2.
Aish was furious with Rocky. While he wasn't around, she kept worrying about all kinds of potential mishaps and missed him. But now that he was right in front of her, standing there in the flesh, she was angry with him.
- "What do you think of yourself? You disappeared without telling me. Didn't you even think about what would happen to me alone?"
- "What are you talking about, Aish! Before I met you, I was alone; before you met me, you were alone too. We're not bound by any relationship that would make you worry so much about me. These bonds, these relationships, are the things of the human world. There, people have relationships and enmities too. They marry and also separate. But what about us? There's no blood relation between you and me, no agreement or contract. We just met by chance and started living together."
Rocky said all this, but deep down, he was happy that Aish liked him so much that she became restless without him. Truth be told, this was exactly what he wanted to see—how much Aish cared about him. He hadn’t gone far at all; he had just hidden away to see how she would react to his absence. He was thrilled—she likes me! She managed her brother's absence just fine, but she was troubled for me? Great!
Rocky fluttered his wings and scattered all the soft, delicious snails he had specially gathered for Aish before her.
Aish’s anger wasn’t genuine; it was just a show. It vanished instantly. She pounced on the snails. After all, she was hungry.
After eating, the two of them strolled along the edge of the grass and sat down in the shade of a tree.
After a pause, Rocky asked, "Tell me one thing, Aish, did you really not like it when I left?"
- "Oh, get out of here! What difference would it have made to me? Who do you even think you are to me?" Aish said, turning her face away in mock anger.
- "It seems you're still mad at me. I’ve admitted my mistake, okay? Come on, take an oath from me now—I’ll never leave you and go anywhere again," Rocky said.
- "Really?" Aish’s eyes sparkled with emotion.
- "I swear on you!"
With tears in her eyes, Aish said, "Thank you, my friend. You know, we're children of foreign lands. To escape the cold of our homeland, we fly thousands of miles to come here, where we fall in love in these pleasant nights. And by the time the sweet result of that love arrives, we’ve forgotten everything and flown back again. In the desolate life that follows their departure, it's rare for us to find a companion we like. And if that one companion starts playing hide and seek, it’s natural to be scared, right?" she said, lowering her head.
Rocky felt like pulling Aish into a warm embrace, but he was also afraid that Aish might take it the wrong way—after all, you can never be too sure with this little queen!
Seeing Aish's innocence, Rocky wondered if this delicate bird even understood what love really meant. What if, for her, love was just like the protective gaze of childhood, and she recoiled the moment he tried to hug her?
He gazed into her eyes from a distance. There, he saw the mother’s affection, the father’s warmth, and the brother’s protection all reflected at once.
Aish looked particularly beautiful today.
This is just nature's way—when you have a dear, cherished companion, your body’s allure becomes even more pronounced!
Rocky blushed, remembering the evening when he had mentioned laying eggs in Aish's body.
Who knows what this innocent little thing had thought? He always felt she didn’t understand much at all!
Rocky jumped into the waves of water, as Aish was also eager to enter the river now.
As they strolled along the water's edge, Ash and Rocky wandered quite far. The weather was delightful. The clouds covered the sun, and the rain from the previous night had rid them of the heat, with a cool breeze blowing.
Suddenly, Rocky noticed that Ash was sitting, deep in thought.
“What’s wrong? What are you thinking about? Don’t insult this beautiful weather, Ash!” Rocky said.
“I was just thinking, Rocky, even though we’re birds, we live in a beautiful city in a prosperous country. There are so many resources here. So why not think of doing something big in life? What’s the fun in just pecking at grains, flying around, and then sleeping all day?” Ash said.
Rocky, surprised, said, “Wow, you're talking on a high level. But what can we do? Do you have any plan in mind?”
“Plans are made by thinking them through. Look, our parents came from so far to live here. Mom told me that where they used to live, there wasn’t clean water or much greenery. So, when the weather got bad and water was scarce, they had to wander around, living here and there.
Here, we have abundant greenery and water under the shade of beautiful buildings all year round. So, why don't we create a big, beautiful garden for the birds that come here from far away? A garden full of fruit-laden trees, cool sweet water, and various attractive spots for birds to live and build nests, so that those who have traveled far can comfortably spend their days here,” Ash said, her eyes flashing with the image of her parents, whom she hadn’t seen since childhood.
Rocky was moved by Ash’s words. He said, “That’s not too difficult. We have the vast Hudson River with its boundless water, and there’s no shortage of greenery as far as the eye can see. We can definitely create such a place. But tell me, after all this hard work, what will we get out of it? What’s in it for us?”
