The Asian Green Bee Eater

   The Peepal Tree and the Birds: Stories from an Urban Balcony

Story Three: The Asian Green Bee-eater

It flew into the branch like a swift arrow just released from a bow—Lord Vishnu’s Śārṅga, as some called the bee-eaters.

Restless, the little bird flitted around playfully.

Then it perched on the electric cable passing through the Peepal’s branches.

The old, wise tree admired the small ball of green with tiny buttoned eyes and a bandit mask, like a little spy on quiet watch. It was the cutest of the lot.

The tree often wondered who would have thought this little soul could be trapped in unpleasant folklore. They said the bird carried poison in its mouth—the reincarnation of gossipers, forever chasing trouble through the air.

Such unfairness for such innocence.

In another legend, from a distant land, the bird was said to be a symbol of a second life granted by the Greek god Apollo after a grave mistake.

But the little green bird knew nothing of these tales.

Unaware, it simply watched the sky, rose into the light, and returned again to its quiet perch—content in its own tiny world.

Back to Start: The Peepal Tree and The Birds: Stories from an urban balcony