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Articles: Devotion | Being Yourself
- Prof. venkata ramanamurty mallajosyula
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She plunged into the water and diving deep, began to walk along the bottom of the riverbed. Her movements were slow as she moved against the current, similar to a space man walking on the moon.
'It's miserable being a hippo...'
Life just was not fair!
The water around her was cool and soothing after being in the heat of the day. Calming to her emotions as well, which were running high.
It was so unfair being a hippo. Running out of breath, Lady lifted her head, kicked her feet and returned to the surface. Immediately she could feel the sun scorching on her back so she made her way to the muddy bank and, covering herself with wet orange clay, stood amid the reeds half submerged in water.
She was soon joined by Pee, a very smart looking Oxpecker with yellow and grey marking his feathers.
'Why, Lady, whatever is the matter?' Pee inquired, seeing tears slowly roll down the hippo's cheek.
'They look so light, so beautiful and so carefree...'
'It's miserable being a hippo,' replied Lady with a sigh.
'Why?'
'Well look at me. I'm big and fat, ugly and clumsy, destined to spend my life waddling around in the mud to stop this grey hairless skin of mine from burning in the sun.'
'Why, Lady …'
'Don't call me Lady! Some lady; look at me! Now they are ladies, look at them.'
Lady paused to watch a group of gazelles darting across the sandy earth. Their golden and cream coats gleamed in the sun and they leaped this way and that, higher and higher into the air.
'They look so light, so beautiful and so carefree,' moped Lady, 'Just like dancers, so graceful.'
'I have always wanted to be tall and elegant like you...'
A family of giraffes followed the gazelles. They too had beautiful coats that glistened with health. Their long necks gently moved as they took slow deliberate strides on their long legs. They looked completely at peace with the world around them.
'Wish I was a giraffe,' whispered Lady.
'You are funny,' laughed Pee. 'Do you know why the gazelles leap and dart from one spot to another as they run?'
'For fun?'
'Hardly! They are running away from predators; lions, leopards or hyenas. They leap to confuse their pursuers, in an attempt to put them off the chase. It is not so much a dance as a fight for life, even if it is beautiful to watch. You wouldn't really want that would you?' said Pee, 'After all what are you afraid of as a hippo?'
'Why, nothing really,' replied Lady. She paused and gazed up at the blue sky in deep thought.
'I just charge to see them off...'
'I guess the only thing is the occasional hungry lion, but I just charge to see them off and then come into the water.
Nothing bothers me in the water, not even the crocodiles. Actually I do love being in the water. It is so, well, calming and comforting. She waded deeper into the river until just her eyes and nose were showing above the surface. The water moved around her body, caressing and soothing. Feeling happier, Lady kicked out her legs and began to swim. Pee flew onto her head for a free ride.
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