Winner

He was sitting with his father at the base of a mountain, the very mountain he had to mount next day. It was one of the most idolized desires of his father. While looking towards the pointed peak of the mountain he spoke in a confident voice, "Father, I can recall the promise I made last year of winning this hill for you" he turned his eyes towards his father and continued, "you are the eye witness of the effort I have made throughout the year to fulfill this promise" he refocused his eyes at the top of the mountain and boasted off, "Let me say again tomorrow's champion will be your son".

His father closed his eyes with an ease of mind and spoke in a lost tone as he was recalling something.  I too was the prime option for the whole flock to fly the highest hill of this mountain in seconds....... ............but.......ahhh.......with the sigh of desperation he said, "perhaps, we are not the master of our desires". He became silent.

He pated his father's back and said, mother told me that you had lost one of your feathers a day before the competition. The loss of the feather marred your win but father that loss made you a hero. You sacrificed your feather and indirectly your win to save a young bird's life. Finally, that hill would have to be captured by someone else but the honor you got in losing it would keep you alive in the hearts of the flock forever.

Hmmmmnnnnn you are right. 

I'll get that hill for you father. He gave a determined gesture. Yes, I know. The father showed his confidence over him.

Let's go home father.

No, we'll spend the night here. My father used to do the same. Then I'll follow the tradition father, he said.

He awakened with the cool kisses of the new morning air. He looked around for his father and found him standing right at the base of the mountain, looking towards the top with resolute eyes.

He went to him. His father looked at him with pride in his eyes and a meaningful smile on his lips and spoke, "My son I believe in you more than myself. Go and make history". Yes father. He replied with respect in eyes and courage in voice.

They went to the place of competition. The whole crowd was waiting for them. The contestants came forward. Koghan, with his father's permission, joined the flying flock. With a sound, the competition was started.  Everybody was witnessing as expected, Koghan was leading the flying squad. Seagull was happy to see his son near the success. Koghan was really close to kiss the highest hill of the mountain, the rest of the birds were far behind. Everyone was close to clap for Koghan, but to their surprise, he stopped in the air right before the top. 

No one knew what made him to stop. He then dove rapidly a bit below the top and disappeared.

Kogan was near the hill and was happy to get that hill for his father.  He raised a cry of joy and with a dive he approached the hill. Meanwhile he had to stop in the air. He had seen something unavoidable. A big snake was having a fight with a bird of his flock. He failed to recognize the bird but whoever he was he was in a need of help. He could help him but he would miss the hill. To help that bird was meant to lose the sure win and to sacrifice his father's desire. The conflict of what to choose and what to neglect put him into trouble.  For a moment he stood near the hill and reflected. His father lost the hill to save a life. He closed his eyes, asked his heart if his father had been here what he would have chosen?  The life: His heart echoed. He saw the hill last time with tears in eyes. Turned his face towards the bird in need.

A wave of surprise and wonder swept through the audience. They were still and silent. Koghan was out of scene. Ghoghan; another young bird of the clan had reached the top of the hill. In shock not even a single hand clapped for Ghoghan's win. Because the whole crowd of audience knew that Koghan was the best and he had worked a lot for the whole year to win this competition. Then what made him cheat his father's most cherished desire? In this moment of shock there was only one being who was quite normal without any wrinkle on his forehead. He was the Seagul, the father of Koghan. He was quite confident that if Koghan was not at the top, there would be some serious reason behind.

Meanwhile the crowd had seen Koghan. He was alighting towards the audience. To their surprise, he had something in his claws. What is this? They looked at him with a wonder. When he came closer to the audience, the thing in his claws was visible. It was a wounded and bleeding bird of the enemy clan. Different questions were arising in their minds. What happened to him? How did Koghan reach him? Why did Koghan save his enemy? They wanted to know the answers of these questions. Kogan landed near his father. He unclenched the wounded bird from his grip. Some birds hurriedly came forward to assist that bird. Kogan reached his father with a stooped head.

Seagull asked his son, "Raise your head my son. I can believe there would be some unavoidable reason that marred your flight otherwise everyone here knows that it was your top today".

Kogan with a heavy heart and tears in his eyes. Father I could win your dream for you but for that I had to overlook someone who was in dire need of my help otherwise he could have lost his life. Sorry father I am not the winner of the day, sorry.... He started weeping. Everyone was waiting for Seagul's response. Seagull moved forward, embraced his son warmly, patted his back and spoke in a strong voice. My dear son! I'm really proud of you. You have proved that you are the true son of your father. If you had let him die you would have lost your father's love and appreciation. He sat near that wounded bird, patted his head kindly and said, "Life matters more than any victory. He rose up, embraced his son tightly again and said, " I'm proud of you my son you are the real Winner of the eve".