Nishka and pigeons...

One of the first species my little one started to recognize was the pigeon. These pigeons perch on the window sills of the building in front of our house as well as on the window sill visible from the kitchen window. So even when Nishka was as small as three months old (she turned one a few days back), whenever she got bored we would take her to show her the pigeons. The result was that she learnt the word "Pijjjiiii" (for pigeon) around the same time that she learnt words like "Mummy", "Hi", "Bye" etc.


I had read somewhere, that little ones start dreaming at the age of 11 months or so. I had read and forgotten about it. But one early morning it all came back. It was around six am and we were just waking up. The eleven month old was still in her sleep. Suddenly she turned around, with her eyes closed, and her finger pointing somewhere towards the ceiling, said loudly "Pijjjiiiii....", "Pijjjjjjiiii..." I could only smile. My little one was dreaming about pigeons.


Just yesterday, we had a welcome visitor at our house. Sitting on the pink flowered mattress of our bed was a grey coloured pigeon trying to look cool and disinterested. He sat perched on the mattress and surveyed his surroundings while we stood at a distance and watched. The little one was super excited and the pigeon seemed in no hurry to leave. Kamala, our baby's caretaker took the baby near the pigeon and the pigeon kept standing next to them as if he had known them for ages. The baby smiled at the pigeon, waved her hand and said, "Aiii"(as if to say.. "Hey.. look up!") The pigeon stubbornly chose to not turn to her call. She called him again, "Hiiiii!" The pigeon kept looking straight. Kamala, who was holding the baby with one hand, touched and stroked the pigeon on its back. The pigeon seemed to enjoy it. Kamala then put her hand around the pigeon and held him. Nishka squealed in delight. She turned back to look at me and pointing her finger at the pigeon, squealed to me again, as if say, "Look mamma.. Pijjjji"


We have been staying in this house for around 10 years now. Pigeons and monkeys used to have a free hand at the house when we had initially moved in. Once they noticed that there were people staying in the house, they stopped coming. They must have stopped feeling a part of the house.


Now, after a long 8-9 years, thanks to the little one, the pigeons were back in...!