Chapter I — Not Without My Friend
Once upon a time, there was a little bird named Roah. She was chirpy, happy and full of life. Roah lived in a nest on a big banyan tree that had its arms spread all over a lush-green garden. Roah woke up early each morning and went in search of food. Every bite she gathered was first for her friend back in the neighboring nest and the rest, she would keep for herself.
Roah’s friend Joey was a quite and unassuming bird who enjoyed his reticence. Joey enjoyed peaceful surroundings and his favorite pastime was sitting on the most attractive looking branch on the banyan tree and humming his favorite tune. Joey would never get bored spending time with himself. Though he missed Roah’s chitter-chatter when she was away, he nevertheless found calm in all that he did to keep himself busy.
Roah and Joey often took flights together in the evening when the Sun had mellowed down a bit. They would circle round some identified clouds (which were out of their reach!) and after the flight, enjoy nibbling on some nectar together. The day Joey was not around, Roah wouldn’t have nectar. For her, nectar signified her closeness to Joey and so, she had to have it only with her mate.
Roah and Joey had known each other for a year now, which would be close to 6 bird years. Each season brought with it its own share of delight and moments to relive and cherish. Their friendship had grown bit by bit, day by day while enjoying the simple joys of life and sharing each other’s lives. Flying together and sharing the food had become almost a daily routine for the two birds.
Amid the hustle-bustle of other birds, animals around them, they had quite happily settled for a room of their own—of love, friendship, and companionship. The relationship matured in the one year that they had known each other. Unlike the seasonal changes, this friendship was for keeps.
Chapter II — Something Gone Amiss
Peak summer had set in. Seasonal trees stood bare while coping with the changing weather. Scorching summer sun and a near-drought situation had taken a toll on the trees. Banyan trees, though strong and robust, were not unaffected. Roah and Joey’s nests also underwent some mild turbulence.
One evening, Joey did not return to his nest. Roah waited and waited, went around peeping at other trees and nests, but did not find him. She waited, worried, prayed for his safety and then quietly retired to her nest. This had never happened before and so Roah was perturbed.
Joey returned later that night but never told Roah about his whereabouts. Roah asked and after getting a cold response, she thought it best to not intrude further.
The same thing happened again the next day, and the next, and the next. Roah observed Joey’s dwindling interest in spending time with her. Even nectar did not seem to appeal to Roah anymore. This went on for almost six months and then Roah couldn’t take it anymore. She felt ignored and thought Joey did not wish to be her friend anymore. With extreme beliefs in friendship, Roah decided to tell Joey exactly what she had in mind.
Roah met Joey over nectar the next morning and told him what she had been feeling. She thought it was feasible that the friendship ended because Joey seemed disinterested and indifferent to Roah. Joey patiently listened to Roah and then agreed.
They decided not to meet over nectar again.
Chapter III — Oops... a tad late
…
Monsoons had begun. Roah and Joey were not in touch anymore. One day, Roah fell from a high branch of the banyan tree and injured her wings. She sat there crying, till other birds gathered and helped her get back to her nest. Roah stayed unconscious for a day. Other kind-hearted birds helped Roah recover and Roah could never thank them enough. Joey sent a message to Roah through one of the birds but did not come to visit her.
Once Roah was back to her feet, she decided this was enough and went to meet Joey. She had realized when she was unwell how much she missed him. She had given up on nectar, lost her health and suddenly matured beyond her years. She was no longer the chirpy little bird who would bring a smile to your face by the delicate flutter of her baby-pink wings. She had changed into a faded, docile thing that was not worth a second look.
Roah went back to Joey and offered her apologies. Joey remained cold and indifferent. As he was a good-natured bird, he was polite to Roah. But reviving the friendship, sharing nectar, or going food-hunting together was out of the question for him! He gently refused and made it clear that he would never spend any time with Roah again. Once Joey had made up his mind, nothing would alter that.
Roah learned a lesson that day… you should never question the friendship if you love your friend.
Chapter IV — New Beginnings
Soon after, Joey shifted to a different nest and never visited Roah after that day. Roah too decided to refrain from meeting him. She made sure she didn’t come in Joey’s way again. After all, he is Roah’s friend. So, his decision is her decision too.
Months passed by in inexplicable silence.
Fall was round the corner and it seemed Mother Nature was ready to welcome the new season with open arms. Fiery orange, passionate red, oozy blue… you name the color and a tree would have apt leaves to showcase.
Roah and Joey’s lives were a mirror image of the fall leaves. The color of their friendship had changed so much in a short span of time that it was tough to imagine the relationship they shared just a while ago.
One fine morning, as Roah woke up to the hen’s cookaroo, she was greeted by Eldie, an elderly bird from the neighboring nest. Eldie was very fond of Roah and Joey; she had no inkling about the coldness that had crept in between the two little birds. Eldie enthusiastically mentioned to Roah about Joey’s new flying mission.
Joey was flying overseas in a week’s time. Roah took some time to let the message sink-in. She couldn’t tell Eldie that she was unaware. So, she changed the topic and started raising her concerns about the changing weather. Eldie did not elaborate assuming Roah would know Joey’s story. She congratulated Roah on her friend’s achievement and left.
After Eldie left, Roah broke down. Memories of Joey discussing his love for flying higher and taking her along with him kept coming back to her. She found it impossible to imagine that Joey was leaving without meeting her. In disbelief, pain, guilt, shock, and a world of other emotions that only Roah felt, she wept all day, all night, the next day, and the next day too. She felt a faint sense of betrayal too. But nothing changed.
…
We do not know if Joey met Roah before he left. But nobody saw Roah after that again. Legend has it that she went for days together without food and water and disappeared without anybody’s knowledge.
Joey’s story is untold too. Roah is not around to narrate it to us. But let us imagine that Joey is happy wherever he is, because that is what Roah always wished for—a happy Joey swinging on the tree humming new tunes every morning.
