Minu’s Rainy Day

Published : Saturday, 1 August, 2026 at 12:00 AM

Dilruba Nila

Minu felt sad that morning. She could not go to school because it had been raining heavily since dawn. She loved going to school. It was always full of fun. She met her friends, studied with them, and enjoyed playing on the school playground during the tiffin break. Home, on the other hand, felt rather dull. There was nothing but studying. She did not even have a younger brother or sister to play with.

Her mother was busy cooking in the kitchen when Minu ran to her.
“Mother, I feel so sad.”
“My dear Minu, why are you upset?” her mother asked gently, stroking her hair.
“I couldn’t go to school.”
“Oh, I see,” her mother smiled. “There’s no need to be unhappy. I’m sure none of your friends could go to school today either. And to cheer you up, I'm making your favourite meal-khichuri with spicy beef.”
“Really, Mother?”
“Of course.”
“You are the best!” Minu exclaimed, hugging her tightly.
“Now go and finish your homework,” her mother said.
Minu went to her room, but she was not in the mood to study. Instead, she felt like drawing. She opened the south-facing window, and a cool breeze rushed in, gently touching her face. At once, she felt much happier. Sitting by the window, she began to paint the rainy scene before her. Watching the rain while painting it was great fun.
Suddenly, she noticed a tiny bird sitting quietly on their veranda. She hurried outside and found a little sparrow chick, completely soaked and shivering in one corner. Minu walked towards it, but it did not move at all. “Has it died?” she whispered in fear.
A closer look assured her that it was still alive. With great care, she picked up the little bird, carried it to her room, and gently dried it with a soft towel. Then she took it to her mother.
“Mother, look! A baby sparrow.”
“Where did you find it?”
“On our veranda.”

“It needs warmth,” her mother said. She heated a small piece of cloth over the stove and showed Minu how to warm the little bird safely.

Following her mother’s instructions, Minu gently pressed the warm cloth against the sparrow's body. Within a few minutes, the tiny bird began to move again.

Meanwhile, the delicious khichuri was ready. Minu sat down to eat with her mother. Beside her plate was a small bowl filled with a little khichuri for the sparrow chick. The tiny bird pecked at the food again and again, looking at Minu with eyes that seemed full of gratitude.

Soon the rain stopped, and soft sunshine spread across the sky.

“It is time to say goodbye,” Minu thought. She knew birds were never meant to be kept in cages. The open sky was their true home.

She placed the little sparrow gently on her palm. In a moment, it spread its tiny wings and flew away.

Minu watched it disappear into the bright sky with a joyful heart. Then she smiled to herself, wondering when her father would return from work. She could not wait to tell him everything that had happened.

But before that, there was something even more important to do. She hurried to her room to write about the day’s adventure in her Good Deeds Diary, adding one more act of kindness to its growing pages.