Fish in Pond
One bright and breezy morning, Ayaan and Lina decided to explore a part of the forest they hadn’t visited in weeks—the pond near the big bamboo grove. The sun filtered softly through the trees, and the air was fresh with the scent of wet grass. With their backpacks filled with notebooks, colored pencils, and a jar of biscuits, they set off, skipping over roots and stones.
As they approached, the pond revealed itself like a hidden jewel nestled in green. The water was so clear that they could see straight to the bottom, where smooth stones lay like scattered marbles. Lily pads floated peacefully on the surface, and delicate dragonflies danced in the air above.
“Oh wow,” Lina whispered, kneeling at the edge. “Look at all the fish!”
Ayaan leaned over beside her, his eyes widening. “There’s so many different kinds!”
There were slender silver fish that darted like arrows, fat golden ones with shimmering scales, and even tiny red ones hiding beneath the shadows of the lilies. A school of black-and-white-striped fish moved together like a single creature, changing direction in perfect unison.
Suddenly, a splash made them both jump. A green frog leapt from a rock into the water with a graceful plop.
“Did you see that?” Ayaan laughed. “He looked like he was doing a cannonball!”
Lina giggled. “Look, there’s more—under that leaf!” Sure enough, three frogs sat perfectly still, as if they were watching the fish too.
They spent nearly an hour observing everything. Ayaan sketched the different fish in their notebook, carefully labeling them “fast silver,” “stripy jumper,” and “round gold.” Lina watched how the frogs puffed out their throats when they croaked, and how the smallest fish always followed the bigger ones like little siblings.
“This pond is like a tiny world,” Lina said quietly, dipping her fingers into the cool water. “So full of life… and they don’t even know we’re here.”
Ayaan nodded. “I think nature has its own stories. We’re just lucky to watch a small piece of it.”
Before they left, they sat on a flat stone and shared their biscuits, dropping a few crumbs near the water. Tiny fish rushed forward, nibbling fearlessly.
“Next time,” Lina said, “let’s bring a magnifying glass. I want to see what’s hiding under those lily pads.”
“And maybe,” Ayaan added, “we’ll find out where the frogs go when it gets cold.”
With their notebook full and their hearts light, the two friends walked home, already thinking about their next adventure. The pond had become more than just a place—it was now one of their secret discoveries, a peaceful corner of the world that belonged to their shared curiosity.
