A Change Of Heart

A Change Of Heart

8 mins
19.7K


“They never forget their home. They should be back”, my maternal uncle remarked with anxiety. His voice was miffed and did not betray his annoyance. His usually cheerful face looked gloomy. We all had stopped our summer games and stood in hushed silence as if a disaster had struck. .

“If uncle looks serious, the matter must be serious”, my sister whispered into my ear, “we should stop our games and not add to his irritation.“

It was yet to be dusk but the group of children dispersed in no time. Silence prevailed as if some calamity had befallen the household. Uncle had a great sense of humor and was very friendly with all the kids in the neighborhood. However, he had his own mood swings which was well known in the neighborhood. The minute a frown appeared on his forehead, everyone knew it was time to quit the scene and avoid any arguments with him. The courtyard was empty except the two of us and some pigeons that were returning to roost. It was just a few minutes when my Nanny’s voice rang through the walls.

“Is all OK? Why have you al become quiet all of sudden?” Naani’s voice closed in as she came looking for a presumed trouble into the courtyard.

She was the default babysitter for all of us and had sharp ears. Even though busy with her chores, she monitored every act of ours. The other adults were busy in the house hold activities. Summers are hot and dry in south western Odisha. Yet the bright sunshine is what helps to process a variety of foods like pickles and papads, dried mangoes and a variety of sun processed products. Summer holidays are a time when kids are home and the hassle of sending them to school is off the routine of the housewives. The time is used wisely in the enterprise of making storage food products. Most houses had courtyards where the children played, thus giving them a secure confinement. This is where we had gathered to play and were at the peak of our energy and fun when Uncle appeared from nowhere and then his ominous remark was enough to make all scurry away.

“What happened?’ Naani looked as uncle.

‘Heera and Neela are not back yet”, uncle replied still looking at the small box where his two pet pigeons roosted at night. Uncle had a collection of pigeons and had named them after gemstones based on their feather color. The pigeons returned every evening after a day of foraging around the neighborhood. On his return from work, uncle first fed them grains and watched them for sometime before he stepped into the house for his evening routine. He knew each pigeon by it color and sound and they responded to his calls

My elder aunt had come into the courtyard too, curious why Naani had been out so long from the kitchen. All the women were processing mangoes which had been brought to make amchur.

She overheard uncle talk about his pigeons.

“I always told you not to keep pet pigeons. Their flying away does not bode good for the household,” she remarked.

Then hell broke lose in the courtyard. My eldest aunt and youngest uncle did not see eye to eye. Their argument brought out other ladies who were busy with the chores to the courtyard.

It was a complete war of words, allegations and counter allegations in the courtyard for several minutes.. Choices and efforts of the brothers, their liabilities and every other issue was brought out and had to be resolved right then. The children had all sulked into their rooms and buried their faces behind books. I was alone as my sister had taken my other siblings and gone into the guest room.

Finally Naani had enough and spoke in the loudest voice I had ever heard.

“All of you leave this place immediately. Go to your rooms. This is my house and the pigeons’ welfare is my responsibility. They are my family too.”

The courtyard was deserted in no time.

I stood beside granny, looking at her.

‘Is it really bad omen, Naani, ” I asked.

“Bad omen or not, we need to find them. They have squabs to nurture. At least one of them has to come back. The other pigeons may not feed their squabs. I never looked at to see how big the squabs have grown but they should be big enough to fly soon”, she replied.

“Get my walking stick and glasses. Let us go and look around in the neighborhood,” she told.

Soon we were walking around in the neighborhood with our inquiry about the birds

.

Pigeons have a very acute sense of direction and are very attached to the households where they are kept as pets. However it is not uncommon for the pigeons to fall prey to birds or other animals. Summer also can cause heat stress. So sometimes pigeons are lost by their owners due to unfortunate incidents. Losing a pigeon is considered a bad omen as they are sign of peace and joy.

I could have easily testified that their loss was indeed an indication of unhappiness creeping into the household after witnessing the evening episode. Though it had not been confirmed that Heera and Neela were gone for ever, their mere absence had created havoc

.

Moving around with Naani, an incorrigible optimist gave me a hope that they would return.

“It is strange that two birds go missing,”,remarked one of our neighbors, “what could have happened? They don’t venture far during summer due to the heat and i have not seen any hawks today.”

It was quite some time before we got our first information about Neela. She had a peculiar blue plumage and everyone in the neighborhood knew her. The news startled Nanny. Someone had seen Ramu, the street tramp walk with a bird in his hand an hour ago. It could be Neela from the plumage. Ramu had an ill reputation in the community for pranks and notoriety.

“Hopefully he has not harmed the bird. Let us rush to his house”,granny nearly dragged me with one hand to his house. Ramu was known to tease the street’s stray cats and dogs and had once a tussle with a cow Gouri, who was usually very docile. It is a different thing that it was Ramu who fled when Gouri the cow, irritated by his constant teasing had chased him across the streets with the onlookers cheering her.

Ramu was not a known lover of animals and that put Naani into distress.

The front door to Ramu’s house was open and we were there in their courtyard instantly .

Naani was well known to everyone in the community and was always welcomed into any household due to her loving nature. Even Ramu’s mother was fond of Naani.

“Look Naani, Heera is on the beam,” I Said pointing to Heera perched on a wooden beam in the courtyard.

“Oh my God.” Naani remarked, “ that means Ramu had got Neela. Pigeons and doves are very attached to their partners and do not leave the side usually. If heera Is here Neela must be here too!”

Hearing our footsteps, Ramu’s mother (Kamala aunty) stepped out of her kitchen.

‘Oh aunty what a surprise. Please come,” She smiled as she welcomed us in.

But Naani was in no mood to listen

She was loving and caring but also honest and straight forward.

‘Has Ramu caught Neela. Where is she?’ She bursted out.

‘Oh, so tis that why you have come. Do not worry. Yes Ramu brought in Neela. He told me he had found her by the road side. I have left her inside the bedroom. with some water and grains. The white one flew in following Ramu,” she said pointing to Heera who had begun to look at her with deep curiosity. Kamala aunty continued, “ I thought it safer to put the bird inside as our courtyard is small and there are cats around at times. The blue colored one brought in by Ramu seems a bit exhausted.l Looks like heat stroke. I had asked him to inform in your house about the birds but I think he has forgotten and gone somewhere. Your birds are well known to all. . in the community. They will not be lost in the neighborhood.“

Her words were the best thing Granny had heard the whole day.

‘oh. Kamala, you are a sweet heart.,”She hugged her tightly,,” and continued “How is it that Ramu has developed this sudden love for animals?”

“Oh, that is interesting. The day Gouri chased him home, he was really scared.Then we had a long discussion and I told him that it is good to care for little things.Seems he has turned a new leaf after that incident.”

“Surely he has, if what you say about today’s event is true, ”Naani replied, “Let us see Neela.”

A few minutes later I and Naani were walking home with Neela in her hands and Heera perched on her shoulder.

“I am happy for Ramu. He is an intelligent kid. If only he uses his intelligence rightly he will go ahead a lot in life and do well. I think today’s incident proves he will be a good boy”, Nanny said as we arrived home.

‘Seems pigeons really help people find peace. Or was it the cow?’” I murmured to myself .” Nonetheless there will be peace at home now as the source of conflict is gone and Heera and Neela are back.”


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