I could never have imagined that I would be jolted alive so suddenly and have such a close encounter with “life”.
One is so oblivious of life unfolding on a day to day basis. We just take it for granted.
We are either too used to it or worse still; we are always so concerned about our own lives that we forget to appreciate our lives and the lives around us. I am more inclined to think that it’s a combination of both.
Shreyasi and I spent all afternoon yesterday enjoying a wonderful time with Tamal-da, Mithu-di and Disha. We chatted, laughed, had a scrumptious lunch and looked at photographs of their trip back home-completely oblivious of the intense encounter we were destined to have later that day.
We left in the evening and decided to walk back home for a spot of exercise. When we neared our house, we suddenly came across a green dove by the roadside. It kept hopping around, so we realized that something was not right about it.
Shreyasi managed to wrap it in her dupatta. We thought that leaving it on the roadside would not help matters and it would most probably be run down by a passing vehicle. So we got it home.
Kishmish of course was very curious and barked a bit questioningly as we took it to the balcony, placed it on an old towel and turned our bicycle basket over it to act as a temporary makeshift cage.
Shreyasi then called her dad to ask for some advice on caring for the injured bird, while I went in to freshen up.
I wasn’t prepared for what happened next. Shreyasi let out a cry, “Its dead!” I couldn’t believe what I heard.
I rushed out and saw the dove lying on its back. I just couldn’t believe it. Less than 5 minutes ago, we had seen the little bird hold on to the basket with its claws and now it was dead. I cradled her body in my palms. She was still warm to the touch, but it was lifeless…I tried massaging the chest but she did not respond. I rubbed her talons, but there was no movement. I held tried to hold her drooping head up, but her eyes stayed shut.
I think I had felt this helpless about life only ten years ago, when my mother passed on. The sheer helplessness that I experienced in the face of death…death that had taken away this beautiful dove’s tender little soul… We just couldn’t believe it. We felt so responsible for having caused such trauma to the bird. How fragile it was!
We struggled all evening to come to terms with the loss of that little dove that had been with us for a mere 10 minutes. Never could I have imagined that those 10 minutes would be so eventful and so touching.
We struggled with guilt and our thoughts kept going back to what we could have done differently to help save the dove. There were no easy answers.
Logic told us that we probably took the best decision at the time but as far as the dove was concerned, was that good enough? Weren’t we the ones responsible for causing trauma to that little life? How could we explain to her that we were trying to save her? She didn’t get a chance to know that we meant well.
We later laid her to rest with a prayer and heartfelt apologies for what had transpired.
The experience suddenly woke me up from my mechanical life. I do think my life is far less routine than most people and I genuinely appreciate life that I see around me all the time. I think I am far more alive to nature than most people are….for whatever reason.
But I was humbled by this beautiful dove. It brought me down from the pedestal I had got on, when I thought that WE could save this bird by taking it to the vet; WE could give this bird a second chance through our conscientious efforts. This bird just showed us that things are far more complex. There are many more factors affecting life than those we are aware of. Taking life and giving life is not a human prerogative. We are only a cog in this immense machine-nature. Everything is finally in the hands of the creator. HE decides.
I also realized that I should stop taking for granted the seemingly routine aspects of life like the chirping of the birds around. The cooing of the cuckoo we hear these days in the mornings and the evenings in particular. It probably coos the whole day long too when while we sit in our manicured air-conditioned offices.The mynas and the doves we see so often and who so effortlessly fly around us….we don’t really give them all a second glance. They are always there…
If only we could learn to stop, observe and experience them…If only we could appreciate life that is here one moment and gone, the next…
Our lives will never be the same again. I hope we never get back to our complacent ways and pray that we never need any more doves to wake us up.
------ Written by Sushil Shirke
Edited by Twinky.
One is so oblivious of life unfolding on a day to day basis. We just take it for granted.
We are either too used to it or worse still; we are always so concerned about our own lives that we forget to appreciate our lives and the lives around us. I am more inclined to think that it’s a combination of both.
