The Braveheart

Friend, this is a story for children. Thanks.

The 7-year-old Sona was an aggressive girl. Wherever she went, she always picked up a fight on the most trivial issue. Which is why whenever she was seen, people would whisper, “Oh! Here comes the trouble.’

However, one incident changed all that.

It was a balmy March weekend morning in New Delhi. Spring was ruling in its full glory. Lured by the magnificent weather, Sona and her mom had gone to their local park. Her mom loved to walk in that beautiful park, and the child loved to play on its soft grass.

Now, her mom chanced upon a family friend in the park. This lady had become a new mother only four months ago. This morning, she was happily pushing her baby in a white pram along the paved track. Her husband had dropped them off at the park in his car and gone to his gym. The baby looked very cute but fragile.

Soon, the two ladies got busy talking. They had so much gossip to share! For a few seconds, the lady’s attention went off her baby.

In the meanwhile, Sona had gotten off the tracks into the grass and was playing games by herself. While she was chasing a pair of squirrels, she noticed that two wasps were hovering dangerously near the baby’s face. And they were hovering insistently. A sixth sense warned her that the baby was in danger.

Sona immediately plunged into action. She found a dry branch of a tree near her feet. With that flimsy thing as her weapon, she rushed at the wasps with a scream. With her full strength, she began waving the branch wildly all over the baby’s face.

The wasps were caught in the swinging branch and taken by surprise, they flew away. What an aggressive scene it was: Sona’s furious red face... furious scream... and furious action!

Alerted, the baby’s mom rushed to take her toddler in her arms. She gasped! A wasp attack on an infant could have produced lethal consequences for the baby. Tears sprang to her eyes as she struggled to find words to thank Sona.

Soon, other morning walkers gathered and praised the little girl’s bravery. Her mom beamed with pride! In no time, the news of Sona’s bravery spread in the neighbourhood and everyone felt pleased.

From that day onwards, wherever Sona went, the people would whisper, “Aha! Here comes the brave-heart.”

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