A lovebird in the sky...

Saturdays are meant to sleep in. Not to see your driver holding an injured lovebird in his hands saying, "Sir kawwa log isko mar raha tha". But then I wasn't meant to land up in advertising as well.

She(or he, I didn't really check) was an extremely stupid pure-white in color. I mean the chances of predators spotting a white lovebird are even more than spotting Aishwarya Rai in Bombay Times. We tried to make her fly...but she cudnt make it beyond my high jump record. Solution: Convert your settee into a temporary cage and keep her there...till you find a real solution.

After about two hours of brainstorming within the family, we decided that we need to call PETA. Apparently PETA was aware that ignorance exists in this world, hence they have an automated voice screaming at the top of her voice when you call them up. And she tells you that if you have any injured animals...its the SPCA you should call.

The SPCA is a government run organization...it was a saturday morning...a holiday...for me.

Three phone calls(to three different people)later we were in touch with the right person. Ms. Manjula told me to that all I had to do was bring the bird to the animal hospital in Lower Parel. But couldnt they arrange for someone to pick it up? Well, its a government organization...and it was a Saturday...a holiday...for me. So they couldnt pick it up.

As i went downstairs, bird in a closed fruit basket, the neighboring uncle's driver was standing in the compound. A suspicious look later, he asked me what I was carrying. A lovebird, I said. With a completely expressionless face he told me that he could take care of it. I knew there were many unemployed vets in the country...but had never imagined they would become drivers! Turned out he wasnt a vet, but had a collection of Lovebirds caged at home.

A 10 minute gyaan session later I was enlightened about many facts about lovebirds, including one which says that lovebirds die soon if they dont have a companion. Yeah. I know how that feels.

ITS DILEMMA TIME!!!

It was so tempting...give this bird to the uncle, go home and sleep. It finds a mate, gets food and its potty cleaned for the rest of its life. And it stays happily ever after!!!

Wait a minute...happily ever after? Sanju baba didnt look too happy after being 7 days in jail(maybe it was cos he didnt get his potty cleaned). Hmmm...a free life..flying in the clouds and all that...a nice nest in the tree and freedom to choose what to eat. How much was that worth??? Decision made.

A TRIP TO THE SPCA...

The Taxi driver kept finding potholes better than a kingfisher can find fish. The bird kept fluttering. Once at the SPCA, and after locating the hospital(which surprisingly is in an extremely good state), I filled up around 3 forms, donated a 100 bucks and signed a note saying that I did not own the bird(you can go to jail if you own and cage a lovebird). As I saw them putting her into a much bigger cage than my fruit basket, I wondered aloud about where these birds are released after they become OK? National Park mein chhodta hai sahab...was the response I got. Nice place to be...the National Park...esp. if you are a lovebird ;-)

As she fluttered in the cage, I said a silent goodbye and made a small request to God...Hope she finds a companion soon...cos otherwise...lovebirds die.