Shreyasi and I spent all afternoon yesterday enjoying a wonderful time with Tamal-da, Mithu-di and Disha. We chatted, laughed, had a scrumptious lunch and looked at photographs of their trip back home-completely oblivious of the intense encounter we were destined to have later that day.
We left in the evening and decided to walk back home for a spot of exercise. When we neared our house, we suddenly came across a green dove by the roadside. It kept hopping around, so we realized that something was not right about it.
Shreyasi managed to wrap it in her dupatta. We thought that leaving it on the roadside would not help matters and it would most probably be run down by a passing vehicle. So we got it home.
Kishmish of course was very curious and barked a bit questioningly as we took it to the balcony, placed it on an old towel and turned our bicycle basket over it to act as a temporary makeshift cage.
Shreyasi then called her dad to ask for some advice on caring for the injured bird, while I went in to freshen up.
I wasn’t prepared for what happened next. Shreyasi let out a cry, “Its dead!” I couldn’t believe what I heard.
I rushed out and saw the dove lying on its back. I just couldn’t believe it. Less than 5 minutes ago, we had seen the little bird hold on to the basket with its claws and now it was dead. I cradled her body in my palms. She was still warm to the touch, but it was lifeless…I tried massaging the chest but she did not respond. I rubbed her talons, but there was no movement. I held tried to hold her drooping head up, but her eyes stayed shut.
I think I had felt this helpless about life only ten years ago, when my mother passed on. The sheer helplessness that I experienced in the face of death…death that had taken away this beautiful dove’s tender little soul… We just couldn’t believe it. We felt so responsible for having caused such trauma to the bird. How fragile it was!
We struggled all evening to come to terms with the loss of that little dove that had been with us for a mere 10 minutes. Never could I have imagined that those 10 minutes would be so eventful and so touching.
We struggled with guilt and our thoughts kept going back to what we could have done differently to help save the dove. There were no easy answers.
Logic told us that we probably took the best decision at the time but as far as the dove was concerned, was that good enough? Weren’t we the ones responsible for causing trauma to that little life? How could we explain to her that we were trying to save her? She didn’t get a chance to know that we meant well.
We later laid her to rest with a prayer and heartfelt apologies for what had transpired.
The experience suddenly woke me up from my mechanical life. I do think my life is far less routine than most people and I genuinely appreciate life that I see around me all the time. I think I am far more alive to nature than most people are….for whatever reason.
But I was humbled by this beautiful dove. It brought me down from the pedestal I had got on, when I thought that WE could save this bird by taking it to the vet; WE could give this bird a second chance through our conscientious efforts. This bird just showed us that things are far more complex. There are many more factors affecting life than those we are aware of. Taking life and giving life is not a human prerogative. We are only a cog in this immense machine-nature. Everything is finally in the hands of the creator. HE decides.
I also realized that I should stop taking for granted the seemingly routine aspects of life like the chirping of the birds around. The cooing of the cuckoo we hear these days in the mornings and the evenings in particular. It probably coos the whole day long too when while we sit in our manicured air-conditioned offices.The mynas and the doves we see so often and who so effortlessly fly around us….we don’t really give them all a second glance. They are always there…
If only we could learn to stop, observe and experience them…If only we could appreciate life that is here one moment and gone, the next…
Our lives will never be the same again. I hope we never get back to our complacent ways and pray that we never need any more doves to wake us up.
------ Written by Sushil Shirke
Edited by Twinky.
1 comment:
Yes Sushil, We are but pawns in His Holy hands, simply instruments of action, that which He wants us to act upon and the way He wants us to act in. This was an oppurtunity given by Him to see what you choose to do when a life is in distress, the play of Free Will given to you by Him, a fine judgement that decides how closely you hold His creations to your heart - Nothing else. Motto- Do the duty that is for the good of others, Ma Faleshu Kadachano- Ammijaan
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