This is a short story written by me. Hope you enjoy reading it!
This is the story of a duck. Yes, you read it right! A DUCK! A heroic duck named Champa who survived the hazards of city life in Mumbai. A kind building watchman found her crouched under a parked car, obviously terrified of lurking stray dogs, near the Lokandwalla Complex, Andheri a couple of years ago.
Not sure of a rehabilitation centre, Champa was taken to Green Acres, a building complex in the neighbouring area, which housed a flock of geese. Lush green grass, a water pond for themselves and a shed to cuddle up into the night, the geese were the apple of the eye of the entire building and looked after by Brinda Upadhyaya, an animal lover, who runs an NGO called ASHA (Association for Service and Healing of Animals) to help distressed animals in the area. With no one coming forward to claim the bird, it was assumed that this domestic duck had escaped the clutches of a person from a neighbouring colony that is known to slaughter live edible birds for community feasts.
Concerned, the building residents took in the duck, housing her in a make shift shed in the society’s pump house. Champa soon endeared herself to the watchmen and gardeners who took care of all the feathered residents in that Society. Strutting around the gardens of the complex with the pride of an owner, she bossed over the flock of geese, “Who is this new fellow on our property?” they wondered!
Initially, a bit offended at this intruder, they quickly learnt who the boss was! Soon they were marching behind Champa all over the garden.
The geese had a shed and Champa needed one too. The residents got hold of a carpenter and a beautiful shed along with a tiny water pond was built specially for her. As time went by, Champa blossomed into a stunning brown and white duck with a bright blue neck. The dedicated watchmen, gardeners and Brinda of course, loved Champa who was every inch a survivor. The traumatized little bird had come a long way in life and was symbolic of courage in face of adversity.
However, somewhere inside her brave heart, was sorrow. Champa was lonely, she needed a mate, someone of her own kind to bond and share her duck tales with! Brinda who was aware of other places with pet ducks tried to relocate Champa among her own duckie mates but it was not easy to find an abode as spacious, clean and caring as Green Acres.
After a great deal of searching for the perfect home for Champa, Brinda finally got her animal loving friend Fizzah Shah (Vice President, In Defence of Animals) to agree to house Champa along with other similar ducks at her newly created ‘Arc’ at Virar. Champa seemed to understand and was ready to undertake a new journey. She was placed carefully in a corrugated carton with holes for ventilation and was ready to be transferred. There was however a concern as to whether the other ducks at Fizzah’s Arc would accept Champa.
This is the story of a duck. Yes, you read it right! A DUCK! A heroic duck named Champa who survived the hazards of city life in Mumbai. A kind building watchman found her crouched under a parked car, obviously terrified of lurking stray dogs, near the Lokandwalla Complex, Andheri a couple of years ago.
Not sure of a rehabilitation centre, Champa was taken to Green Acres, a building complex in the neighbouring area, which housed a flock of geese. Lush green grass, a water pond for themselves and a shed to cuddle up into the night, the geese were the apple of the eye of the entire building and looked after by Brinda Upadhyaya, an animal lover, who runs an NGO called ASHA (Association for Service and Healing of Animals) to help distressed animals in the area. With no one coming forward to claim the bird, it was assumed that this domestic duck had escaped the clutches of a person from a neighbouring colony that is known to slaughter live edible birds for community feasts.
Concerned, the building residents took in the duck, housing her in a make shift shed in the society’s pump house. Champa soon endeared herself to the watchmen and gardeners who took care of all the feathered residents in that Society. Strutting around the gardens of the complex with the pride of an owner, she bossed over the flock of geese, “Who is this new fellow on our property?” they wondered!
Initially, a bit offended at this intruder, they quickly learnt who the boss was! Soon they were marching behind Champa all over the garden.
The geese had a shed and Champa needed one too. The residents got hold of a carpenter and a beautiful shed along with a tiny water pond was built specially for her. As time went by, Champa blossomed into a stunning brown and white duck with a bright blue neck. The dedicated watchmen, gardeners and Brinda of course, loved Champa who was every inch a survivor. The traumatized little bird had come a long way in life and was symbolic of courage in face of adversity.
However, somewhere inside her brave heart, was sorrow. Champa was lonely, she needed a mate, someone of her own kind to bond and share her duck tales with! Brinda who was aware of other places with pet ducks tried to relocate Champa among her own duckie mates but it was not easy to find an abode as spacious, clean and caring as Green Acres.
After a great deal of searching for the perfect home for Champa, Brinda finally got her animal loving friend Fizzah Shah (Vice President, In Defence of Animals) to agree to house Champa along with other similar ducks at her newly created ‘Arc’ at Virar. Champa seemed to understand and was ready to undertake a new journey. She was placed carefully in a corrugated carton with holes for ventilation and was ready to be transferred. There was however a concern as to whether the other ducks at Fizzah’s Arc would accept Champa.
After Brinda, the gardeners and watchmen bid farewell and said their goodbyes, Champa was put in a car and was now on her way. Strange thoughts clouded her mind as she wondered what uncertainties she would have to face. But Champa the survivor took readily to her new environment and tried to live peacefully with her new friends.
Sadly, the ducks at the Arc did not welcome Champa. To them she was an unwanted intruder. Champa was attacked by hostile beaks and chased out of the duck pond.
Unwilling to leave her there for the night in care of a human attendant, Fizzah thought it best to send Champa back to the safe confines of her Andheri home with the promise to rescue a male mate from the market that sells these ducks illegally for those who consume its meat.So our Lady Duck is back with us and back are the smiles on the faces of all her human attendants and lovers who promptly sighed ‘Arre Champa sasural se wapas maike aa gayi’( Champa is back from her marital home).So Champa has been reunited with her old family at Green Acres and will continue to live there. Lets hope she is soon joined by a mate with whom she can quack around for life!
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4 comments:
Duck Tales to sirf Disney mein suna tha... Aapney to full bouncer hi dal diya... very weel written, loved reading it
Cute little story. Sounds so real, can't believe it is just a story. I envy your story-telling capabilities:)
Savitha..
It is not just a story. It's a true incidence.
Champa still lives happily at her home in Andheri
Sanam
Sanam... such a nice way to put this true story... its a good way to tell kids, even some unruly adults...how to love animals and treat them like friends... lovely!... hats off to u...:)
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