The kids eagerly settled down on the carpeted floor of the drawing room, in front of their grandfather who was seated on the couch. The youngest one climbed up and lay down with his head on the grandfather’s lap. It was their favourite time of the day.

Grandfather smiled warmly at them and began the story he had been forming all day in his mind, specifically for this very purpose.

And then he started his story:

“Connor, the baby cuckoo, chirped noisily as he tried to take flights in the air. His father sat with his grandfather, having a hot conversation while his mother took care of his younger siblings. 

Connor’s father said, sounding worried, ‘Day by day, the tree is becoming empty with the birds either leaving it to find shelter somewhere else or getting killed by the monstrous beings’.

His mother spoke in for the first time in all the conversation, ‘You are right’. 

Connor wanted to join in but his mother shooed him away so he decided to eavesdrop on his elders. 

There was a big apple tree on which a great diversity of birds lived, but they had no unity among themselves. They fought over petty reasons, to whatever Connor’s grandfather agreed upon and found correct, the others had to disagree. And whatever the others agreed upon, Connor’s grandfather found irrelevant and inappropriate. They were hence divided into two groups. One consisted of Connor’s family and two families of crows who found grandfather’s opinions wise and matching with their own, and the other families belonged to the second group who never concurred with whatever grandfather had to say. They immediately rejected it without even listening to it. 

The sky became crowded with the countless birds dropping pebbles on their human enemies. Where divided they had been falling, united they had risen with mighty strength and finally achieved victory

Connor’s mother said in despair, ‘Every day, one of us is killed, I am worried what will become of us. I went to Mr Crow’s house in the morning to offer my condolences for his brother’s death.’

His father said, ‘If we don’t do something, there will come a day when none of us will remain. We have to take a step against the monsters to protect ourselves. We have to!’

Connor’s grandfather seemed lost in his own thoughts as he replied, ‘You’re right son. We’ll try to talk to the others tomorrow with the hope that they will listen to us for once.’

The next day, at the meeting called by Connor’s father and grandfather, Mr Woody, the woodpecker sounded displeased as he said, ‘Do you even know what you are saying? What is it, a death wish? They have guns and God knows what other weapons from which they can easily shoot us and we all will die instantly.’ 

Grandfather replied patiently, ‘We will attack them together, each with a stone in their beak, they won’t get a chance to fire at us as they won’t be ready for the attack against them and will be baffled by the turn of events.’

The idea was rejected by Mrs Aggy, the eagle, who said, ‘No, thank you. We don’t want to show how brave we are. This is not a contest of courage, if that’s what you’re interested in.’

Connor’s grandfather smiled. ‘Pardon me Mrs Aggy, but what you are implying by refusing to join us, isn’t it cowardice? This tree has been home to all of your ancestors and you for past several decades, it has given you shelter and food. Now when it needs you, you’re turning your back. Your attitude has gravely disappointed me.’

He then stood up and said, ‘Come on son, it’s up to us now.’

They turned and flew away. Connor’s grandfather had a tranquil smile spread on his face, his eyes set on the sky as if searching it.

Mr Woody smiled sheepishly and Mrs Aggy nodded, ‘If it wasn’t for you, we would never have been able to turn them down.’

The next morning, when the hunters came, the feeble efforts of Connor’s small clan proved to be futile in the beginning, but when the birds in the neighbouring trees saw more of their fellows falling dead, they realised they couldn’t take it any longer and Mrs Aggy, Mr Woody and all the other families joined the attack. The sky became crowded with the countless birds dropping pebbles on their human enemies. Where divided they had been falling, united they had risen with mighty strength and finally achieved victory. The hunters and woodcutters had taken no time to retreat. 

Mr Woody spoke, ‘Please Mr Crook, I feel guilty for what I said earlier. It’s our tree ... our home as well.’ A smile crept its way across Mr Woody’s face. It was the first time they had talked nicely to each other.” 

Grandfather finished his story and his eyes roamed over the children. They were still imagining every detail of the story in their little minds. He smiled.

“If we just stop and think for a moment then we’ll realise that our country is facing the same situation. Our people are divided into various factions, either on the basis of religion or different groups of the same religion, cultures or the cast and creed of people. We must stand united as one nation and defend our country from its enemies who want to see us divided and weak.

“We have to step up just like the birds did to save their tree. We have to get together just like the little creatures did. But the question is, are we ready to end this feud for the better good, or do we intend to drag it for years to come. Do we really want to?”

Published in Dawn, Young World, June 15th, 2018