The Betrayal in the Sky

A fish lived in a lake with its parents (fully grown fish). Its parents had strictly instructed it not to venture into shallow waters near the shore.

Only, if absolutely necessary, it would venture into the shallow waters, under the strict supervision and protection of its parents, and return to the deep waters as quickly as possible.

The small fish was safe in the deep waters, but it was fascinated by the red glow scattered across the water at sunrise and sunset, the birds perched on the tall trees along the lake's banks, and the birds flying freely in the air.

It loved the sun rising and setting on the horizon at sunrise and sunset. It felt as if the earth and sky merged there, and it could swim to it.

If it ever got the chance to fly, it would fly beyond the moon and stars, bringing all the stars to adorn its lake.

The fish had just left childhood and stepped onto the threshold of adolescence. Call it the excitement of youth or hormonal effects, the restrictions of her parents felt like shackles on her feet.

She would occasionally sneak out to the shore, hiding from her parents' eyes.

One day, she was observing the world outside the lake from the safety of the shore when a heron called out to her.

It was an invitation of friendship for her...

The young fish didn't accept the invitation, but didn't refuse it outright.

But after some time, conversations and meetings began from a safe distance.

Gradually, these meetings became a daily occurrence, and the young fish affectionately began calling the heron "Bagdul."

Then, the two exchanged words about true friendship, about reaching the heights of success, about cooperation, success, peaceful coexistence, about embracing Ganga-Jamuni culture, and about becoming a symbol of freedom.

Such thoughts quickly impact young minds, deeply...

The fish was also affected...

It felt as if its parents wanted to deprive it of all the joys of the colorful world.

It complained to its parents in a subdued tone, about wanting to fly with them in the sky like a heron, but its father scolded it and silenced it.

Then the mother lovingly explained, "Daughter, this world, which appears so beautiful and colorful from afar,is just as evil, cruel, and selfish in reality.

These gulls with white feathers from head to ankle, have hearts just as black.

Behind their brown or melodious, innocence-filled eyes lies a host of hatred.

These merciless black claws have torn the skin off the bodies of your great-grandmothers and great-grandmothers for generations. They are enemies.

These are not kind-hearted saints dressed in white, but white only in their feathers; they are devils with black hearts.

Daughter, you are still immature and don't understand their cunning. Always stay away from them. Never talk to them, never trust them, always stay away."

The young fish found all this exaggeration.

It felt like her mother was scaring her.

The matter was over.

The fish didn't stop meeting Bagdul.

Bagdul offered her daily visits to fly with him.

One day, the fish thought for a moment and decided to fly with Bagdul.

She was afraid, but she felt that when she returned and told everyone, including her parents, that she had reached the heights of the sky, everyone would praise her and make an example of her. Her success would instantly end the generations-long hatred for Bagdul.

She would go to the place where the earth and sky meet and, upon returning, would tell her fish friends what she had witnessed. She would prove that her parents were wrong in their belief that the earth and sky can never be one. Bagduls are also kind-hearted and true friends.  We fish fear and hate them without reason, my Bagdul is different, etc., etc.

Ignoring all her parents' advice, the fish one evening prepared to fly into the sky with her friend Bagdul. Weaving golden dreams in her imagination, she approached Bagdul. Bagdul took her in his claws and flew away.

Not long after she had left the water, the fish felt suffocated and was having trouble breathing.

She begged Bagdul to take her back to the lake, to get into the water, and complained of suffocation.

But now Bagdul began to show his true colors.

Bagdul took her to a dry rock.

There were many Bagduls like her there. They had a tradition of hunting and eating fish together. Together, the Bagduls tore off the fish's skin.

They were tossing it around in their beaks, and they were eating its living body.  They were nibbling and eating small pieces.

The fish was deeply reminded of its mother's teachings and its father's introduction. It was convinced that its mother's advice was true: the earth and the sky can never be one... Fish can never be friends with the heron.

No moon or star can separate them, but alas, there was no point now.

There was no one there to hear the fish's cries and calls for help. Its tears and blood flowed together, the blood stains on the fleshless bones and dry rock had become a symbol of freedom.

After disposing of the fish, the heron laughed heartily, cleaned the blood from its wings, beak, and claws, promised to meet again soon, and flew back to the lake shore.

To tell the same stories of friendship and more to another young fish dreaming of flying in the open sky.

Read more : - A Bus Ride of Reflection