I hope not that you appreciate the plot of this story and
say that it was brilliant. I just hope that you do a little introspection
before you decide on letting the hateful hatred enter your lives.
So the tell tale of a little birdie…here goes…
There was this beautifully woven weaver bird nest, in the
jogger’s park, in the middle of some city, bustling with life. And there lived
a cute little birdie, Chirpy with her loving father and caring mom. Chirpy used
to chirp on and on and sing beautiful songs of melody, in the morning for the
wise elderly joggers who wake up early morning in brahma muhurat to watch the
sun rise and shine above mother earth and in the evening for cute little kids
who enjoyed a ride on various swings in the park. The old watchman of the park
was also the supervising gardener and he loved and cared for the park like his
very own home. So every flower was always smiling and grass remains always
green. Dew drops in the morning bathe the park into freshness.
But since change is all that actually gives life its meaning
and only bad times can make the good ones worth their goodness, there came a
proposal to the city municipality to dismantle the Joggers Park setting to
allow room for another residential society. Suddenly everyone was talking about
it. Brave little creature as she was, she decided to face the situation head
on. That same evening she asked her dad. “Papa, can I go search another tree
for us until the order finalizes. I am big enough to fly long distances now.”
Papa got all scared, but came off better of his doubts and allowed her to go.
She’ll have to move out one day anyway…
So long she flew; to unknown distances…till winters came and
started showing its effect in late evenings…she sat on a tree to relax a little
bit… Of tiredness of flying so much first time in her life, she quickly fell
asleep under the shade of that old shady banyan tree. The cool breeze caressed
her like her mom’s loving touch and she dreamt of her home again, playing sun n
shade with her friends... She was smiling in her dream. It was a peaceful
slumber. She slowly opened her eyes and to her horror a group of huge beaks and
gray bodies was staring on her. She got terrified and started fluttering her
wings just-outta-sleep. And then she found herself in midst of darkness. It was
Johnny, the vulture folding his wings around her. After 5 minutes of struggle
with her little wings, she finally gave up. Johnny took her to his treehole.
“Make yourself comfortable” he said, and went out. After
some time he came back with a leafcup of some brown liquid and some worms. “Here,
have it, you look hungry and worn out. This will make you warm”. Chirpy was
terrified of this huge creature and of course she was hungry. But there was no
way she could accept that unknown stuff she was being offered. “I’m sorry I eat
only grains that mummy brings and water from the park pond. Johnny smiled, “Okay!
So what are you doing here?” Isnt it time for you to be home?” “I’m searching
for a new tree for my family to migrate on. I took on the responsibility”
Chirpy replied. “RESPONSIBIITY!!! You throw big words indeed”, Johnny ridiculed.
“So you decided to search all by yourself in the big city. That’s SOMETHING for
a tiny creature like you.” Anyways, I like your spirit. I can help you if you
want. This tree I’ve my treehole on, you can build your nest here. It’s slightly out of the town so city
pollution doesn’t bother you. It has got many empty treeholes also and it’s
cool and comfortable here. AND you never run out of food supply for they have
the cremation ground nearby.
Chirpy of course hated him. God! A cremation ground! How can
someone possibly put up with the stink!
So off she flew again
to unknown distances to search for a place. But all the city trees were all
occupied. Not a branch left for her family to weave their nests on. So, defeated
and disgusted she flew back to Johnny’s tree. It was evening time and all the
vultures were off to cremation ground for supper. Johnny was just bringing back
food for dinner.
Watching Chirpy again, he felt a strange sense of happiness
and relief. Ever since the little bird was gone he found himself worried for
her well being. How will the little creature fight the cruel world. On the
other hand Chirpy felt a vomiting sensation just looking at the blood stained
piece of meat Johnny bought for dinner. Watching her discomfort, Johnny took
the piece away.
