On a cozy evening, as the warm, golden light of the setting sun bathed the house in a soft glow, the elders were sitting on the porch, enjoying their tea in peace. The air smelled fresh, and the sound of birds chirping filled the quiet moments. Zahra had just taken a sip of her tea when, out of nowhere, Baran and Eliana came running towards her with bright, eager faces.
"Bajjo!" they shouted at the same time, almost knocking the tea cup out of Zahra's hand with their excitement. Zahra looked up, surprised and amused by their sudden burst of energy. "What’s going on, you two munchkins?" she asked, setting her tea down, her face pretending to show anger, though her eyes sparkled with amusement.
Baran was 4 years old and was always the more energetic of the two, grabbing Zahra’s hand and pulling her gently. "Come with us! We wanna show you something!"
Eliana, who was 2 years older than Baran, with her voice full of excitement and a hint of worry, added, "Yes, Bajjo! We found an injured bird in the garden and we need your help!"
Zahra’s expression softened with concern. "An injured bird?" she repeated. "Oh no! Let me see."
Without waiting for another word, Baran and Eliana quickly ran ahead, pulling Zahra along toward the garden. Their feet made light tapping sounds on the gravel path. When they reached the edge of the garden, where the flowers were bright and colorful, they stopped near a small bush.
There, in a little corner, was a tiny bird. It was a sparrow, its feathers were messy, and its wings were tucked in close. It looked fragile and scared, chirping softly as it tried to hop around. Zahra crouched down beside the bird, feeling sorry for it. "Oh, poor thing," she whispered. "It looks like it hurt its wing."
Zahra’s voice softened as she looked at the bird. "It’s so important to show kindness to animals, even if they can't speak to us," she said gently, her eyes filled with concern. "They feel pain, just like we do, and they need our help when they’re in trouble."
Baran crouched next to her, staring at the bird with wide eyes. "What should we do, Bajjo? Can we make it feel okay?"
Eliana gently put her hand on Baran's shoulder, trying to make him feel at ease. "Don’t worry, Baran. We’ll help it. Right, Bajjo?"
Zahra nodded and spoke gently but firmly. "Yes, we’ll help it." Eliana asked if they could keep it, to which Zahra smiled warmly, and then, with careful hands, she gently picked up the little bird and wrapped it in a soft cloth, making sure it was safe and cozy. Baran and Eliana watched closely, amazed at how gently Zahra was with the bird.
Once the bird was wrapped up, Zahra smiled at them. "Let’s take it inside where it’s warm." The three of them carefully walked back to the house, with the little bird safe in Zahra’s hands. When they reached the porch, Baran’s father was sitting with a book, enjoying the cool evening air. He looked up as they approached, surprised.
"Well, well," he said with a smile and excitement clear in his voice. "What’s this? A new little friend?"
Baran and Eliana knelt beside him and explained. "We found this bird in the garden. It’s hurt, and we’re going to help it." Baba jaan smiled kindly and encouraged them, "That’s very sweet of you, my kind souls. Just make sure it’s comfortable."
Together with Zahra, they found a small wooden box and lined it with soft cotton. They placed the bird inside and gave it a little water to drink. The bird seemed to relax a little, chirping softly and tucking its wings under.
As the evening went on, the family gathered around, chatting and laughing. The little bird, now calm and safe, became the center of attention. Baran and Eliana took turns checking on it, making sure it was resting peacefully.
"Ana! Can I name it Chirpy?" Baran whispered to Eliana, using the name he loved to call her. Eliana agreed and they began calling the bird Chirpy. Baran’s face softened with concern as he gently stroked the bird’s feathers. "What about its mama and baba, Ana?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly. "Chirpy will cry if it can't be with its parents again."
Eliana, looking thoughtful, nodded. "You're right. We have to find a way to help it." She glanced at Zahra, who was leaning back with a gentle smile, feeling proud of how both kids were understanding the pain of a creature that couldn't speak to tell them what it needed.
"We’ll make sure it’s okay," Zahra said softly, her voice filled with reassurance. "And when it’s better, we’ll let it fly back to the garden."
"But Bajjo! I want to keep it and take care of it, please!" Eliana begged, her eyes full of hope.
Zahra stood up and walked over to where they had been watching the bird. She gently ruffled Baran’s hair and then playfully pinched Eliana’s nose. "I know you both want to help, and I can see how much you care," she said kindly. "But remember, the best way to show love for the bird is to help it get back to its family. We’ll take care of it until it’s strong enough to fly, and then we’ll let it go. That’s the best thing we can do for it."
This time, Baran asked, "Why can't we keep it?"
Zahra thought for a moment, then knelt down to look at him. "Well," she said gently, "birds belong in the wild, with their families. If we keep it here, it might be safe for a while, but it needs to learn how to survive on its own and be with its parents. If we keep it, it might not know how to do those things." She smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair from Baran’s face.
After two weeks, when Zahra was sure the bird was strong and healthy again, she decided it was time to let it go. "Sometimes, the kindest thing we can do is let them go when they're ready," she said.
Baran and Eliana nodded, both feeling a little sad. They had grown very fond of the bird, and the thought of letting it go was hard. But they understood Zahra’s words, even though it made them feel a little bit sad inside.
"We’ll make sure it remembers us," Eliana whispered, her voice full of hope. "Maybe it’ll come back to visit us one day."
Baran smiled, though his eyes were a little teary. "Yeah, and we’ll know we did the right thing," he said, looking at the bird one last time, wishing it could carry a piece of their love with it when it flew away.
