The Party At Mango Grove Forest

       

The Mango Grove was a dense forest with mostly beautiful and lofty mango trees. And on those green and dense trees, lived many many colourful and vibrant birds.

It was a lovely spring morning and the sunrays filtered through the trees and fell on the dewdrops which glistened like pearls and diamonds. The breeze was fragrant with the sweet smell of wild flowers. The birds flew out of their comfortable nests to gather food for their families. They usually went to the clearing where people from the nearby city came for camping and picnics. Here the birds gathered bread crumbs, corn kernels, pieces of chips and lots more. While looking for suitable eatables for their families, they got into a conversation.

Mrs. Parrot: It’s such a beautiful day today!! I feel like flying from tree to tree. But alas! I need to go home to feed my babies.

Mrs. Mynah: Oh dear!! Listening to you, even I feel like having some fun!!

Mrs. Sparrow: I have a plan! Let us all meet at the old mango tree near the lake in the afternoon. We all can bring things to eat and later Mrs. Koyal can sing a song for us. What say all of you?

Mrs. Pigeon: O what a lovely idea!! I’m already excited. I’ll also take a dip at the lake.

Mrs. Parrot: Ok, lets inform all the other birds also on our way home. The more, the merrier.

In the clearing lived the owl family and Mrs. Owl had overheard the conversation. She too was thrilled with the idea and thought that the birds had missed informing her. She too started preparing to go.

Mr. Owl: They didn’t invite you, I don’t think you should go.

Mrs. Owl: Oh come on dear!! They just forgot, it wasn’t deliberate.

Mr. Owl: You’ll have trouble flying to the other side of the forest during the day. I’m just sounding you.

Mrs. Owl paid no heed and a little later, flew out of the nest. She soon realized her mistake but couldn’t control her desire to attend the party. By the time she found her way to the tree near the lake, it was almost dusk. The birds were chattering away about how much they enjoyed and that they should get together regularly. Mrs. Owl crashed near Mrs. Pigeon and mumbled an apology.

Mrs. Pigeon: Hmmm…. Here we have an uninvited guest. Ok girls, bye, see you all next week.

All the birds laughed and flew away avoiding Mrs. Owl completely. Mrs. Owl was heart-broken. She waited on the old mango tree for the sun to go down and then flew back to her nest in the clearing.

A few days later one dark night, when Mrs. Owl was sitting outside her nest enjoying the breeze, she saw the hunter spreading his net over the remnants of food left by the campers. As soon as the hunter left, she flew into the forest hooting loudly. Irritated by the sound, the birds came out of their nests and yelled at Mrs. Owl to let them sleep. When they quietened, she told them about the hunter’s net in the clearing where the birds would go to the next morning. All the birds were aghast and apologised profusely for yelling at her and thanked her for warning them. The next morning, the hunter returned quite puzzled and empty-handed.

That same evening, all the birds flew together to Mrs. Owl’s nest. Hearing their chatter, Mrs. Owl peeped out. She was pleasantly surprised when the birds told her that they were having a get together near the lake that evening and Mrs. Owl would be the guest of honour. She hesitated for a moment and then graciously accepted the invitation. That evening was a learning for everyone as they expressed their apologies for being rude and impolite to Mrs. Owl. Mrs. Owl was generous enough and told them to put it behind and celebrate their new found friendship!! Three cheers for Mrs.Owl, called out Mrs. Mynah and the Mango Grove reverberated with their happy chatters.

Ruchita Mathur