1

Summers are lengthy, and damn hot.

I switch on the air conditioner and look through the tall glass windows drawing the pale-yellow curtains away.  There is not much of a scene to celebrate.

I call this window, a secret window (not to be confused with Stephen King’s Secret Window, Secret Garden). There is no garden out there. It’s just the road and high-rises. I see the passing time; cars, scooters, bicycles and a road Romeo.

The sun seems dim today. Can it be? No, no, not in the summer. Maybe it’s just lights playing some kind of a trick.

‘What is it dad?’ I didn’t observe my teenage kid stand beside me.

‘Do you see what I see? Or is that my imagination?’ I ask.

‘What do I see? What is it that you want to clarify, dad?’

‘Well, the sunlight is dim, as if it is a solar eclipse.’

She laughed softly. A sort of an extended smile rather, with a dimple on her cheeks, which every teenage girl feels proud about.

‘Well, let me open the glass door for you,’ she said.

With an effort (that reminded me that I need to oil the little rubber tires that hold the glass), she pulls the slider to the left and reveals the outside.

‘What do you see?’ she asked.

‘Gosh! It’s blinding. Maybe it was a trick after all.’

‘Close it now dad, the hot wind is unbearable,’ she said.

As I close it, something flew swiftly from the second air conditioning unit installed on the ceiling of our balcony.

I squint my eyes and look above. Nothing there. But I was curious.

I realized that it was a bird. A careful look indicated that the air conditioning component had an opening and the bird had decided to make a home.

I decided to check. Five minutes passed. No bird. Ten minutes. Then, there was a sudden movement. I opened the balcony and I saw it. A laughing dove had perched above, looking at me with those two brilliant black dotted eyes.

The laughing dove, by far, was the most fearless of all birds, especially when it encountered humans. It’s not scared of humans. Maybe it knew that it can offer nothing and therefore, humans wouldn’t hunt it.

I have walked closer to these birds, and apart from walking away from me, it had never flown away. So, I had developed a certain linking to these birds.

This time I was worried. I understood that the bird had come to nest, and there wouldn’t have been a better place than the air conditioning unit. That was what it had thought.

And I knew the heated component would serve me free omelettes (although I prefer boiled eggs sprinkled with salt and pepper), if it lays any eggs there.

Further, if it dies, then, cleaning would be a heck of a job. The maintenance guys would never turn up when needed.

I had to act before it was too late. I had to send the bird away.

I looked around for a stick and I didn’t find any. I saw a mop. It was a red mop with a sticker of an unknown brand. Unknown brands never made me feel comfortable, especially if I had some posh friends visiting my home. They never miss such things.

I felt that red would scare it, but, laughed at the thought that if it were a bull then it might come charging at me. But it was not a bull. It was a tiny bird which lived all its life in flight, irrespective of the situation it was in.

So, I pick the mop and brandish it in front of the bird. It flew away. I knew it would be back.

And, it returned. Quicker than the first time. That annoyed me. This time, I charged much earlier than it could settle. I banged at the cabinet making noises. The bird made a squeaking sound and made a quick exit. I had a horrible feeling that the mop touched its body.

I felt ashamed. Chasing a helpless bird? But, I had to do that. For its benefit.

2

I didn’t hear any more noises. I didn’t dare to go out and check. I just decided that nature takes its own route. If something bad happens, then, I cannot be blamed. God has seen me doing more nastier things in chasing the bird that laid to nest. If it survives and goes away, maybe God would call me a Hero.

I decided I won’t trouble it. I went to my bedroom and switched on the air conditioner.

I might have slept, perhaps till evening. I dreamt of my parrot back in India. That bird was smart, and it liked me. Back then, there was a certain degree of pride liking birds. How can I hurt a bird? I felt guilty in my dream.

I woke with an aftermath of a sinner.

It was then I realized what I had committed. I had accidently switched on the air conditioner of the bedroom which connected to the cabinet of the bird. A fear was writ large on my face. Did I kill it?

I ran across the room and checked the floor of the balcony. Nothing there. I checked the cabinet. Nothing there. That was a relief. But, the bird was gone. Maybe for good, maybe I was a sinner after all.

3

‘Put the bowl of water on the table,’ I tell my kid. ‘Sprinkle the seeds.’

‘Dad, will they come?’

‘Maybe yes, not when we stand in front of their booty,’ I said.

We watch the pigeons come and peck and then go away. As I was about to turn back, I see a laughing dove coming. There was a sense of joy in my mind. Was it the same bird that I had chased. Maybe yes, maybe no.

I see it pruning its feathers. Birds do that when they are happy. I remembered my granny say once in her crackling voice Birds visit your home, if they find positivity there.

That thought pleased me and my eyes filled.

Maybe it was the same bird. Even if it were not, I knew I was forgiven.