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 bl...