“Ugh... Why do you always think about your own benefit? Isn’t there any value in doing good for others?” Ash’s spirit was dampened by Rocky’s words, but she gathered her courage and said, “We can earn a lot from this too.”
“What can we earn?” Rocky’s face lit up.
“Both money and fame,” Ash said.
“How?”
Ash replied, “You know how there are so many fights and conflicts over color and race among creatures? Blood is shed, violence occurs, and terror spreads!”
“Yes, yes, I know all that, but what can we do about it? Everyone’s race and color will be as nature intends,” Rocky said dejectedly.
“You’re such a fool, you understand nothing. We’ll try to eliminate this discrimination in our garden. We’ll set the rules here, won’t we? The birds living here won’t be allowed to mate with a bird of the same color. To live here, they’ll have to choose a mate of a different color. For example, a white bird must choose a dark-colored mate. If a bird is brown, it can’t pair with another brown bird. It’ll have to choose a black, white, gray, yellow, golden, or any other colored mate!”
“What will that achieve?” Rocky asked, smiling.
“Their offspring will be different from them. And the people who only accept those who look like themselves and are ready to fight and kill others will decrease in the world!”
Rocky bit his finger in amazement. He was astonished. The one he thought was simple and innocent had such a far-reaching vision!
Rocky’s heart filled with excitement. He thought, Ash isn’t as naïve and clueless as he had assumed.
“Wow, she’s making a lot of sense,” he said. “But how will we earn money and fame from this?”
“Be patient, I’ll explain,” Ash replied.
Rocky stared intently at Aish. He needed to quickly understand how they could earn both fame and fortune when migratory birds would arrive, drawn by the greenery and paths they'd create along the riverbank.
He couldn't easily believe that such a business opportunity could come to him so effortlessly. He gazed at Aish like an innocent child, as if she were a teacher ready to explain her idea.
Aish spoke, "Look, migratory birds from all over the world will come here. If, with just a little effort on our part, they find a lush, green place to stay, fresh flowing water to drink, and fruits, flowers, or small creatures to eat, they'll definitely go back to their countries and speak highly of this place. Imagine, if that happens, won't our name be known worldwide?"
"That's true. Our name will spread. People will surely remember our hospitality," Rocky replied.
"That's exactly what I'm saying," Aish chirped.
"But how will we make money from this? Poor birds, what can they give us besides blessings?" Rocky asked, somewhat impatiently.
Aish, revealing her secret like it was a big mystery, said, "You've been living on the banks of the Hudson River for a long time. Haven't you seen every day how so many people bring all kinds of beautiful dogs here for walks? They love to keep dogs, buying them at high prices."
"That's true. People do love keeping dogs, fish, cats, and such," Rocky said.
"Exactly. So, if we sell people good, new breeds of birds, they'll definitely buy them," Aish said.
"But where will we get good breeds of birds from?"
"Oh, you simpleton! When thousands of migratory birds stay in our garden for several days, they'll surely have babies, right? These foreign birds don't take their newborns back with them when they leave. They leave them behind here."
"We'll raise these babies and sell them to enthusiasts. If they spend a lot of money on dogs, fish, cats, etc., won't they pay for these superior birds?"
"Wow! Brilliant! What an idea! We’ll be getting a lot for a little!" Rocky's eyes sparkled.
Aish, excited, said, "Just wait and see, one day, every household in New York City will have a pair of beautiful swans like ours. It won't be long before we're rich."
Rocky was doubly happy with Aish's words. Not only was she suggesting a way to earn a lot of profit, but Rocky was also thrilled at the thought that this innocent-looking Aish knew all about the ways of the world and the consequences of love. He soon began to expect his good days to come.
But good days don't come just like that. You have to go through tough tests and work hard for them.
The next day, Aish and Rocky decided to call a meeting of some creatures by the riverbank. Such a big task couldn't be done alone. They needed ten or twenty more partners to help with the work!
The next morning, a large crowd of frogs, turtles, ducks, otters, and fish gathered by the river. Everyone had received the news. There was even hope that the crocodile might show up.
"Oh no, if the mighty crocodile comes, he'll gobble up all the profit himself. Don't invite him." That was everyone's opinion.
Besides, the crocodile never woke up early in the morning. He only stirred when the sun was high and the water began to warm up. The meeting was scheduled for early in the morning.
Aish and Rocky had their entire plan ready to share with everyone.
The meeting was very successful.
Everyone left the meeting in high spirits, brimming with happiness.
Aish and Rocky once arrived at the Hudson shore by chance, like the offspring of migratory birds, but today, this pair of swans had a thriving business along the riverbank. They had created a beautiful garden, filled with fruits, flowers, and a variety of food and drink. Many rare and beautiful birds, escaping the emergencies of their homelands, would take long flights to arrive here during adverse weather conditions. They would enjoy the supernatural pleasure of staying on this magnificent shore for a while. Upon returning, they would often leave behind their eggs and young ones, like pieces of their own hearts, under the care of Aish and Rocky.
