a kind of gratitude and love towards her. I was sure God would give me a chance to express my love and gratitude to her.
With a final look, I slowly flew out of the widow. Because of her tender care and medicines, I was perfectly alright.

I couldn`t wait to impart this news to my friends. My best friend was perched on a rose flower, when I met him on my way. ``Hey friend.”I called. Don`t you want to hear what happened to me yesterday?”Yeah! I was also wondering whatever happened to you. We had all gathered near the pond yesterday. There were lots of insects there. Wonder why. But tell me what happened to you yesterday?”I narrated the entire incident to him. He heard it all with wonderstruck eyes. He couldn`t believe that I got out scot free from the clutches of human being.
According to him human beings were more noxious than lizards. So he replied thus ``friend, all said and done, don’t ever believe these mankind. They seldom have empathy for us. Always keep that in mind.’’ But I was not willing to listen. My experience with the mankind was soothing. That little girl or her mother could have just killed me or thrown me out. But instead, they made me alright.
Days passed by. Spring came and so did more bees and flowers and insects. Nature was forever smiling. I was also happy in my little world. But I did not forget that little girl.
One day I flew near that little girl`s house. Just to see my savior once more. She was standing outside, under a coconut tree and was playing with her coloured ball.
Her father was reading a paper. I sat on a leaf and watched her lovingly.
A few moments passed by. Suddenly a heavy wind blew, shaking the entire coconut tree and a huge dried coconut was let loose from the top of the tree and was falling down towards the little girl. But no one was aware of it. I did not hesitate even for a moment. This was my Godsend opportunity to retaliate.
I knew I was huge enough to frighten a little girl. So I flew straight towards her .The girl screamed and fell back, seeing my attack. Hearing the scream, her father sprang up towards her. In the hustle bustle that followed no one noticed the coconut fall exactly on the spot where she was standing a moment ago. Had I not frightened her, she would have taken the coconut`s brunt on her head and died instantly. I felt elated and very happy and so sat near her and watched her crying from the fall. But I was not prepared for the heavy paper that came my way to hit me for having frightened his daughter. I took the harsh slap on my entire body and I was smothered and mangled. I heard some loud swearing too. But this time I did not feel any pain. I was happy to die. I had saved my savior….
Before I closed my eyes forever, I saw a glimpse of smile and recognition come alive on that little girl`s tear sodden face. She recognized me, although it was a little too late.

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