Scarlet
At Thattekad bird sanctuary
I arrived
bleary eyed
Not because
it was 4 in the morning
But for
work
‘Consultant’s
life’ I fumbled
As the birding
guide
Looked
at me, admonishingly,
Being 10
minutes late
‘I was
up until 3 am’
My
fellow walkers’ scorn
Thawed
a bit in pity,
As I reminded
myself
Business
cases and birds
Seldom go
hand-in-hand
(Night-outs
were best
Left
behind in university days)
Yet,
there was something
In that
forest air,
To march
in the morning freshness
Despite
the fatigue
Even when
the sun’s rays
Were
just piercing
The
forest cover
The
dewdrops at dawn
But
wait, a warble -
Gireeshji,
our birding guide
Whispered
me to come in front
Me? I
perplexed
Leaving
behind the other
Professionals,
armed
With
telescopic lens
Like
megaphones
And Gireeshji
pointed out
Our first bird –
A flash of red,
Scarlet Red.
‘Scarlet Minivet,’
he whispered
‘Very rare to see
it
First thing in the
day
But here we are
‘The forest’s reward’
he continued
For willing to
come
Despite it all.’
The others
followed,
Snap, snap, snap
While I, camera-less,
breathed
In the forest’s
benevolence, thinking
Business cases and
birds….
14th
June 2025
(Based on real life events)
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