Once upon a time, a gigantic tree stood tall and alone in a desert. It was an old tree. As deserts are scorching hot, therefore, no other plants could survive. And there were hardly any birds there too, and if any bird came there by chance, it would soon die. The roots of the tree were widespread under the ground, searching for water reservoirs but, sadly, whatever water was there, it had already been consumed. But the tree didn’t lose hope and tried to further its roots deep in the ground.

One day, the tree had got a companion, a dove, who had become separated from her flock and was left stranded in this area. The only shade it could find was the tree, so it sat there waiting for other birds to arrive so that she could join them and fly out of the desert. But even after many days, there was no sign of any other bird.

The dove realised its destiny was doomed to be companionless in this barren land, so it asked the tree, “Can I use your branches for my shelter, and make a nest for myself?”

The tree replied, “I cannot allow you to make a nest on my branches, because no one values things that they get free or without paying for them.”

The dove said, “I am alone in this desert. There is no one to care for me, I am on my own. You are the only one who can support and shelter me.” Saying this, the dove began to cry.

The tree was kind and was also happy that it had found another living creature for company, so it agreed to allow the dove to make the nest on it. The dove happily built a nest on the tree and adjusted to the new atmosphere.

One day, a heavy storm blew and destroyed many branches of the tree, but the tree protected the dove’s nest.

However, the ungrateful dove complained to the tree, “Most of your branches are destroyed and I am scared that my nest may break or fall one day!”

The tree replied “I have taken your responsibility; I am still standing by my promise. You can make your nest in my trunk where there is a small hole, if you think you will remain safe there.”

The dove happily agreed, thinking that it was the safest place since the trunk was very thick. The dove made a nest and started living inside it happily. Days passed. The tree was already old, and weak too due to the lack of water in the land, so it could not withstand the harshness of desert weather.

The tree began to shrivel day by day and in a few days, it was so thin that it was difficult for it to stand tall, but because it had taken the responsibility for the dove’s well-being, it tried hard to cover her nest from the scortching sunlight.

One day, the tree said to the dove, “I have lost almost all of my energy in this desert, but I am happy that I have been useful to you all this time.”

The dove arrogantly replied, “Useful, you? To me? No, no, you are just an old and fruitless tree. I gave you company and it was because I made my nest in you, I made you useful. It was because of me that you are still lively and you have company.”

The words acted like a sword to the tree, it could not believe how selfish and heartless the little bird was.

The tree replied, “You could not recognise my value in my life, but you surely will understand my value when you will lose me.”

Saying this, the tree dropped its leaves, and all the branches broke down. It was now nothing but a broken tree in the middle of the desert, the nest also fell out from the trunk.

The dove could not understand what had just happened in a few moments. The blazing heat of the sun and the dry, hot winds of the desert had almost burnt the wings of the dove. It tried hard to cover as much as it could, but there was no use now.

It was then that the dove realised how selfish and heartless it was all this time; while her guardian tree bore all the heat and saved it from the weather hardships.

The bird knew there was no use in crying over what it had done, but wished it had realised the truth earlier, thanked the tree for its love and care, and had saved itself from this tragedy.

The dove shamefully accepted the reality and waited for its fate.

Published in Dawn, Young World, March 2nd, 2024