A Goodbye not planned

A Goodbye Not Planned

Walking out of her office building, Maaya takes brisk steps. It has been over a week since she has been planning to get her watch fixed. Thoughts of her watch circling her head like eagles over the dumping grounds of Delhi.

Every time she decides to take the route crossing the local marketplace, something comes up that makes her postpone just a little bit. It was only yesterday, she had decided to wear her watch, even though it  is stuck, just to keep herself reminded that it needs to be repaired. 

"You should never wear watches stuck in time or broken. They bring bad luck. Put it in your bag love" Her cousin had dotingly convinced her to remove the accessory the day before.

Pulling the watch out, Maaya sat in the auto she had hailed and haggled for a fair price. Sitting in the locomotive, her head wandered to the list of groceries that she could pick while her watch was being repaired. 

Women carry way more than just their bags, the weight of responsibilities always tucked somewhere in the corner of their thoughts. The short ride and her thoughts came to a halt as they inched through the traffic closer to the bustling market place. 

Maaya got down from the auto, and scanned her surroundings. Rainwater had left big puddles and sewage overflow pools all around and navigating to shops through the dilapidated but always under renovation grounds was a task. Tip toeing and leaping over puddles, she found her repair man. The same man, under the same scholar tree amidst the otherwise changing landscape. 
"Please check it isn't working" Maaya handed over the watch with a smile as the gentleman in the plastic chair greeted her with a kind smile once he saw the familiar watch. 

"Madam, I bet it needs a cell change, that's all. I may not remember faces, but I do remember the watches I handle." The old man was known for his skill and sharp memory around time keeping devices, that had made him a timeless landmark of this everchanging spot.

This was an  old established Community Centre in the heart of the town, where Maaya had frequented for forever. Over the years, fancy stores, came up and went away all around the area and yet the small kiosk of the timekeeper remained untouched. Only till last year a fancy art gallery stood in front of the kiosk, where there was now a luxury grocery store, soon to be closed down. Funny how timeless this man had become. 

Musing about the changing landscape Maaya looked around how much the place had changed, and yet how much had it still held on to. She recalled how she had first set foot in this same market area when she could'nt even walk much and her parents had carried her lovingly in their arms. To now, when she often brought her nephews and nieces propped high in her arms to pick bonbons. The Stork shaped fountain that was once a centre of attraction was now a haunt for crows, pigeons and stray rats. As Maaya looked around, her eyes landed on a baby crow, crowching unusually low on the dirt around the base of the scholar tree. She inched closer, not realizing she almost touched the watch maker's kiosk.Noticing her line of gaze, the man turned towards the bird too.

"Madam, usko wahin rehne do. Subha se pada hua hai." He mentioned casually.
"Aise kaise? Kuchh chot lagi hai, kya hua hai?" Maaya tried to inquire.
"Madam, ye bhot chalu panchhi rehtey hain. Isko mat chhuna." A teenage boy selling T-shirts close to the watch maker joined the conversation.

Maaya tried to find some help, to no avail. The recent ruling against street dogs of Delhi was overwhelming for animal activists and shelter keepers. Many had been arrested, while others left overburdened with limited spaces and funds. Unable to accommodate or save the innocent strays from culling and rampant murder in the name of rehousing and shelter which was being done by governing bodies and funded on state money. It was infuriatingly unfortunate, how tax payer money could be blown away to kill peaceful, vaccinated cared for and beloved street dwelling animals but the same authorities was looking sideways when questioned about women safety in the Rape Capital. 

Maaya would either have to help herself, or make peace with leaving the helpless bird to die. 

Funny how in the animal world, a weakling is eaten up, learning this was enough to make Maaya pick her lane. 

Lending a helping hand to the weirdly determined girl, shopkeepers offered her a cardboard box and put the crow in a box. Carrying it gently, Maaya brought the bird home to assess injuries and look for resources to provide medic aid to the bird while keeping it safe and hopefully alive. The bird shivered with fear or cold or maybe both. Maaya followed her instincts, and wrapped the little black fluffy bird into a soft cotton Shirt to keep warm and hold gently. Stroking the bird gently, she was surprised how sift the feathers felt under her palm. 

"It's okay little buddy. You are gonna be okay, everything is gonna be just fine. You will be okay" She held the crow like a baby close to her heart, something she had learnt through her bird/animal rescue journey was that they all calmed down once she held them close to her heart and spoke softly.

The bird had a rather soft looking beak compared to the grown up crows she had frequently seen around her in parks, on terraces and college canteens. The softness in the birds eyes suggested it was either a youngling too naive to have experienced the harshness of the world or simply too weak to care about anything at all. Eyes really are a window to the soul.

She spoke softly to the bird, with words of reassurance as the tiny creature softened it's gaze and looked at her with what seemed like understanding. The breathing stabilized and racing heart paced slower. With medical advice from bird saving environmentalists on call. Maaya tried helping the bird hydrate. Witha gulp of water, the bird fluttered and then relaxed in Maaya's arms. A flicker of faith, no sooner had it risen, the bird slowly relaxed more and after one last  gaze, closed it's eyes forever. It was gone. 

Maaya felt helpless and her entire body froze, she gathered her courage and did what she always did in such situations-

Calling PAPA. . . . 

"Papa", she hesitated a bit. "Papa, I needed a favor"
"What is it?" Came the flat tone

"Papa, I tried saving a crow, but it is gone now" Maaya held onto a sob from escaping her.
"Did it fly away?"
"No, it is gone"
"Okay, I will give it a proper burial. Life happens, and sometimes it does'nt." Call ended.

Maaya wrapped her little friend Mr. Crow in the cloth she had used to hold it. Arranged for burial supplies and then took a shower. It felt like a failure not to be able to save the bird, but somehow the change of expressions in its eyes stayed in her head. Maybe it was a long pending goodbye, that kept the bird alive all through the day without water or food, to only be picked up by this human and leave the world, while being assured everything is gonna be okay. 

Her bird saving friend and animal rights activist shared his experience to comfort her, of  numerous animals that he failed to save and the uncountable learnings he learnt through his time with these beautiful animals. Wiping away her tears with her worries, she mentally thanked the bird to have met her even if momentarily, to remind her that we may not be able to save everyone, but we can provide relief  to someone. Bring comfort to those in need, and alleviate their suffering in their final moments.