‘We imitate nature, nature imitates us’
Some incidents can shake us so profoundly that we’re compelled to question the law of nature. Why and what are the questions which keep agitating our minds unless we are answered. Most of the time, we have to let go of the questions in absence of answers, perhaps due to the phenomena being transcendental. At such times, a few ‘orthodoxical’ quotes could be seen in validation.
While sauntering on the campus today after the classes, I could hear mynahs chirping across the roadside bushes. There was something unusual in their chirping. Driven by my curiosity, I tip-toed there to look into the matter. What I found was heart-wrecking, unusual too. Two elderly mynahs were using all their force to subdue a child mynah. The young one mynah, badly injured, was unable to rescue itself from their demoniacal clutches. Helpless mynah was trying to chirp loud but could utter only some feeble and fragmented syllables. On contrary, its sound has been suppressed by the cruel chirping of the other two.
Without wasting any time, I ran in that direction to free the child mynah from them. Though this attempt of mine separated the younger one, even then, I could see the other two roaming nearby the bushes as if looking for the perfect opportunity to assail the child again. Once again, I tried to shoo them away. Seems like they were obstinate. It took me more than a couple of times to make them flee and settle on a nearby tree.
Younger mynah remained motionless for some time. I sunk into grief as I thought I couldn’t save it. At that moment, a street vendor who was watching all this from a distance came to me. He tried holding mynah to keep it at a safe place, at least away from the road and the crook eyes of those two evil spirits. As soon as his hand came closer, child mynah suddenly stood and hopped some distance further. It tried to fly but it couldn’t even after beating the wings. He tried again but the same result. The frightened mynah couldn’t differentiate between the hands that rose to help and hurt. I could see it supported itself from one leg only while hopping. I stood there, helpless and hopeless until it moved to the periphery. Perhaps, its fate had been decided by nature.
On the way, several questions came in quick succession. Why there is enmity in the community, that too, with a child? Insan hi Insan ka dushman kyo hai? Was it a family feud among birds in which that child mynah became a scapegoat? Or nature is imitating us, humans?
It could be anything, No?!
Pragmatic's Personas 