Town Pigeon and Country Pigeon
A pigeon flew off from the back of a truck when the tarpaulin was taken off so that country produce could be loaded into it. The truck came to the country from a town way off. The pigeon who had got locked in the back of the truck the evening before, flew off and perched on a nearby mango tree. He looked around and was surprised to see many trees and a place with few sounds. Noticing his confusion, a wood pigeon perched on a branch nearby, asked him, “Are you new to this place?” The town pigeon answered,
“Yes, I am. I am from the town.”
“Do you want something to eat?” “Yes,” answered the newcomer.
“Then come along with me. I will help you to look for worms.”
“No, I eat grain. I do not eat worms, I eat cooked rice and
various food people make in excess and throw into the dust bin.”
“If I come with my family will there be enough food to eat?”
“Yes, there is a lot of food being wasted in the city every day at the back of the hotels and restaurants. Yes, certainly you can come if you wish.”
This made the country pigeon think of migrating to the town. Both pigeons returned to rest on the mango tree in the afternoon after they had fed on paddy grains in a nearby field. Other wood pigeons were also perched on the branches as they had come for their afternoon siesta. The town pigeon took the opportunity of an audience and spoke at length telling about the town and all sorts of food it had. By evening many country pigeons had decided to migrate to the town.
The truck came the next morning and was getting loaded with country vegetables, fruits and flowers and some logs. The pigeons decided to board the same truck and go to the town. The truck started early evening with the pigeons perched on its roof. The town pigeon asked all the pigeons to fly off as soon as the truck entered the town. It was night when the truck entered the town and the birds flew off from it. There was a banyan tree and the pigeons perched on it. The town pigeon took some of the birds to the eaves of a tall building and they perched themselves under the roof.
The country pigeons were amazed to see the street lights, the avenues with trees planted on the side and the shiny roads. At day break the country pigeons saw several large birds flying over head and around big, round tins that were dust bins. The pigeons were hungry too and found some remains on the ground and ate them. The country pigeons thought the food was very tasty.
By 7.00 a. m., the activity in the town increased. The country pigeons perched on the trees
lining the roads to witness the life in the town. By 9.00 a. m., the town was abuzz with vehicles, vendors, people and stray animals.
The country pigeons found it
difficult to breathe the air as it was thoroughly polluted with emissions from the motor vehicles.
The atmosphere got heated up and the country pigeons felt suffocated. They searched for water to drink and found only muddy water and drops of water leaking from public taps. They could not rest or sleep in the afternoon.
They got restless, as by 4.00 p. m., another bash of sound with the traffic and people rushing by till about 8.00 p.m. After that the rush on the roads stopped and the shops were closed but the glaring street lights were disturbing.
“How do you sleep in the town?” “We feel comfortable. You will get used to it too.”
“I really don’t think so. Tomorrow morning itself I will be going back to the country.”
“We too shall follow you”, cooed the other pigeons, loudly.
At dawn the country pigeons started their journey back on top of a truck. As soon as they reached the country they flew off and took a bath in a large lake, played for some time and fed themselves on insects and the fruits on nearby trees. After they were well fed, they started praising how beautiful the country was and how healthy and clean was the life they lived there.
“Yes, we are so happy to be back,” cooed all the pigeons who had returned.