Like ever , my grandmother brought a fourth bird to my house in the cold winters of February and caged the poor featherless thing in a cage ten times its size . Only a caged bird understands what an animal at the other end of the zoo bars goes through .. only a prisoner knows how much the world can curtail its freedom. The first words that I shouted on seeing this chick like yellow small creature was , "Send it back! . Dont cage it ."
I had my reasons at that age for saying the above . In hindi its a saying , a parrot is the most disloyal creature . Leave it open for 3 seconds , and it flies away . Somehow , my father felt that I was the parrot of the house ..disloyal to his teachings . Again the frustrated Ko , replied "Then who asks you to tame and prison parrots when you hate them so much?"
Still the tiny yellow creature peeped and tried opening its eyes and tried staring at the girl who was fighting for his freedom . Night fell and the tiny creature was shivering in cold struggling to hunt its dear mother . On the other end , I was holding the college book and gazing at it and realising the similarity between this fella and myself . Both hunting for our mothers !
So far , I didnt bother to touch it . But this mother hunt pushed me to close my books . I opened the cage and picked up the featherless chick into my hands and realised it was very cold . I took a rack in which we bought 10 kg wheat grains the previous day and covered up the creature. The poor thing was on cloud nine . It slept in a matter of 5 minutes in my hand . For the first time , someone accompanied me on that lonely bed and I actually felt a sudden kick in my stomach .
Early morning , something was squeaking . Gosh ! Did I kill the poor thing ? I was a champion at rolling over the bed and taking a roller coster ride on the same . Thankfully No ! The tiny creature was hungry perhaps . Papa and grandma were still asleep .
The motherly Ko , was awakening in me .I took some wheat flour and dipped it in water and decided to feed this fella . I had never fed anyone before so didnt know whether what I feeding him was right or wrong . Still the squeals made me mad and I opened its mouth and shoved the semi liquid thing into its mouth . The hungry beast wanted more and more . Then I realised the batter was drying in its tiny mouth . I ran for water and a spoon and this spoon was enough to be a pillar for this guys home . Instantly , my eyes paused at my ink dropper and I dipped it in water and filled it with it and made this thirsty soul taste the divine liquid . I never ever felt such a peaceful moment before than this sight of feeding a kid in my arms .
I wanted to cojole it and call it names . I somehow wanted to call him Beta .. Beti .. Mitthoo .. Parrot like all others ... But I was not sure of its sex .. He was such a Petu ( with a tummy growing bigger while eating ) ... Petu alias BETU sounded best and cutest .. Yes that was gonna be my betu... Komal's Betu !
It was as if heaven had opened its doors for me and given me my best pal and my cutest baby and made me a very young and responsible mom . I shall never be able to forget the first plumes of green feathers , the first stiffness of the beak , the appearance of the black belt around my baby that proved that it was a male , the first time my baby wanted to unfold its tiny wings and fly inside my bed room , the first time my baby wanted to suck my tongue and each night when this baby learnt to open the cage and sleep next to me , his sister , his mom , his friend , his girl friend ... his so assumed - she parrot !
This is the beauty and the power of love . Even today I can talk like a parrot . I have started understanding the bird lingo . I know what they like and what they dislike . Some of the most memorable times were those when he sat on my books and put my stationary in his mouth and hit it on my head every time I dosed on those books and made them as a cushion !
He knew how to talk like me and how to use human language , how to laugh , sing , dance , cry and even sneeze and cough. The cutest of his activities was sleeping upright on the bed , with feet in the air and the funniest of all was when he learnt to say " I love you , Komal" .. " I want to kiss you" .. " Baby Baby Baby , where are you " ( ofcourse all of the above are in Hindi and spoken with sugar coated honey dipped words)
I truly have shared the best of my lives moments with my dear Betu . From tearing of books , to shitting all over my table and bed .. From breaking the cage door to flying all over and coming back to the cage .. From listening to my boring chats to listening to my tears , Betu and his young mom have come a long way !
Sometimes even I believe , there is a rebirth .. a reincarnation .. and if this concept was even little bit true , I want to get a human form again in next life and be with my betu forever after
I hope people stop reiterating age old superstitions amd myths that created a prejudice in my mind to hate this creature's breed as my father compared them for disloyalty .
Loyalty cannot be pushed into the head . Its imbibed . Only Love breeds Love . I can vouch on what I am going to say next .... Even if you set my betu free , he will either come back to my bed room or fly to reach its foster mom in whichever part of the world I am !
I always wanted to put a stone in my heart and set him free but because he has never truly learnt to fly , he is now not capable of protecting himself from the pangs of the wild eagles and hawks
Sometimes I feel God made this naive creatures so that they would prick our human souls and awaken our hearts to learn the silent and simple lessons of Love from these selfless creatures !
Love you my Betu !
Labels: Love Parrots and Birds
