JOIN USA beautiful creature, its wings big, with startling red spots and stripes against glossy black, was fluttering to and fro frantically. It kept hitting the unyielding expanse of glass. Nobody seemed to notice its plight.
There had been a welcome downpour at night. Not only had it brought both temperature and tempers down, but also dressed the surrounding trees and bushes in new green.
The morning sparkled in the cool air. “Let’s go for a walk,” suggested my grand-daughter, Soumya. “Good idea,” I said, “I can also pick up some vegetables.” We set off. Mynahs and parakeets were all a-twitter, as excited, it seemed, with the cooling showers as we were.
“Have you noticed,” said Soumya, “you don’t see as many crows as you used to?”
“Less garbage,” I ventured.
“Not a chance,” she returned. “Fewer trees and not many roosting places. More and more buildings, which is why we see so many pigeons.” We walked in silence for a while and then she commented, “Not many butterflies either. Remember the Lime butterflies – black and green or blue?” We hardly see them these days.
We had reached the store. Largely enclosed in glass, it displayed multi-hued vegetables in inviting heaps. I was engrossed in making a choice, when Soumya cried, “Look mamama, look at that gorgeous butterfly!”
I looked where she pointed and saw a many-splendoured creature, its wings big, with startling red spots and stripes against glossy black. It was fluttering to and fro frantically and ineffectually, and hitting the unyielding expanse of glass. Nobody else seemed to notice the pitiable plight it was in.
“Please free it, mamama,” begged Soumya. She loves Nature and its magnificent creatures. Unaccountably though, she is afraid of handling or even touching them.
I set myself to do just that. Butterflies are delicate, fragile beings and are easily injured. The ceiling was not too high, but it would be difficult to get hold of the butterfly without harming it.
Walking up to the counter, I asked the clerk if he could give me a piece of soft cloth. His answer was an indifferent ‘no’. I elicited no sympathy from the other customers either. They seemed to regard my mission as silly and strange. It only made me more determined to save and free the beautiful creature.
I tried to capture it with my handkerchief, but quite easily it dodged my grasp and escaped. That was when I thought of my sari pallu. Fortunately, almost at the same time, the butterfly fell and lay wedged between the wall and a cabinet, momentarily dazed. I had just enough time to cover it gently and lift it out.
Braving the stares of the people around me, I walked to the door and released it into the bright morning air. For the fraction of a minute it hesitated and then, spreading its gorgeous wings, it flew right up into the sunshine. My heart seemed to soar along with it. Soumya, standing beside me, clasped my hands in delight.
Triumphantly, we turned back into the store to complete our shopping. How gladdened we were at what we saw! The entire crowd was looking at us, wreathed in smiles. Our joy at the butterfly’s escape into freedom could not have been more complete!