Aish and Rocky would train these adorable little ones in entertaining tricks and sell them at high prices to the local enthusiasts. Customers from far and wide would come to visit, having heard of their reputation.
The nearby residents were certainly envious, wondering how Aish and Rocky, being of the swan and heron species, managed to accomplish such a difficult task. Not only that, but Aish and Rocky had even hired some young boys and girls to help manage their business. When people found these youngsters alone, they would whisper to them, asking how their bird owners were earning so much wealth. "They are just birds!"
People would even try to incite them, saying, "Hey, you are human children. Why do you work for birds? Drive them away somehow and take over the business yourselves." To this, the young employees would only smile. They would tell those people, "You don't know our owners; they are very wise and kind creatures."
But it was also a mystery how this bird couple at the Hudson shore managed such a big business. There was an interesting story behind it.
"One night, amid a storm and thick darkness, a dilapidated boat, swaying and struggling against the waves, reached the riverbank.
Aish and Rocky, having just eaten, were resting in their nest made of twigs behind some bushes, frightened by the storm. While the fierce whirlwind terrified Aish, it secretly tickled Rocky because the frightened Aish kept clinging to him. Rocky was barely managing to hold himself together.
But seeing the boat crash near their nest, Aish and Rocky came outside. They saw a frail, very elderly man, who, after tying his boat to a pole with a rope, sat exhausted on the shore.
Seeing him, Aish approached him and went right up to him. The man, with a pink face peeking out from his thick white beard, smiled slightly with some happiness. Aish spoke to him, "You look very tired."
"You're right, the storm was very strong. I got caught in the waves," the man said, now having somewhat controlled his panting breath.
"Our home is behind the bushes nearby. Take some rest; once the wind calms down, you can leave," Aish said.
The old man followed Aish and Rocky to their home. His clothes were also wet. When he reached the garden and sat on a stone, Rocky said to him, "You're wet. Take off your clothes and let them dry. You still have to travel further!"
The old man stood up and stripped completely naked, spreading his clothes on the grass. The naked man looked like a hermit.
Aish brought him some sweet fruits, which the old man quickly began to eat. He was likely very hungry for a long time.
After a while, when the wind calmed down, the old man began preparing to leave.
But before he left, a miracle happened. The old man took out some strange-looking fruits from a small bag he had and gave them to Rocky and Aish.
These yellow fruits, which resembled large peeled walnuts, were unlike anything the swan couple had ever seen before.
"What are these, Baba?" Aish chirped.
"These, my dear, are human brains. When someone dies in the forest or drowns accidentally, I extract their brain, dry it, and keep it. Whoever eats this will have a mind that works just like a human's."
"Oh! Amazing. You are very farsighted," Aish said.
Rocky added, "Humans make all sorts of proverbs, like 'A living elephant is worth a lakh, and dead, it's worth one and a quarter lakh!'... You've applied the human's proverb to the human itself."
The old man waved his hand as he left."
---
- Wonderful! I’ve never seen a bird like this anywhere. I’ve traveled all over the world. How much is it?
- Do you know its special features?
- How would I know? I just arrived and saw it for the first time.
- Let me tell you. Its mother was Indian, and its father came from Brazil. Even more remarkable is that when it was born, its father was in jail.
- Oh, how? Who would put an innocent bird in jail? And why?
- It was jailed due to a complaint from an insurance company. It damaged a military helicopter by colliding with it.
- Wonderful! Please give me this bird, whatever the cost. But please, tell me the full story. What’s the deal with insurance, jail, birds, and the military?
- Okay, ma’am, have a seat. I’ll order some coffee for you. Meanwhile, Hicks will feed the bird before handing it over to you. And in the meantime, I’ll tell you its interesting story. After all, since you’re going to be its new parent, you should know its story.
The girl standing in front of him laughed loudly. She said, “Parent? I’m not even married yet.”
- You will be, ma’am. This guy with you, isn’t he loyal to you? Rocky asked, glancing at the boy who had come with the girl and was tying his shoelaces.
The girl laughed again, even louder this time. Then she said, "He’s Porter. I’ve hired him just to carry the birdcage. In a few hours, he’ll count his wages and leave."
- But you still have a few hours, right? Rocky said with a hint of mischief.
- What do you mean? I’m not going to spend these few hours flirting with him. I have to go far and drive the car too. The girl said a bit sternly.
- Don’t worry, you’ll fall in love anyway.