Not having any other option, Chirpy decided in her mind to
live on one of the treeholes for some time herself before deciding on a
complete migration with family. “You are most welcome little one” Johnny
greeted with a smile. And for that moment, Chirpy loved that smile of
acceptance.
Night fell and all the vultures gathered at the widest trunk
for dinner and the brown liquid Johnny bought for Chirpy the other day . Johnny
introduced chirpy to his friends and they all greeted her nicely. But, the
smell of flesh and the brown liquid was killing her. On another tree some bats
were hung upside down. A stray dog was weeping at a distance. All this was
horrific for the little bird. She excused herself and went off to Johnny’s
place.
Poor thing, she tried to sleep but even sleep won’t come to
her eyes today. She pondered over the horrific scene.
It’s a disgusting life. Feeding on dead creatures. And that
brown liquid. It seems to have strange effect on these birds. They howl like
idiots in the dead of the night. Jump like maniacs on branches. And hang upside
down. Like they have no right minds at all. Nights are supposed to be slept
peacefully and to dream of beautiful fairyland with cherries and toffees and
chocolate rivers. These people suck…Eh! If I continue living with them, I’ll
soon become one of them. Oh God, my throat is so dried up. No hope of finding water
here. So she found courage to go out again. She flew around the tree for some
time with no luck. Being too scared to go far away from the tree, she decided
to seek little help from Chizzy, Johnny’s friend.
“Can I get some
water.”
“ Yeah sure. Lets go to my treehole and
get some for you.”
Chizzy was a nice, good natured bird. One of those who treat
their guests in silver cutlery. She lived alone in her treehole. She offered
Chirpy the luxury of her well managed treehole to spend the night.
Chirpy felt comfortable with Chizzy in a strange sisterly
way. Conversations started rolling.
“Chizzy, I’m so scared. And this tree is full of bad dirty
vultures. When there is so much food grain to feed all of us, the why do you
feed on dead people? It’s so disgusting. Why you guys choose this life? When
there is a happier and easier way to have food and fun. You don’t have to do
this. You seem nice. Come with me. With some effort we can find another tree
near some farm in some village. I sure can’t live here and neither think a nice
bird like you should get ruined in such a bad place.
Chizzy smiled and fluttered her wings… “Oh dear little one,
I appreciate your concern for me.” But I pity your immaturity of judging things
like this.
It’s not always a matter of being good or bad you know. It’s
just a matter of choice and what comes to you naturally. Fun can mean different
things to different people. Do you wonder why certain people do or don't do
certain things? These questions will serve as your guide. The way people think, feel, react, and behave
also are depended upon life experiences. They feel different emotions because
they have felt this emotional happiness or sadness before. They think what is
right and what is wrong because they have learned from past experiences. They
react to different things because they experienced things that please them and
the things that displease them. They behave in certain ways because they want
to design their way of living into what they have admired from other people's
lives.
You were raised in a protective atmosphere, where your parent created a shell of
well being around you. And I was raised on this tree where I had to feed on
dying and decaying to keep myself alive. I don’t mind that anymore. Infact I enjoy
being like this and take pride in saying that I cleanse up the system. Forgetting
ourselves at nights with this hot drink help us survive with our tough life. It’s
a part of vulture’s culture and is our idea of fun. Sorry but you are no one to
judge us. It’s just our way of life and it’s no less good then your way. It’s
just different. And different does not mean bad in any way. Rising up in
different cultures affects the developments of behaviors, feelings, personalities,
and thinking. Their attitudes toward things are created and shaped as they
experience different situations and by the ideas which they have gotten from
their culture.
Chirpy understood. Having nothing to say and feeling too bad
for being so incorrectly judgmental and mean, she fought her fears and flew
back to her home. Her inability to fit in doestnt makes the vultures bad in any
way. They have a part to play in ecosystem which is just different from her
part. She had learnt her lessons. She understood what little Chintu was reading
out from “Learnings from Constitution” chapter of his Civics book the other
day. “Respect For All” …
