The Pampered Parrot

Parrots are some of the smartest birds. Parrots repeat what you say. Not always though. I learnt this during one summer in my uncle’s house. He had three parrots, domesticated for a long time. They could talk and repeat what you talked, depending on their moods and needs. They had their cages with each living in one but wandered around the house when left free, perching on the doors or other high places.

Mithu’s favorite was guava and if saw anyone eating one would call out his own name to indicate, he needed a bite. The other two often responded to commands and chanted out the names in response. It was grandmother who spent hours talking to them and they would perch atop her shoulder when she was around.

But Mitu was not friendly with others except grandmother. So he was not usually petted by others. Only grandmother knew how to tame him. And she never shared her secret.

Everyone wondered how Grandmother knew exactly what food Mithu would eat without scattering. I sat for hours in the court yard watching the three parrots as I read my books.

It was at the time of lunch one day that I realized the smartest Mithu, had a brain of his own.

I saw grandmother walk to his cage, and offer slices of fruits one by one. He would say yes and no to food fed to him while the other two simply looked away or scattered it on their floor of their cages. Grandmother knew this secret. She would first hold out the different fruits and depending on his response would only give him the one he approved. He would screech loudly if fed the wrong fruit.

And no one except grandmother knew that he liked guavas a lot and if there were guavas around would gladly come and perch atop your shoulder.

I saw Mithu look at the slice of guava and fly down to grandmother. The other two just scattred what they did not like.

“So, that is how you tame and pamper him? Actually you bribe him!” I called out to grandmother as she held out a slice of guava to Mithu.

She turned back and looked at me surprised. Then hushed me down.

“He is a smart one. I don’t one anyone to ever take him away with a piece of guava. Do not tell anyone”, she said. I put my index finger to my lips and nodded as she walked away smiling.