Bird

I am a bird. A dove, white as snow. Today my mistress, whose name is Khushbu, has set me free, just now...just this moment!

I was caged for so long, you see, so flying feels strange somehow. And I feel a curious tenderness for Khushbu. We were together all this time! I know of her laughter, her tears, her sulking moods and all her dreams. I was the only one she shared these with.

Look, she's a human being who chose to talk to a bird instead of other humans! And here I am, freed but not returning to my rightful place—wanting instead to go back to this very person! When she bid me farewell, her eyes brimmed with tears. What love and purity filled her face!

I haven't flown far yet. Should I turn back to look at her once more? Is she crying terribly? Tell me, if I return out of habit in a few days, will Khushbu take me back?

Let her keep me caged, but let her love me a little! I heard that today she parted from someone dear to her heart. Weeping and weeping, her eyes swollen, she has become more still, more pure today!

When she released me, she said her beloved had told her: 'When you love someone, you must let them fly, you must help them know their own wings—holding them captive is not love.' That's why Khushbu wept all night, and in the morning came to me saying, 'Go then, freedom for both of you from today! Be well in your own rightful places!'

When Khushbu would caress me, touch my feathers with her hand, it felt so good. She fed me regularly, talked with me. And she would also say, 'You know, every human envies your life? Oh, if only I could be a bird like you!'

I've heard all this for so long, and today I want so much to say: 'You're all such fools, lamenting for nothing! Now I long to become human. If I too could receive such love that brings tears to someone's eyes, I would gladly accept captivity from this very moment! Ah, if I could love like humans do and make my love understood!'

One who has the power to love—why would they need wings to soar?