The Blue Eyed, Yellow Beaked, Pink Parrot (Part 1)

(This Short Story has been published in a book "Voices and Visions" A collection of short stories from authors all over Pakistan.)

“What’s a parrot?”

“It’s a bird beta.”

“What kinda bird Ammi?”

“It’s a very… interesting bird. It can even talk to you. Did you know that?”

“Reaaaally??” She said her eyes as wide as saucers.

“Han beta! But only if you teach it how to talk. Now go to sleep. Tomorrow’s a very important day.” Ammi smiled, tucked her in bed, gave her a kiss and left the room.

How could she sleep? Her mind was like a cyclone that night. The excitement of having her very first pet was driving her crazy. She used to ask her Abu hundreds of times, each and every day, if she could have a pet. And Abu would always patiently reply, “Not yet my sweet.” But poor Abu couldn’t resist the earnest twinkle in her big brown eyes and had finally given in to her wish.

“Oh I hope my parrot is pink!” She thought her imagination running wild, “with a yellow beak and… and blue eyes! I hope Abu brings it in the morning.”

The thought of next morning sent a chill down her spine. She was starting first grade in her new school. She was afraid and felt lonely. But the prospect of having a pink parrot with a yellow beak and blue eyes brightened her again and in this whirlpool of her emotions she drifted off to sleep.

*                           *                               *

It was 7:30am. She was standing with Ammi in her new school “Foundation Public School”. Children of all shapes and sizes and colors were running, shouting, screaming and playing. She was dressed in her new uniform and shiny new shoes. Her jet black hair was parted to form two pig tails. She looked as innocent as a sheep.

“C’mon sweetie lets go see your classroom.” Ammi said.

With Ammi’s finger clasped tightly in her palm she dragged her feet towards the huge foreboding building of Foundation Public School. They entered the building, took a left turn then a right into a bright colorful classroom.

“Good morning. I’m Miss.Lubna your daughter’s class teacher.” Said a prim young lady.

“Good morning! This is my daughter… Beta where are your manners? Say hello to Miss.Lubna now.”

“Hello, Miss.Lubna.” She said timidly looking up at her teacher. She could see Miss.Lubna’s nose hairs.

Miss.Lubna smiled down at her, “why don’t you go and play with those children over there?”

“Go on sweetie,” encouraged Ammi, “I’ll be here when school is over ok?”

“Ok.” She hugged her and walked to the group of children.

“She is a bit scared seeing all these new people.” Ammi told the new teacher.

“Don’t worry at all! Every one feels awkward at first. She’ll feel at home in no time.”

*                 *                  *

“So how did school go?” Ammi asked while driving them home.

“Ammi, look what I drawed!” She was bouncing up and down with excitement. “Sweetheart, it’s not drawed, its drew!” She laughed. Then she looked at the picture that her daughter handed her. It was a very pink bird with a blue dot in the middle of its head and a yellow pointy beak.

“What kind of a bird is this dear?”

“It’s my parrot!”

Ammi laughed again, “beta! Parrots aren’t pink.”

“They’re not?”

“No sweetie and the kind your Abu is bringing is green.”

“Oh…” She gave a disappointed sigh, “but I don’t like green!”

They reached home and Ammi parked the car in the garage. They lived in a two story house with her grandpa, grandma and her uncle’s family.

While she was changing her clothes she narrated every event that took place that day in school from describing her new friends to Miss.Lubna’s nose hairs. She was a very bright child and with every new experience she learned something.

At lunch, she sat down with her grandpa, grandma, aunty, cousins and Ammi to eat a delicious chicken curry and roti. The cook Omer, a young lad, stood in a corner and brought them whatever they needed.

While she ate her food she noticed that Omer was staring at her, his mouth in a slight leer showing sharp yellow teeth. Being so young, a mere six year old, she didn’t understand that intense gaze.

“Do I look funny Omer?” She asked simply.

“Uh… no!” Said a startled Omer.

“Then why are you looking at me like that?”

“Like what?”

“You know, like this.” She tried to imitate by contracting her upper lip to show a few teeth.

“Ok enough! Omer you go in the kitchen and only come if we call you!” Said her aunty.

The lunch was eaten without any more disturbances and everyone went to their own rooms after it. While picking up the plates Omer smiled mischievously at her. She ignored it and went to play with her toys.

Later that day when she had drifted off to sleep while playing with her doll, she was awoken by Omer.

“What?” She asked rubbing her eyes.

“Come with me. I’ve got something to show you.”

“No let me sleep.” She yawned.

“No come with me. You’ll like it very much.” He prodded.

“No I-”

“Get up!” He ordered.

She stood up and followed Omer barefoot to his servant quarters. The room was small and square. There was a chaarpai next to the window on which a flat pillow lay. A chair and a cupboard were lined next to a wall. The floor was cemented and felt cold to her feet.

“Where is it?” She asked.

“First sit over here next to me.”

“Show it to me.” She urged him when she had sat.

“I will, but I don’t want you to spoil it.” He murmured as he started to stroke the inner side of her thigh.

“What are you doing?” She asked, confused.

He forced her to lie on the chaarpai and started to unzip her frock. The jute fibers of the chaarpai scratched her skin.

“Stop it! I’ll tell Ammi!” She was scared to death and screamed for her Ammi. But he muffled her scream with his hand.

“If you try to scream or call your stupid Ammi, I promise I’ll beat you black and blue!” He growled. His kohl smudged eyes were menacing. 


(Continued in Part 2)