Page 75 - English Class 06

nest into a corner, “Now, the birds can’t miss it!” She spun around, clapping her hands. Then

she locked the door and ran down.
Once, just once before Nani came into the kitchen to start lunch, Pinky saw the little

black and brown bird on the ground outside the kitchen window. “You have a surprise
coming your way,” she told the bird happily and smiled to see it fly away.

Pinky did not go to the terrace again that day, though she was dying to, lest her presence
should frighten the birds. But, the excitement within her kept bubbling out in a song. She
walked on light feet and slept easy in her bed, secure in the thought that she had made the
future safe for the baby birds.

Early next morning, Nani announced that she was going to clean up Nana’s room. Pinky
jumped. How lucky she had moved out the nest just the previous day! Nani went ahead with

a broom and a duster and Pinky followed, walking on tiptoe for sheer excitement. Reaching
the terrace she darted to the window. The nest was still there, exactly where she had left it
but it was empty. No eggs. No birds either.

Pinky looked around, suddenly afraid. At the far end of the terrace she saw the mother
bird sitting quickly on the parapet. “Hello,” said Pinky, “Why aren’t you in the nest? It is right

there waiting for you.”
But the bird only took wings and disappeared behind the neem tree, just as Nani came
rushing out of the room crying, “Pinky, Pinky, come and help me clean up this place.”

Pinky followed her in. On the shelf, exactly where the nest had been, lay an egg, spotted

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