THE RAVENS Kaushik Bagchi. Albany, NY Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December. The day before, my daughter pointed out a huge flock of ravens circling our back yard. They congregated for about an hour, but periodically would take flight together, forming a perfect V-pattern. What are they seeking? Are they watching us? What news can they bring? Why are they just in our back yard? I should have taken them seriously. Maybe their presence predicted an impending problem. “Don’t you remember the Hitchcock movie we saw?” probed pre-teen Ella, the only one of my offspring who can tolerate watching a movie made before 1980. “Yes, I remember.” It was my goal to educate my children dispassionately. I forced her to see The Birds so she may realize that nature can be fierce, and that animals can be evil. I frequently poked fun at Ella’s selective compassion for certain animals, such as furry mammals and birds with motley plumage. I tried to tell her that vultures and cockroaches are more important than cats and dogs. She tries her best at least to remain open-minded and fair. “Are ravens bad luck?” she asked innocently. I couldn’t tell her the truth, as I don’t know the real deal with these ugly birds. I just don’t like that they unload their wrath on defenseless cars. As I set off to go to the hospital early this morning, I found their copious droppings cemented onto my Subaru’s windshield. I had a foreboding the day wouldn’t go as planned. By 7:30 A.M., amidst the bustle of the pre-operative care unit, I finally got off the phone with the nursing home supervisor, having voiced my astonishment and displeasure. I never thought a resident at this facility would get more than stale applesauce to go with his morning medication. After finding out what my patient ate, I made sure I wrote down the number of the nursing home and considered putting myself on the waiting list. During my twilight years of decrepitude, I wouldn’t have to depend on my children to wheel me to IHOP every Sunday. “Two eggs, three sausage links, two flapjacks with strawberries. Oh, yes, and coffee and cream.” I saw a speck of a crumb caught in the empty buttonhole of his hospital gown. Trace evidence. He looked at me obliviously and guiltlessly. “Hey Doc, we gonna do it today?” He forgot to UPAHAAR 2021 উপহার ১৪২৮ 8
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