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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