The Empty Nest

Summer was almost over. The new sprigs of leaves on the trees reminded me that the monsoon days were not too far. There is nothing more blissful than the sight of summer sun rays meeting the newly formed leaves. As usual, sipping a cup of coffee, I sat on a chair on the balcony to enjoy the sun rays peeking from behind the tree branches through a mild fog.

Nature has always intrigued me since my childhood. The fallen autumn leaves, the pebbles in the cascading river, and the rainbow behind the clouds- all had taught me something or the other. And now, for the past few weeks, it’s the empty nest on the tamarind tree behind our apartment complex that had caught my attention.

In the peak of the summer heat, I noticed some hustling and bustling on the tree and realized that it was a mamma crow working relentlessly to build a nest. For the next few days, I saw her meticulously build a nest to lay her precious eggs. She is, for sure, one of nature’s crafted engineers.

Neither the scorching heat nor the occasional summer showers slowed her down on her mission to build a nest for her young ones. Yes, she was in that season of her life- to nurture and nourish the new lives born from her. She did her best to make sure that the nest she builds will stand the tests of changing seasons and will provide warmth to the newly hatched chicks.

A few days later, the mother bird was seen perching in the nest she had carefully built to lay eggs. I watched her for the next two weeks to see her sacrificially perched in the nest amidst the summer rains, occasional winds, and the scorching heat of the sun. Nothing could hold her back from fulfilling her purpose in that season of her life. Meanwhile, other members of the crow family brought food for the mother bird.

Three weeks later, the eggs were hatched, and the hatchlings snuggled cosily inside the nest.

Their mother's hard work had paid off. Days passed by, and the mother bird patiently fed the chicks, taught them to fly, and they all finally bid goodbye to their nest.

The empty nest stood the test of time- it’s been months since the birds left their nest. But every single day, the empty nest -still standing strong-reminds me of the fact that everything in our life has a season -enjoy each season of our life we are in and do our best to fulfil our responsibilities.

“There is a time to speak up, and a time to be silent. A time to read and a time to write. A time to learn and a time to teach. A time to listen and a time to be heard. A time to lose and a time to gain.”