Bipu: The Mystery of the Ice Cubes
By
Pallapuram Prabakaran
Every morning,
Bipu’s father dropped him off at school on his bike. The wind ruffled Bipu’s
hair as he sat behind him, holding tightly to his father’s shoulders. Bipu
loved those short rides — that was when his mind came alive with questions.
“Appa, why do clouds float?”
“Why do leaves fall?”
His father would laugh and say, “One
question at a time, scientist!”
Sometimes he gave quick answers.
Sometimes he said, “Let’s find out this evening.”
The Mystery Begins Near the
Rajagopuram
One sunny day, as they neared the
school, Bipu suddenly gasped and pointed excitedly.
“Look, Dad! What’s that?”
The bustling town of Srirangam, near the majestic Rajagopuram, buzzed like a festival. Two-wheelers zipped past, autos honked, and people hurried through the narrow lanes.
“What’s what?”
Near a small roadside shop, a man had
parked his motorbike. On the back seat were three large ice blocks, tied
tightly — not with rope, but with black rubber tubes. They glistened
like diamonds in the sunlight.
“The ice cubes are tied with rubber
tubes instead of ropes! Why?” Bipu asked, puzzled.
His father smiled.
“That’s an excellent question, my boy!
But you’ll be late for school. I’ll explain this evening.”
Bipu nodded reluctantly. “Okay… but
don’t forget!”
Evening Experiments Begin
Evenings were Bipu’s favourite time.
After homework, he and his father would sit on the balcony or in the backyard
doing little experiments together.
They had made paper boats to test why
things float and once examined sugar crystals under a magnifying glass. Every
day felt like opening a treasure chest of discoveries.
His father always said:
“The best question is the one you
haven’t asked yet.”
That line always made Bipu beam.
Recreating the Street Scene at Home
After school, Bipu rushed in.
“Dad! What’s the answer?” he shouted.
“Patience, young scientist!” his
father said, laughing.
He brought ice cubes, ropes, and
rubber bands. He tied one ice cube with rope and another with rubber bands.
“Let’s observe.”
As the minutes passed, both ice cubes
began melting, forming tiny streams of cold water.
Then, while Bipu watched, he suddenly
remembered the man from the street — the person handling the ice blocks.
The Man Handling Ice Blocks
This image perfectly matched what they were testing — rope vs. rubber, melting ice, and tightness.
Understanding the Science
His father began explaining:
“When ice melts, heat transfers from
the warm air into the cold ice. That’s why it slowly becomes water.”
Bipu leaned closer.
“The rubber tube is elastic. It
stretches when the ice is big and shrinks as the ice melts. So it stays tight.”
Suddenly Bipu exclaimed:
“The rope is falling off — but the
rubber is still tight!”
“Exactly!” his father said. “Rope
cannot adjust. Rubber adapts. And rubber doesn’t absorb water like rope does,
so it keeps gripping even when wet.”
“Wow! So rubber is stronger?”
His father smiled.
“Not stronger — more flexible.
Real strength is not just holding on. It’s knowing how to adjust.”
Bipu’s eyes sparkled. Another mystery
solved!
***
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I’m Prabakaran from Pallapuram, a children’s story writer who believes that the simplest moments often carry the deepest lessons. My stories are inspired by real life, innocence, and the magical way kids look at the world. Through this blog, I bring you Bipu’s adventures — stories that teach, inspire, and stay in young hearts.