In a lush rainforest filled with vibrant trees and cascading waterfalls, there lived a young parrot named Piku. Unlike the other parrots who soared high above the treetops, Piku had never learned to fly. His wings were strong, but something inside him hesitated every time he tried to lift off the ground.
Piku watched his friends, colorful and carefree, gliding through the skies. They played in the clouds, raced through rainbows, and visited far-off places Piku could only dream of. Though he hid it well, Piku’s heart ached with longing.
One day, his best friend, Momo, landed beside him.
"Why don’t you fly with us, Piku?" she asked gently.
"I’m scared," Piku admitted. "What if I fall? What if I fail?"
Momo thought for a moment, then said, "Falling isn’t failing. Staying down when you could rise is."
Still, Piku hesitated.
One morning, while Piku was nibbling on a guava, a rustling sound came from a nearby bush. A little squirrel darted out, chased by a prowling wildcat. The squirrel darted up a tree, but the cat began climbing after it.
Piku's heart raced. He couldn't just sit there. Without thinking, he leaped from the branch, flapping his wings wildly. He didn’t soar like the other parrots—instead, he awkwardly fluttered and stumbled his way toward the wildcat.
"Hey, you!" Piku squawked loudly, flapping his wings in the cat’s face. The sudden commotion startled the wildcat, which lost its balance and leapt back down to the forest floor. The squirrel, safe now, chattered its thanks before scurrying away.
Piku landed awkwardly, his heart pounding. He hadn’t soared gracefully, but he’d done something incredible. For the first time, he had flown.
Momo and the other parrots cheered. "You did it, Piku! You flew!"
Piku smiled, realizing that flying wasn’t about perfection—it was about courage. From that day on, Piku practiced a little every day. He stumbled and fell often, but he laughed through his mistakes. Slowly, his confidence grew, and so did his ability to fly.
In time, Piku became one of the best flyers in the rainforest. But more importantly, he became the bravest parrot, always ready to help others—whether by soaring high or fluttering close.
And so, Piku’s story reminded every creature in the rainforest that bravery isn’t about being fearless; it’s about rising above fear, one flutter at a time.