Early morning today, while going to the library, I saw this pigeon – dark bluish ash color – sitting on the ground in the front yard of my house. From its look I understood that it was old. The bird was in the middle of my front yard. It has stopped flying. Its majestic wings, that made the sky beautiful, will never be able to make the pigeon fly. It was standing on its thin delicate legs unmoving. Unless forced, it won’t even take two steps. I knew then that it was waiting for its death. The beak became dark and eyes are half folded. Its neck is weak. It was standing there huddled. Its wait for its end, it appeared royal. It was refusing to fall on the ground, refusing to sleep on the ground. It was defying the gravity. It was neither crying nor making any sick sounds.
The pigeon was standing so beautifully that even the death has to think twice before approaching. I looked at it closely; it certainly appeared fragile but seemed very happy. Its happiness seemed to germinate from the fact that it has lived life fully, completely and well. It has enjoyed, through its very living, every moment of its life! It flew high above in the sky, competed with the clouds, got wet in the rain, and ate its own natural food.
Observing that I am peering too closely, the pigeon told me: “My friend! Thank you for stopping by. Generally, the members of your race do not stop to check the welfare of even their own members. You are kind enough to do. The very look in your eyes seems to be saying – ‘it is a piety; the pigeon is dying’. Have none of that sir. I request you to feel happy and proud of me, for I have a life that is well lived. Not a single day in my life did I complain ‘the life is hard’! Every day I flew higher into the sky. At one time even the sky looked limited & small, wondered whether the sky could accommodate my flight. Every day I earned my food, ate stomach full. There is not a tree on which I did not rest! Tamarind, Neem, Teak, Sandalwood… you name it… the shade of every tree and its cool breeze I have enjoyed. I ate every grain which the members of your race produced; tasted every fruit in the world and witnessed many a full moon night with my lover. I had many children, furthered my race; all have gone up toward the end the sky to know the joy of life. I am proud to be a parent of those children. I never felt sick, nor ever slept hungry! I even drank rain water on the clouds while flying high in the sky.
“Today I am here in your house, waiting for my death. I have no regrets whatsoever in my life. Hence please do not pity me. Every life must die alone. I am here alone facing my death & my reality. Remember Gopal! Your life is your good fortune. All the members of my race are busy celebrating life. They are all happy that I am having my final dialogue with my death. I am neither afraid of death nor do I want to prolong this life. For us, there is neither heaven nor hell. For us a life well lived is heaven. Hence show no pity. You may proceed to your library, and allow me to complete my silent and profound dialogue with death. Good bye sir! And thank you for allowing me to die on your property”.
When I returned from work around 5 PM, I could see the pigeon is not standing on its legs anymore. It was resting on the floor; Legs folded, eyes closed. It has completed its last silent dialogue with death. A red ant was near its beak sniffing. I picked up the pigeon’s body, dug a deep hole in the garden, and laid it to rest till eternity. Its life was a well lived life!
About the Author
Dr. K. Raja Gopal Reddy is a seasoned internationally qualified Insurance professional.
What you are reading here, may not answer all the questions we have, but has the absolute power of asking unsettling questions which increase the interest in the strange world, and show the contradictory wonders lying just below the surface of the commonest things of life. Look at this disturbing but beautiful thought of Friedrich Nietzsche “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him”.
Dr. Reddy can be reached at: raja66gopal@gmail.com
