Bird's-Eye View of Kathmandu

Hi, I am a Sparrow. How are you doing? I want to share with you how I am feeling lately. Things are very different as compared to how they used to be in the past, I mean, until some weeks ago.

I have noticed, it so started somewhere around the middle of the last month. But before that, an unusual sight had occurred for about a week. I could see human crowd everywhere—in the streets, shops, roads, bus parks, highways etc.—people buying and selling things, some carrying them in bulk amount and shifting somewhere; people waiting in bus park counters in a long queue. The chill of the winter still troubled then. It had rained twice or thrice too. I wondered what had happened. Dashain-Tihar was already over, so were Xmas and New Year. Even Valentine’s Day had passed and so had Holi. I saw no point.

Now, Spring is in the air. Look at the environment. Anyone can feel the pleasure. You are enjoying too, I am sure. So am I—passing my days by singing and dancing with my friends and family every day, moving from this tree to that tree, from this corner to that corner, enjoying the beauty of the greenery and blooming flowers . The air is so fresh; let me tell you, I have never inhaled such pure oxygen in my entire life. You must have felt it too.

My folk—pigeons, crows, cuckoos etc. are very happy these days, like me. Even dogs are seen either sleeping or barking in the streets carefree. But what surprises me is, when all of us are enjoying the Spring and this freshness, why aren’t the humans? From around the mid of the last month, hardly anyone is seen outside. The roads, shops, bus parks seem empty. No crowd anywhere. Where have all those human beings gone? I ask my friends and family members but they too wonder.

And where are the vehicles—the honking bikes and cars, the public buses, trucks and tractors? Forget about these, I have not seen the airplanes even much lately. Let me tell you, my folk always had tough time with these sky-vehicles. Why do they have to fly across our way? You know, some of my dear ones have even died when they met them. At least, we are at peace now. So I was saying that all the hustle and bustle of this part of the earth has vanished suddenly.

But sometimes, vendors and some shops are open. Vehicles like water tankers and ambulances also run. Very few bicycles, bikes or cars or people are seen sometimes. The riders and walkers hide their faces with scarves or shawls and put masks on their faces. So I can’t recognize who is who. Police are seen on the roads standing most of the time and they talk to anyone who is walking or passing by them.

However, I can see a few people in their terraces or balconies coming out frequently and doing many activities. Some of them use mobiles with their earphones. They seem happy sometimes and sometimes dead serious and worrisome. Others wash clothes and dry up daily—a common scene in most of the terraces. Another type does singing in mike and eats delicious food, which I get to enjoy sometimes. Some bask in the sun and have oil massage. I hope you are not bored? Another common sight is, forming small groups in the balcony or terrace with a distance and talking. It has been ages I saw people in a house sitting in a group—a pleasant sight though. There are some people working in their gardens too.

You know what, I can also hear people singing loudly inside their houses, alone. Sound of babies crying, people laughing is audible now. Some children stand outside with their friends and laugh. People seem to be in a relaxed mood. They are not active; they are moving slowly. It looks like they have plenty of time. I always saw them active and rushing before. The change is really strange. Don’t you think so?

No matter why this sudden change has occurred, I am enjoying the present and wished this fresh and pure environment lasted forever. But I am scared this might be short-lived. One day humans might reappear, as a crowd again, and the environment might be the same as it used to be. I wished all the human beings thought about how this fresh environment could continue. This is all in their hands as they can think, we can’t. We can only feel. Can't we all be  safe together?

Thanks for listening.  I got to fly. Bye