🌤️ The Morning That Hesitated
The sun was up, but the sky was grey.
A little warm. A little unsure.
Like the weather wasn’t quite ready to begin.
Amma packed the bag.
“One banana. One water bottle. And no shaky legs,” she smiled.
Mukshi was tying his shoelace slowly.
Daksh sat on the windowsill, blinking once.
“That means yes?” Mukshi asked.
Daksh blinked again.
“That means yes… again,” Mukshi smiled.
🚲 The Forest Shortcut
Today, he took the narrow path.
The one behind the school wall.
It was shorter—but steeper.
He’d never tried it alone.
The ground dipped fast.
Loose stones. A tight curve.
Mukshi stopped at the top.
Daksh circled above, quiet.
He looked down. His legs felt… unsure.
🧗🏽 The Choice
He could go back.
Or… just one foot forward.
Slow. Careful. Stay steady.
He looked at Daksh.
“Not a big deal, right?”
Daksh tilted his head. Not blinking.
“I’m not scared,” Mukshi said.
Then paused.
“Well… maybe a little.”
He took one step.
Then one more.
The bike didn’t slip.
The ground didn’t fall.
His hands shook, just a bit.
But his eyes stayed ahead.
🍃 The Quiet End
At the bottom, the path opened wide.
Flat road again. Trees swaying like they’d seen it before.
Mukshi stopped. Breathed.
Daksh landed gently on the handlebar.
“I did it,” Mukshi whispered.
Daksh blinked. That meant yes.
🏡 Back at Home
Amma looked at his shoes.
“Little dusty,” she said. “You tried the slope?”
Mukshi nodded.
“Just wanted to see if I could.”
Amma handed him a glass of water.
“Not all courage is loud,” she said.
“Some of it just puts one foot forward.”
Courage isn’t always big.
Sometimes it’s small.
Sometimes it’s just you,
and the road,
and a tiny step you weren’t sure you could take.
But you took it anyway.
Lekshmana Perumal Murugan 