The Curious Sparrow

In a big, bright garden lived a little brown sparrow named Chiku. Chiku was curious about everything.

Every morning, she flew to a different corner of the garden to see what she could find.

On Monday, she visited the roses. They were red and proud, and they smelled like honey. "How beautiful," said Chiku.

On Tuesday, she visited the sunflowers. They stood tall and turned their happy faces towards the sun. "How cheerful," said Chiku.

On Wednesday, she hopped between the marigolds, orange and gold like tiny flames. She watched a fat bumblebee roll in their pollen until it was dusted all over in yellow.

"Surely you have seen the best flowers now," said the other birds. "Come and rest with us on the wall."

But Chiku wondered. There was one corner she had never visited. It was the shady spot under the old mango tree, where the grass stayed cool and the light was soft and green.

"Nothing grows there," cawed the crow. "It is far too dark."

Chiku flew there anyway.

At first, she saw only leaves and shadows. She waited. She looked closely. And then she saw it.

A tiny white flower, shaped like a star, was glowing quietly in the shade. Its petals were soft as silk. Its scent was gentle and sweet, like warm milk and cardamom. Drops of dew sat on its leaves like little pearls.

Chiku had never seen anything so lovely.

She sang a small song to it, and the flower seemed to shine a little brighter.

That evening, Chiku told the other birds. One by one, they flew down to the mango tree to see.

"We never would have looked here," they whispered.

Chiku fluffed her feathers happily. Some of the most beautiful things, she had learned, wait patiently for someone curious enough to find them.