Arooma was an intelligent and caring girl. She studied in grade two. She excelled in academics, sports and everything she tried her hands on. She was also a very obedient child who always listened to her parents. But despite all her remarkable qualities, she had a very peculiar habit, she was very cruel to animals.

Her mother was a passionate gardener who had transformed the backyard of their home into a lush green haven. Nature’s masterpiece seemed alive with the activity of small creatures that had lived there. In the evening, vividly coloured butterflies would hover around the colourful flowers, birds of various species nested in the trees and joined the dawn chorus, and small animals like squirrels and rabbits scurried through the flowerbeds throughout the day. Arooma’s mother loved this vibrant ecosystem and always made sure these creatures had enough food and water.

However, Arooma didn’t share her mother’s love for the creatures in their garden. She was unkind to nature in general. She would catch butterflies with a small net in her hands. She would briefly admire their delicate and spectacularly colourful wings and then cruelly press them between the pages of her notebooks. She would do the same with the attractive flowers blooming in the garden. She also enjoyed throwing stones at the birds and tried to catch them.

Her parents were horrified by Arooma’s brutal behaviour towards the innocent creatures. They would often scold her for her heartless acts, but she always had her way.

Once a sparrow got severely wounded by a stone Arooma hit it with, and bleeding immediately started from its tiny, fragile claw. The bird was fluttering helplessly, so Arooma’s parents dressed the sparrow’s wounds and looked after it till it could fly back to its nest.

This time also her mother was also stunned to see the carelessness in Arooma’s behaviour, even after seeing the bird injured. “Arooma, these creatures are God’s creations, just like us; they feel the same pain as we do. You must show kindness to them, so don’t harm them,” she said.

As always, Arooma paid no attention. Every day after school, she would fling her schoolbag onto the floor and run to the garden in search of butterflies and birds, still in her uniform. Over time, her parents grew increasingly overwhelmed and worried about her indifference, as no number of rebukes or punishments seemed to make a difference.

One night, after a long day of mischief and playing her usual cunning tricks on innocent creatures, Arooma went to sleep. She drifted off quickly. In her dream, she found herself in the garden, but everything around her was enormous. The flowers towered over her like giant devils, and the blades of grass rose taller than trees. Even the gentle breeze felt like a mighty gust, strong enough to sweep her away.

“What is happening?” She whispered to herself. Suddenly her gaze fell onto her hand and she gasped — they were tiny! Arooma had been transformed into a small creature, as small as a bug!

Before she could understand what was happening to her, a giant butterfly came face to face with her. Its vibrant wings shone brightly in the sunshine, but its eyes were filled with anger and vengeance.

“So, you’re here.... Do you even realise how many of us you’ve killed up till now?” the butterfly’s voice boomed like thunder.

Arooma trembled in fear as the butterfly glared at her with burning anger.

“Now it’s your turn to feel the fear we once felt. You will face the consequences of your cruelty. I will show you no mercy,” with that, the butterfly spread her wings wide and lunged toward Arooma.

Arooma screamed and ran as fast as her tiny legs could carry her. She scurried through the towering grass, desperately trying to escape. The butterfly was fast and its massive wings stirred up fierce gusts of wind, making it even harder for her to run.

Arooma spotted the road and thought she might find safety there. But as soon as she stepped onto the pavement, she froze in terror. A flock of enormous birds came in front and circled above her. Their beaks were as sharp as knives and their claws were like hooks.

“There she is!” one of the birds squawked. “The girl who threw stones at us. We will take our revenge on her! Let’s attack her with stones!”

Arooma turned and rushed toward the garden, she was crying hysterically. She was shouting for help, but no one was there to save her. She stumbled over a stone and fell into a massive flower. Desperately, she tried to hide beneath its petals, but soon the flower began to close around her. The air grew thin, and she started to suffocate. She screamed for help, but no one could hear her. Just as she was gasping for her last breath, her eyes flew open and she bolted upright with a scream.

Breathing heavily, she looked around and realised she was in her bed. The nightmare had felt so real that she was still trembling and drenched in sweat.

This was the moment she realised how the butterflies, the birds and all the other creatures must have felt when she hurt them. She could not imagine putting a living being through the pain and fear that she experienced in her dream.

From that day on, her behaviour transformed entirely. Instead of running after butterflies and killing them, she began to observe them from a distance as they fluttered through the garden. She didn’t throw stones at birds anymore. She would let them move freely and also helped her mother put out food and water for them. Her parents were surprised by the change in her behaviour.

The garden had always been a happy place, filled with life and laughter. As the days passed, the number of butterflies grew and birds of different species chirped joyfully on the twigs. She noticed squirrels coming and going playfully, and cats chasing each other in the corners. Arooma felt a deep sense of peace and contentment, something she had never truly known before.

From that day onwards, Arooma became not only an intelligent and obedient girl, but also a kind and compassionate one.

Published in Dawn, Young World, June 6th, 2025