The weather is supine and the mood is divine. Though it is the month of March, there is still chillness in the air and one feels like singing. Add the chirping of birds on the trees around four in the morning and you know what I mean. I stop in my tracks near the Azaibah roundabout when I hear the unseen birds – because it is dark and the sodium vapour lights are insufficient to figure out the contours of the birds on trees! – joyfully cooing and cawing. They have sensed the imminent arrival of daybreak and are getting ready for their flight into daily grind, perhaps. Same like yours and mine: wake up, get ready for work. For what? To earn one’s daily falafel and kawha. What else?
As I cross onto the newly laid four-lane carriage way connecting the Chedi with Seeb – the new parallel road to Sultan Street – there again, birds are active on the tree-lined avenues. Luckily there is less traffic and therefore the birds’ vocal chords get extra mileage. Definitely they are saying something, though I could not figure out what it is. All of a sudden, a few birds gently slide down from the trees and gently walk on the road scouting for some grain or fresh worm, I presume. Are they darkish brown or jet black? I am unable to distinguish in the early morning darkness. Zack, my dog, tries to extricate itself from my clutches and wants to dash across to the birds. Playful or prey-ful, I don’t know. No doubt, the birds fly away sensing trouble. Their alert mechanism is very sensitive definitely.
Birds are on my mind as I walk into the chambers of Amir Ali Sultan, director of J W Towell & Co in Azaibah. What do I see but sketches of birds framed and hung on the walls where his personal secretary operates from. Honestly, I could not identify even a single bird by their actual name. I keep gawking at them while we wait for our host. No sooner did I step into his office, what strikes me is the plethora of miniature bird statues – made in plaster of paris maybe – all around. “Yes, they are falcons,” he responds when I enquire. He is an avid watcher of winged creatures and used to go for bird shooting once upon a time. Does he host falcons even today? “No. They are difficult to be maintained in city atmosphere,” he clarifies.
Birds are nothing new to me. I had two cute little birds back in Delhi – named Teena and Meena – till my family shifted to Muscat five months ago. My daughter kept them in a wired cage for three years at least. Like Zack, these two white birds with red beak were also part of my family. We used to talk: I mean I used to share my joys and worries with them and they used to listen with rapt attention. Who does not like passive listeners? Once while cleaning the cage, Meena flew out into the ceiling and refused to budge. Short of calling in the fire brigade, my daughter and her friends mounted a rescue operation lasting close to an hour. Needless to say, Meena received a barrage of scolding for such an ‘unruly behaviour’. It’s all in the family, you know.
A fortnight ago, my daughter called up to say that “Teena is no more.” I knew it the previous evening itself since her friend – the new guardian of our birds in India – had already intimated my wife. Our throats had gone dry and eyes welled up for some time. May her soul rest in peace.
Tailpiece
Received the following SMS from Pooja Sharma:
As I cross onto the newly laid four-lane carriage way connecting the Chedi with Seeb – the new parallel road to Sultan Street – there again, birds are active on the tree-lined avenues. Luckily there is less traffic and therefore the birds’ vocal chords get extra mileage. Definitely they are saying something, though I could not figure out what it is. All of a sudden, a few birds gently slide down from the trees and gently walk on the road scouting for some grain or fresh worm, I presume. Are they darkish brown or jet black? I am unable to distinguish in the early morning darkness. Zack, my dog, tries to extricate itself from my clutches and wants to dash across to the birds. Playful or prey-ful, I don’t know. No doubt, the birds fly away sensing trouble. Their alert mechanism is very sensitive definitely.
Birds are on my mind as I walk into the chambers of Amir Ali Sultan, director of J W Towell & Co in Azaibah. What do I see but sketches of birds framed and hung on the walls where his personal secretary operates from. Honestly, I could not identify even a single bird by their actual name. I keep gawking at them while we wait for our host. No sooner did I step into his office, what strikes me is the plethora of miniature bird statues – made in plaster of paris maybe – all around. “Yes, they are falcons,” he responds when I enquire. He is an avid watcher of winged creatures and used to go for bird shooting once upon a time. Does he host falcons even today? “No. They are difficult to be maintained in city atmosphere,” he clarifies.
Birds are nothing new to me. I had two cute little birds back in Delhi – named Teena and Meena – till my family shifted to Muscat five months ago. My daughter kept them in a wired cage for three years at least. Like Zack, these two white birds with red beak were also part of my family. We used to talk: I mean I used to share my joys and worries with them and they used to listen with rapt attention. Who does not like passive listeners? Once while cleaning the cage, Meena flew out into the ceiling and refused to budge. Short of calling in the fire brigade, my daughter and her friends mounted a rescue operation lasting close to an hour. Needless to say, Meena received a barrage of scolding for such an ‘unruly behaviour’. It’s all in the family, you know.
A fortnight ago, my daughter called up to say that “Teena is no more.” I knew it the previous evening itself since her friend – the new guardian of our birds in India – had already intimated my wife. Our throats had gone dry and eyes welled up for some time. May her soul rest in peace.
Tailpiece
Received the following SMS from Pooja Sharma:
Never make the same mistake twice. There are so many new ones. Try a different one each day. After all, variety is the spice of life!”
THIS piece appeared in OMAN TRIBUNE, 7 March 2009 Edition
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