The nest stood hinged between the dark straggly branches of the Gulmohar tree in front of Minni’s balcony. The tree itself was like an eerie skeleton. It stood barren and dry exposed to the elements under the open skies. It was one of the most unlikely places to have built a nest. But the crow did not think so.
Everyday, the crow couple would collect bits of scraps, dry twigs and branches, leaves and all sorts of rubbish to furnish their home. Things stolen from people’s houses, collected from the roadside garbage or even plucked from a tree were used to build their haven of love.
With schools closed, roads under lockdown, playgrounds forbidden, Minni had nothing much to do at home. She would stand and watch the crow and its partner build their home bit by bit. She became so engrossed that she would forget everything else. She loved watching the way the crows would fly in with things held between their bony black beaks and peck at it to fit into their nest. It was one of the ugliest and the untidiest nest she had ever seen but for the two crows it was their home and she could feel they loved it despite everything.
Sometimes Minni would give them biscuits. At first, they would look at the thrown pieces suspiciously and do nothing. Then slowly they would hop over snatch it and fly up to sit on the balcony rails with the biscuit piece firmly held between their claws. Then they would peck at it expertly and finish off the whole piece. Minni would be amazed at the expertise they displayed.
Then one day the mother crow laid eggs. Papa crow was very excited. As the over protective father he didn’t want his little one to be exposed to any possible danger and began to drive anyone who even tried to step on to the balcony. Savita Bai was pecked at when she went out to hang the clothes. Even Rinni didi was chased when she was strolling in the balcony talking to her friend on the phone. After several unhappy incidents mother decided it was best that the balcony be avoided.
However, nothing would stop Minni. She would stand near the window and look. Papa crow would perch himself on the Balcony rail looking sternly at Minni cawing loudly. Minni would simply say “I am just looking. I would never hurt your little one. You know that!”
Sometimes the mama crow would come too to take a break from her duties of warming the eggs to hatch. Minni would observe with surprise that when she did that, Papa crow would keep a watch over the eggs. Something told her that when two people work in tandem with such amazing synchronization nothing could actually go wrong. Six-year-old Minni got her first lesson in teamwork.
When the fever struck Minni, she could no longer stand by the window watching the crow’s nest. She had to be in bed. Mother would always be by her side. She looked funny in a mask covering her mouth and nose, a long raincoat and her hands encased within a pair of white gloves. Her fever was infectious she was told and mummy should not be there. But Mummy being Mummy was not to be deterred. Hence this strange attire. But it made Minni happy. She could not bear to be without her mother specially when she was sick.
The fever made her weak. She could hardly get up from bed. There was intense pain all over her body. When mother brought her favourite soup she found it so tasteless that she spit it out. Mother forced her to have some or she would never get well.
Minni made her bed be moved near the window so that she could see the nest. It made her feel better. Every morning as the crow came to her balcony cawing loudly, Minni felt good. She would support herself on her elbows to peer out of the window and greet the crow happily. Most of the times it would be the papa crow but sometimes the mother crow would come too. Minni could differentiate between the two. The Papa crow was bigger. The short spiky feathers on his head would bristle up when he cawed loudly. The Mother crow was smaller in size and she cawed softly.
“You will be an expert on crows now” her mother would laugh when Minni described her observations.
The storm started from the afternoon. It was all over the news. A cyclone was on its way and would hit the city by noon. As a precursor, it had been raining since morning. The weather had become damp and chilly. Mother shut the window to keep off the moist winds. Minni’s fever was shooting up. She was getting restless and mother was getting very worried. By evening the storm was raging angrily over them. Minni fretted and thrashed around in her bed. Mother was on the call with the doctor. She could hear her whispered sobs as she spoke to the doctor and noted his instructions.
The wind howled around her windows, beating against the glass panes. Big drops of rain lashed against the glass creating a deafening orchestra. Minni was getting more restless now. Her breathing was getting laboured and she gasped for fresh breath.
“Open the windows Mother.” she pleaded with her mother.
“Minni its raining hard. You will get wet darling” her mother coaxed her.
Minni was adamant. “The nest mother. I need to know the nest is safe”
Mother looked stunned. “Minni!”
“Please mother. The chick is about to hatch. If the nest falls, the family will be finished”
Mother relented after sometime. She opened the window. The rain gushed in drenching her completely. She rushed over to move Minni’s bed slightly away from the window.
Minni raised herself on her elbows to peer out of her window. It was pitch dark outside. The light from her room fell directly on the tree. She could see it swaying wildly in the rain, its branches glistening with rainwater. However, encased tightly within the branches, the nest was still in place. Minni relaxed a bit. She stared hard into the darkness and realized both the crows had stuffed themselves in the nest protecting their egg. The father crow had spread his wings while the mother crow placed herself directly on the egg to keep it warm despite the cold chilly winds around them.
Minni collapsed back on her bed. The breathing was getting raspier but her mind was at peace. Mother was measuring her oxygen levels. The look of worry on her face made Minni realise she was not happy with the reading on the instrument screen. That did not bother Minni. She knew as long as her mother was there, she would be fine. Just like the unhatched egg was still breathing life within it because somehow it knew the warmth of love spread over it would keep it safe. It was hope that was pulling both of them on.
Towards midnight, the storm grew wilder. The sound of trees being uprooted, roofs being pulled out from over houses, sheds being thrown aside like matchsticks raged all around them. Minni could only think of the nest and the little family within it that was clinging on to life with the fine thread of hope. With each breath that laboured through her ribs she would pray that it survived this calamity.
Sleep soon gripped Minni in its yawning grasp and morning approached before Minni knew it. She stirred slightly amazed to find that her joints did not ache anymore. She blinked to open her eyes and stared up into the warmth of her mother’s smiling face. Her eyes looked tired and spent but her face was alight with relief. Minni smiled back but turned her face questioningly towards the window.
“They are alright Minni,” laughed her mother through her tears.
A distinct “caw” right next to her window made Minni realise someone was affirming what her mother had just said. She looked out of the window and noticed papa crow staring at her from beneath his hooded eyes. As their eyes met, he flew over to the nest cawing hoarsely.
As Minni’s eyes followed it, she heard a feeble cawing from within the nest.
The egg had hatched!
As she closed her eyes in the warmth of her mother’s embrace, Minni heard the twitter of birds all around them signalling that the storm had stopped. She relished the warm glow of the morning sun that she felt would soon dry up the ravages of last night. As she drifted off into sleep with a smile she realised that Hope was all it required to continue with life.
Cover picture credits – Pexels.com
