My Nest

The door to Nina's bedroom shut with a bang, and an instant later I heard her scream "Dad, I will go no matter what !". I immediately heard Ashok shout from his bedroom below, with equal gusto - "Do what you have to Nina, and don't blame me later when you have to look for two square meals a day. I'll never ever speak to you after today if you dare leave".

This argument between them was a few years old, but had now reached a new cresendo. Nina wanted to persue a career in fine arts in a little artsy town on the west coast of the country, and Ashok being the successful professional, was completely unnerved at the very thought. He had never heard any of his friend's or acquaintance's daughters or sons persue a career in fine arts. All he knew was these were to be left as hobbies and dealt with for one's own recreation in spare time. Running after these ideals never got anyone anything in life - his philosophy was that dreams are never fulfilled on an empty stomach!

But, Nina on the contrary was a stubborn, strong willed girl. She had read enough material on the philosophy of life and her ideas set on how she wanted to lead her own life. She loved life, and wanted to live it like there was no other day left of it, everyday - she did not want to grow up and work for the cliched "job" just because everyone did it.

So, the debate had grated onto my ears day after day, and the tempers had rosen for the last few days since Nina was to leave for her new assignment the very same evening. It's funny that she wanted to go so badly and I knew as her mom that she would go come what may - but she still wanted her father's approval for the very same act! And being Ashok's wife I know very well, that this approval she seeks from him will never come in Nina's lifetime.

I had tried to make peace in all ways possible, since Nina was our only child. But, my position only got to being a tougher spot to be in, by the day and the hour. They pulled me in exactly the opposite directions. I thought what each one said was the right thing to do when I was alone with them - they had conviction and believed in what they said. And me, I couldn't live without the either of them. They were the pillars of my very existence.

The evening came, and Nina left with a peck on my cheek and a tight hug. Ashok never left his room even to bid her a good-bye. The night turned to dawn and a whole day passed. Nina hadn't called to say she had reached her destination safely either, and I hadn't seen Ashok leave for work or come back home - he had shut himself away.

I went into Nina's room that late evening. The sun had just set, and I hadn't turned on the lights yet. The minute I opened the door, I was prepared for a blare of the music to hit me. Nina always played her music very loud. But today, nothing happened.Her clothes were neatly folded. No piles on the floor. Her bed was made. No blankets hanging from the corners. I missed the mess. A familiar scent of her perfume hung in the air!
I went to her closet, opened it and stood for a brief moment. I then took one of her shirts in my hand. I was terribly missing my baby ! I just held her shirt to my face - feeling her almost next to me. I longed for her to dance around me, not letting me even talk ...."Mumma...Mumma...". Where had my baby gone? Was she afraid somewhere in the dark? Did she have nightmares? who would comfort her if she awoke in the night and couldn't sleep? Was she hungry ? Was she in good company?

I looked out of the window and sobbed softly into her shirt..I just wanted my baby back...my nest was empty. My little one had flown the nest..

Outside the window, in the garden stood a Mango tree. The Mother sparrow had laid four eggs, and recently out of them had come the baby sparrows! They were a pleasure to watch - tweetering away and fighting over every worm their mommy got for them. Motther sparrow was doing her best to keep them cozy and fed at all times. There was no daddy sparrow in sight - well, he was never around since she had had the babies. Every morning she taught them how to feed themselves, and tried to encourage them to fly! Three of the baby sparrows flew with no fear in their heart - they circled high above till they were tired and came back right into their mother's arms to hear her say how proud she was of them! The little fourth sparrow refused - he just didn't want to fly. No amount of her coaxing helped him fly. Mother sparrow was at a loss. she didn't know what to do. She kept talking to her baby that it was important to know to fly. Last afternoon, baby sparrow had looked into her eyes and seemed to have understood how strongly she felt that he should fly. That's when a miracle happened- it was last evening! The baby sparrow had flown ! He flew. But, had not returned ever since!. Actually, none of the baby sparrows had returned since sunset yesterday. Now mother sparrow was worried why all her babies had not come back for over a day. She waited...and waited...none came.

Mother sparrow wondered if she had done the right thing by encouraging her baby to fly..he had not wanted to. Atleast she would have had him if she had not insisted. Was she to blame for the loss?

Tears flowed as she sat perched on a branch right above the window...

Both the mothers had tears in their eyes, and emptiness in the pits of their stomach..it hurt, since their nests were empty now- their existence meaningless now..and the two mothers waited for their babies to come back home with abundant hope in their hearts!

They knew - their nests would be full again ! with laughter...and happiness all around, and forever!!