Chatur Chottu

A crow struggles to find its footing in a story by Ashrafi Antia

Chottu, the crow, was smaller than the rest of his clan. Being slighter in build, he was always bullied by the bigger crows who used to jostle and fight over food; pushing him out or chasing him away. Poor Chottu, never got to eat his fill and was always left feeling hungry. He had to survive on the meagre, leftover crumbs once the bullies were done with their meal. His once shiny coat of black feathers had now dulled to grey along with his spirit.

One fine day Chottu was thrilled to be the first amongst his flock, to find a fallen mango in the garden where they all lived. Alas, his happiness was short-lived as his snoopy neighbour, Jasoos Kagdo, cawed loudly to alert others to his prize discovery. He’d hardly had a peck or two of the delicious mango when the ‘mafia mob’, as he referred to the gang of larger crows that bullied him, arrived. Alighting beside him, they bulldozed their way in and muscled poor Chottu out; pecking him if he tried to take a bite from his own find. Chottu was struck by the unfairness of this system of ‘might is right’.

Sadly, he recalled the fateful day he was unexpectedly separated from his own family. Chottu had just learnt to fly and decided to take a short jaunt to test his flying skills one day whilst his parents were away. Unfortunately, he found himself caught up in some very strong winds along the way, which kept pushing him further and further away from home. Chottu struggled with his small wings but the gale-like winds just carried him along with them. He lost all sense of direction. Just as suddenly as the winds had begun, they abated after what seemed like ages and Chottu was finally able to alight on a tree. Completely lost and exhausted he cawed for help.

Luckily, Kaki, an old crow, who was perched on a neighbouring tree, heard his plaintive little caws. She approached him and asked him what was wrong. Chottu told her how the strong winds had carried him far away from home and that he was lost and didn’t know the way back. Kaki took pity on poor Chottu and said he could come and join her crow clan that lived nearby. That’s how he came to live amongst this group of crows. But, to this day he felt like an outsider.

All he wanted was to feel accepted by the clan. Feeling despondent, Chottu decided to fly to his favourite peaceful spot by the faraway lake, in search of food. He always felt better on his own out there.

As he approached the lake, he noticed heaps of dead insects on the road beneath a street lamp. Chottu couldn’t believe his luck. He had come across a real windfall. Recalling old Kaki’s wise words, “God always takes care of his own”, Chottu smiled and feasted on the banquet of insects that was spread beneath the light, to his heart’s content.

Feeling overfull and rather sluggish, Chottu decided to perch on a tree by the lake close by. After all this was his favourite spot, he thought contentedly. He soon dozed off and when he awoke, night had cast it’s black cape over the sky. “I think it’s too late to head home now,” Chottu declared, adding, “I’ll just spend the night in this nice tree by the lake.”

Having dozed during the day, Chottu was more alert that night. He watched as nocturnal insects appeared in ghostly fashion out of the darkness of the night and fluttered around the streetlamp, attracted by its warm, enticing light. He saw them burn when they got too close and fall to the ground. By morning, a pile of insects lay on the ground beneath the street light. That’s how Chottu, the clever crow, figured out a steady and ready supply of his morning meal — a sumptuous breakfast buffet.

He decided to take up residence in the tree where he’d spent the night; far away from the bullies in his adopted crow clan.

Other birds roosting in trees near by observed Chottu and soon they too started flocking around the streetlamp to munch on the spread beneath. Chottu didn’t mind sharing. There was enough for all.

Thanks to his discovery, he made lots of new friends who liked to hang out with him — the mynahs, pigeons, bulbuls, woodpeckers, bee-eaters.
Finally, he had gained the acceptance and affection he craved. They were grateful to ‘Chatur Chottu’, as that was how he was now known amongst the neighbourhood bird community, for ensuring that they were all provided with at least one proper meal a day, especially in the rainy season.

“Chatur Chottu”, had not only found a steady source of food supply for himself but his new friends as well, proving that more often than not, “Brain is better than brawn”.