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Bater and his family are not frightened
Teetiri smiled at Bater’s son and
remarked how brave he was, to step out of the circle and show his courage like
his father. Phoolchuki added her bit, by saying how Bater and his family were
the most courageous of all the birds and how only they could save the
grassland. Bater also looked very proud and hugged his son, and agreed with
Teetiri about wanting to save the grassland. Kotwal was amazed, and said, Wow,
you mean you will agree to do whatever it is that would need to be done? You
are not frightened? You do not even know how you would fight with Billi. How
can you be so brave?
I have to be brave, replied Bater, for
I am required to save my habitat. This is my grassland as much as it is yours.
You are all so concerned, Teetiri, Phoolchuki, Salonki, Chimini, Darzi, Bulbul,
Kotwal and Dominga. How can I not gather courage to fight? I want to first
indicate my intention to be ready to fight. Once I am convinced that my course
of action would be to fight Billi, I can be happy to agree with whatever plan
that Teetiri will make. After all, Teetiri is the only bird in the grassland
from amongst all of us who is required to have the most complex survival
strategy. Look at all the calling and signalling that Teetiri and Teetiraa have
worked out between the two of them.
All the birds looked at Teetiri with a
new respect. Yes, they had never realised the fact that Teetiri had to have a
very complex survival strategy in the grassland. Most birds built their nests
depending upon its efficient design and built their strategies around it, while
Teetiri had to hide her nest without building it. Teetiri and Teetiraa indeed
had a complex signalling strategy, a different strategy to approach the nest,
and another one to leave it, another strategy to use while sitting at the nest,
and another to use while feeding nearby. Wow. They had seen it all happen in
front of them, but had never realised the magic of it all.
Kotwal looked at Bater with more and
more respect. Kotwal’s father nodded his head up and down in appreciation of
what Bater had just pointed out. Dominga let out a very melodious appreciative
whistle. Bulbul began singing in agreement. But, as Teetiri thought to herself,
for all the bravado that Bater seemed to show, he continued to look frightened,
as did his entire family. What could they do? Teetiri wondered. They looked so
frightened. They did not stay still, always hesitant, looking all around them,
worried, panicky and kept turning around to look at all sides.
