Designs of the Heart

Sometime during my younger days, I heard and believed that birds choose only those homes where peace reigns to build their nests. So I considered it as a lucky sign when I spotted the sparrows hovering around in my house.

           It seemed as though they sensed my little desire and chose a cozy corner in the front room to build their loving abode. Everyday we watched them bring in the essentials, mostly twigs of various sizes. They twisted, turned, bent and entwined the twigs to hold them firmly in place. Surprisingly there was no use of metal and mortar. These nests, though strong according to the birds, seem very fragile to us humans. So I would earnestly recommend the birds to insure their nests, as they are easily prone to natural disasters.

 The nest was built behind a photo frame so we thought that the eggs were quite safe. My children too grew quite excited as we apprised them of this new development in our sweet home. Many a time we were at a loss while answering their curious queries. As parents, we also got the chance to update our knowledge in ornithology. It was a pleasure to talk about the nuances in nest building and we wondered if the older birds made their younger ones do a course similar to ‘engineering’ or ‘architecture’.

Our happiness was short-lived and a pall of gloom soon overpowered us. On a gruesome night, just when the power was restored, the ladybird was suddenly affrighted and she flew out of her abode blindly. We still have no clue as to what made her do so and to her bad luck, she flew into the bedroom where the fan was in full speed. The cruel blades of the fan slit her delicate skin and she fell only to bleed to death.

Though we took her away, we just couldn’t bear to listen to the frantic cries of her mate the next day. It’s almost a week now, but its search hasn’t ceased. All empty corners and hollow spaces have been thoroughly searched coupled with enquiring cries and finally when it got back to the windowsill, we found that its feathers were always ruffled. We thought probably a shiver would have gone through its spine as it resigned to what was destined. The eggs are safe and secure in the nest and we earnestly hope that another good little birdie would come to help the chicks see the light of the day.

Despair and sorrow engulfed me when I lost my mother. It was an experience that hardened me but seeing the plight of the bird, I couldn’t control myself. It also made me realize how willingly females of any species accept motherhood, crowning themselves with added responsibilities. Every life that is brought forth into this world is indispensable as we all have specific duties to perform. We need to overcome the unavoidable hassles and lead a contented life. Though I had tasted the sting and sorrow that follows death, I couldn’t come to terms with this most inevitable certainty.

The death of the ladybird in my house taught me that in spite of the indispensability of the mother, life has to go on. Just imagine, what if God had chosen not to create mothers, and then everything in this world would have surely turned topsy-turvy. I bet, you all would agree with me. Responsible parenting is an oft-repeated phrase in the recent times. The different seminars held in India and outside insist on training the youth in this direction. I don’t remember my parents ever telling me that they had attended a similar course during their younger days. Then why do we find that it has become a necessity to our generation. Who is to be blamed, the young or the old? My friend, whose children are completing their college studies, told me that her children exhibit irritating behaviour when their father is at home. When these children were young their father was so busy with his office work that he couldn’t spend quality time with them. Now he has time to spare, but the children have grown up and are busy with their tight schedules and, whenever they confront each other, tension brews

My suggestion to all mothers of adolescents would be to empower their children with the armour of values and the shield of commitment. Thus we could reassure ourselves of having passed on to the next generation all that our parents considered essential. After handing over this baton, they would surely rule the roost with courage and conviction since their foundations are firm.