AT YOUR RISK .

- “I know you didn't want to hurt the chicks, but the mother hen thought you were a danger. She was only protecting her babies...”

- AARTI RAJA

Y oung girls Zita and Chiti are playing in their backyard. Zita is singing a song while trying to catch a butterfly.

"Fluttering here, fluttering there

Catching colors of flowers to share

Sucking juice from blossoms with glee

As light as sleep on flowers free"

"Pa...pa...pa...la...la...la..."

Chiti: Hey Zita, what are you doing here? Let's go play!

Zita: Okay, Chiti. What shall we play?

Chiti: Hide and seek.

Zita: Hurray! It's my favorite game.

Chiti: Now whose turn is it?

Zita: Yours! Ha...ha...ha...I'm going to hide!

Zita runs and hides near the servant quarters. There she spots a coop filled with little chicks. Fascinated, she forgets all about the game and sits watching them.

On the other side, Chiti is searching everywhere and begins to worry when she can't find Zita. At last, one of the maids tells her where Zita is hiding, and she hurries there, a little annoyed.

Chiti: Hey Zita! What are you doing here?

Zita: Um...oh...I forgot about our game. Look, Chiti, aren't these chicks beautiful?

Chiti: Oh yes, wow! So, you were just watching them?

Zita: Should I catch one? I want to play with them.

Chiti: Okay, go ahead and catch them.

Zita stretches out her hands toward the chicks, but suddenly the mother hen flaps her wings and attacks! She pecks Zita sharply on the neck.

Zita:Aeee...Aeee... (sobbing) Chiti! Chiti! The bird pecked me on my neck!

Crying, Zita runs to her sister.

Chiti: Oh no, Zita. Come, let's go home quickly.

They rush home together. But Zita is deeply upset. She cannot understand why her elder sister didn't protect her from the hen. That night, she is so disturbed that she can hardly eat dinner, both because of the pain in her neck and the hurt in her heart.

The next morning, Zita's mother notices her daughter is unhappy and asks what's wrong. At first, Zita refuses to speak, but later she tells her mother the whole story.

Zita: Mum, you told me that Chiti is older than me and that she would protect me from all problems. But yesterday, she told me I could catch the chicks. And when the hen attacked me, she didn't help me.

Mother is surprised to hear this. She gently examines Zita's neck. The wound is fine now. With a light smile, she explains:

Mother: Oh dear! Of course, your elder sister loves you and will protect you. But remember, this problem was new for her too. I'm sure she didn't know what to do at that moment. That's why she quickly brought you home.

Zita: But I always trusted her and felt safe with her. Now I feel like I can't trust her anymore.

Mother: Hmm...That isn't good for either of you. But think of it this way-this incident has taught you an important lesson. You must be careful and avoid risks that are too big for you. I know you didn't want to hurt the chicks, but the mother hen thought you were a danger. She was only protecting her babies, the same way every mother does.

Zita: Hmm...so no one is really wrong. But tell me, is it wrong to play with animals?

Mother: No, my dear. But we must be careful. We should stay away from aggressive or dangerous animals. It's best to play with pets or animals that are familiar and safe.

Zita: Okay, Mumma.

Just then, Chiti comes running.

Chiti: So, can we go play now?

Zita: Yes!

The sisters run off happily, ready for new games and new adventures.