^{“A LOVEBIRD IN THE GOLDEN CAGE”}

^{Her heart was full of love. She loved the whole world around her. She loved the clouds floating here and there; The twinkling stars and the shining moon in the blue sky showering moonlight and making every nook and corner of the beautiful scenary visible.She loved the blue mountains dreaming under a veil of  nice and transparent mist; the evergreen}

^{hills with tall trees as if their tops are touching the sky. Thousands of birds of different species drinking water from the river  eating fruits and nesting  in the bushes fluttering here and there have became her friends and she enjoyed watching}

^{them and listening to their melodious humming chirping and cooing. She has no one else to share her love and affection.al}

^{She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth,in a palatial bunglow with full of servants to see to everything…an ayah to lookafter her and a homenurse to look after  mummy.Her mummy was bedridden….pale….and sick…only skin and born….longing for a word of love and care from daddy.She knows mummy’s heart was full of love for her but she}

^{couldnot  express it or do anything for her.When she put her head on her lap …she patted on her back with her thin and}

^{trembling hands……then she had noticed..her eyes glittering with love.}

^{Daddy..whenever he goes abroad for his busines and confrences he never forgets to buy valuable gifts for her.His atendant used to inform her that daddy is waiting to see her.When she goes to his room he has phone calls one after}

^{another and he wouldnot have much time to spent with her .He gives her the gifts he had bought…a pat on her back …}

^{and ask “how are you my baby ?..”a smile and a kiss on her forehead….Finished.Even then she could feel the love and}

^{affection in his low and husky voice…..smile ….and patting on the back.Then she had wished if she was the daughter of}

^{the butler Raman.}

 ^{On the first  of  every month his daughter arrived with her mummy…….like a frightened kitten…..holding the tail end of}

^{her mummy’s saree….leaning against her….along the driveway.As soon as she sees  her father she leaves mummy’s grip}

^{and run to him and cling to his shoulder.Then the father would hold her in his arms  and presented  her with my unfit dresses and}

^{discarded toys.They used to come in the morning and leave only in the evening.After the lunch when he gets alittle}

^{leisure time they the mother ;father,and daughter get together in the verandha…While they have the discussion about their income…expenditure…and the studies of the girl;….he combed her hair……pleated it neatly….and scold her mummy}

^{telling that “some how I bring her nice dresses ….ribbons….clips…and everything…but you don’t care to dress her up nicely and keep her hair combed and clipped.Seeing this small family shareing their ….their…happiness…and sorrows….she feels that this bunglow……cars    and all luxuries are nothing…..she did’nt…want this…she wants to be like them ...the oneness….that is above all.}

^{One day when she came back from school she saw her mum    lying under a lamp …..closed her eyes and covered with a shroud.Mummy the only one who gave her love and affection passed away.She felt lonely…….nothing to think of…nobody to care for……vacum  every where. Then she was shifted to a boarding.She was a parlour boarder…a..suite}

^{and an ayah to look after her.There also she was cut off from other students.She started loving loneliness.Once a week}

^{she used to get a phone call from daddy….from England….U.S…or any other part of of the world.Slowly the interval between the calls increased.For holidays she goes from the solitude of the school to the solitude of the  home.During}

^{her stay at home she may or maynot be able to see daddy  for a few minutes..She always   kept herself behind the closed}

^{doors of her room with her books.One day she heard a knocking at her door.When she opened the door ; saw daddy.}

^{He came inside and sat in the cot and made her sit by his side.Holding ..her hand …..looking into her eyes……very pathetically…..in a husky voice asked her “Why darling….why are you keeping yourself aloof……behind the closed  doors}

^{…….see my child…..Iam running… around… day and night ;   to give you…everything…all ..happiness…and …comfort.}

^{You are my only  one … whom I have to care for.She sobbed bitterly…and replied “I don’t want any of these things}

^{…..any of these comforts…    that  money can give…I want only….your love and..care…..amidst this buisy life…..I..think}

^{you forget that   ..My mumy were also… longing for a word … of love.. and care….nothing…else.His..words failed..He}

^{kept quite for a while……and started..slowly..”All my love and care….is for you…you only..He held her close to his chest……kissed at her forehead…and went out.}

^{After that she started receiving letters from him in between the phone calls….few lines….like business letters.Anyway}

^{she read it again and again…carefully….and gathered the glittering…pearls of love hidden in between the lines….and kept in her heart…as…a..treasure  .Slowly   he  put  an end to his business…and bouught  an estate and a very big bunglow  in a slope of a hill….a…very beautiful place and started a retired life.She liked the place verymuch…}

^{One day Thomas uncle…he is the one who is managing the estate and looking after daddy’s personal matters came to the hostel to take her home.He said “daddy is no well…he   asked me to bring you home….that he ..wants to see you”.}

^{“Uncle….Ihave classes  tomorrow..and day after tomorrow….”   “Any way he wants to see you..after seeing him..}

^{we shall be back..by tomorrow.”  when she saw him ….he was in the post opperative room…with   oxygen tube…}

^{and tubes all over his body.She became numb…….without any feelings….After that she started loving him.She did’nt}

^{go to back to the college.}

^{One night when they were having dinner he started slowly….” Now you have compleeted ….  twentyfive.. years of age}

^{and your… mummy… passed ..away some.. ten years back..you know.Now..I feel..Imust  ..entrust you..in..the hands ..}

^{of   ..a..capable man  to  ..lookafter …you..and..this estate…and everything.Onlythen…Iwill have ..peace of mind.”}

^{The next day a handsome boy with his father and uncle came home to see her.He had the immage of the man she kept in mind.Dad asked her to take him upstairs to talk freely.They went upstairs in her room.Happily she drew the curtains aside and showed him the blue mountains…..the green hills….the bushy shrubs…wild creepers..falling downfrom the tall…treetops.He looked around casually and asked “Where is  the… boundry.. of the estate…? “She kept quite...He asked again….” Do you… know the ..total area… of the estate…?.She replied ..”Daddy with the help of.. Thomas uncle..is ..looking after the estate…and..everything…About these..things you b…etter   ask  daddy..He will give you the correct..}

^{answer..I am interested…only in the   beauty..of this dreaming blue mountains…and the…melodious… humming of}

^{the birds and the…gigling sound of the stream.. running down..the hills…”He passed a sarcastic smile…and went}

^downstairs.

^{Her daddy came upstairs…..held…both her hands in his…..and looking…deep..into her eyes  ..and asked….”How do}

^{you feel….my..child…do you like this boy..?”}

^{She felt her heart heavy…and painfuly realised  that  he  is interested..only in her wealth  ..and nothing else…she looked}

^{into his eyes….he looks weary and tired and  noticed  the perpectual love and affection for her.She could’nt say”no”and}

^{dissapint him.She said “yes …Ilike him”..He kissed her at the forehead and said  “thank ….god”}

^{‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’}

^‘