- Why? How can you say that? He’s not handsome, nor am I a slave to lust.
- So what? You’ll fall in love anyway...
- You…you’re so rude! You’re a businessman; is this how you should treat customers?
- I haven’t said anything wrong, nor have I thought anything wrong about you. You’re getting angry for no reason. I’m just saying you’ll fall in love...
- Shut up, you idiot!
Hearing the commotion, Ash also came over. She glared at Rocky for his bickering with the customer and then addressed the girl, saying, “I’m sorry on his behalf. Please tell me, what do you need?”
- Oh, do I have to repeat the whole story again because of this lunatic? Why do you even keep such a salesman here? Don’t you have decent customers?
Hearing this, Rocky interrupted, frustrated, saying, “Oh ma’am, neither is the salesman a lunatic, nor are the customers decent! This is just a business transaction, pure trade. You give the money; we’ll give you the goods.”
- Exactly! That’s what I’m saying. Then why were you babbling about love, boyfriends, and other nonsense in between?
By then, the coffee had arrived. Ash said, “Leave it, have some coffee... Rocky, get their stuff packed!”
- The stuff has already been packed. Now, it’s just about telling them the story.
Ash looked at them in surprise. The girl smiled and, sipping from the coffee cup, sat down on a stool. She said, “Okay, go ahead, you devil!" The girl smiled again.
Seeing the situation settle down, Ash went back to her work. Rocky began explaining to the girl why the bird’s father had to go to jail. The porter and the packing boy stood there, mouths agape, listening to Rocky’s story.
The girl made the payment. The boy handed the birdcage to the porter.
The girl left.
Rocky was still counting the money given by the girl when she turned around and came back.
- Hey, tell me, why were you saying that I would fall in love?
Rocky looked at the girl.
Then he quietly said, “Oh ma’am, this bird is so beautiful that you’ll keep looking at it while driving.”
- Oh, fall in love with the bird? The girl laughed loudly.
Ash and Rocky’s business was flourishing day by day. Ever since they had eaten the brain of the old sailor, they had been coming up with new ideas. New ideas kept coming, and they made great progress.
And why not? What was the difference between birds and humans? It was just a difference in brains. Man, by using his brain, had advanced and reached great heights, while other creatures were still where they were at the beginning of the world.
Eating, sleeping, reproducing, breathing, bathing, excreting, fighting—these were the things that humans did, and these were the things other creatures did. In fact, there were some tasks in which other creatures were even ahead of humans.
But look at humans, they made so many fancies out of these tasks. Thousands of kinds of food, thousands of types of homes to live in, thousands of types of clothes to wear, and thousands of ways to adorn the body.
Humans had captured time. Store food for years, build homes for life, accumulate land and property for several generations, hoard a hundred types of jewelry and ornaments, amass immense wealth... Poor animals didn’t know how to do all this.
Ash and Rocky were lucky that they got to eat a human brain. And thanks to the human brain, they also learned something good.
But sometimes, Rocky would think that earning wealth and fame was not enough; they should think beyond that.
It was true that they had done a good deed by making all the arrangements for migratory birds, which benefited the entire bird world. But still, the thought of using the wealth they were earning for something better often crossed his mind.
Rocky thought that we cannot eat more than our stomachs can hold, and anything beyond our natural food cannot be digested. Nature has given us a covering of feathers itself; removing it or hiding it to wear other expensive clothes is meaningless.
So what is the point of accumulating wealth?
Rocky thought that now he should somehow persuade Ash to marry him, so they could start a family, have children, and continue their business.
But who knew what Ash thought about this? She had only kept a friendship with Rocky so far. She had never given any indication that she loved him or wanted to marry him.
Rocky was sitting and thinking about all this when Ash came to him. Smiling a bit, Ash said to him, “Now think about taking some time off from work.”
- Why? Rocky’s head spun.
- Oh, are we just going to be stuck in work, or should we also think about ourselves? Ash said.
- What do you mean? Rocky’s heart started racing. After all, what is she trying to say? Rocky thought. But pretending to be unaware, he said, “And what should we think about, we are already busy with work!”
Ash smiled. She said, “Do you even know you’re all grown up now? You’re a fine man. Soon, any stranger on the street will start calling you uncle. Everyone won’t keep calling you brother-brother forever.”
- So?
- Silly, shouldn’t you think about marriage? Now start preparing; the time for your wedding should come with the next good weather. Your home should be set, with children and everything.” Ash clearly hinted.
Rocky’s heart leaped with joy. He could barely contain his happiness. His childhood dream was about to come true. His heart wanted to hug Ash tightly and kiss her. Keep kissing her.
But he tried hard to control his emotions.
* * *
