바카라What the hell!바카라
바카라What happened, sir?바카라
바카라These immigrants! Cannot prepare a cup of good coffee? I am leaving for another outlet. She does not seem to be here.바카라
The bistro felt whipped. The rain was pounding the window-panes. It was a slow Saturday---as weekends generally are.
She was watching the fine rain fall down on the front street and thin traffic. The grey sky reminded her of another place and time.
But this came sudden, unexpected---as a jab in the ribs---painful!
바카라Sorry! I will personally prepare another fresh cup for you, sir. Do not worry, sir. You will get your regular one---in a second. please wait.바카라
바카라Forget it, Robert. And you, if you cannot prepare coffee, what are you doing in Toronto? Go to a warehouse! Do not stick here.바카라
When the customer left mumbling, crumpled hat in hand, Robert said softly, 바카라Do not mind. We call him Mr. Grumpy. An old widower, often in a foul mood but overall a good guy. Will return in a day or two. A classic dissatisfied customer!바카라
The bistro did not answer. Her eyes grew red. Breath, uneasy.
The old man stood outside, hat in hand, watching the sky for a few long seconds---then walked out into the rain, right arm outstretched, collecting the drops in his palm.
바카라You, from India?바카라 asked Robert, trying to divert her.
바카라Yes.바카라
바카라On the student visa?바카라
바카라Yes.바카라
바카라I understand your situation. It hurts deep down. I know the feeling. I have been there---know the raw feeling.바카라 She did not say anything. Felt choked. The bleakness added to her suffering.
Robert cleared throat. 바카라Even Jane is not coming.바카라바카라바카라Why?바카라 she asked. 바카라Second day---now.바카라
Robert replied, 바카라Burnout.바카라
바카라So fast? She was working hard. Sincere. Honest gal.바카라
바카라Tough for students! She is from Serbia. Could not handle the pressure of retail. Decided to quit바카라a fine woman, ha!바카라
바카라Yes. Always smiling. Kind. Helpful. Sorry to hear this!바카라 바카라She badly needed money바카라now searching for another job.바카라 The bistro nodded, 바카라Gone through that grind, like her바카라and many others.바카라 Robert said, 바카라I tried to help her. Tried to dissuade her from quitting.바카라 The bistro smiled. The rain increased in intensity.
바카라Thanks, Robert, for reaching out in this lonely place. Such gestures! Noble!바카라
He smiled, revealing a set of pearlies. The formal smile of a colleague. Then: 바카라Doing my duty only. I have seen it all. There were others who did the hand holding for me also바카라 in the initial years. Time to repay in kind. Ha!바카라
바카라How is life for you here?바카라 she asked
바카라Good! I have gone through the process, a few years earlier. Identical journey. Similar bumps. A common route for young immigrants in a new country. Ha!바카라
바카라You are from Kenya?바카라
바카라Yes.바카라
바카라Why did you leave your country?바카라바카라Robert smiled. 바카라For the same reasons, you left India. Searching for something better. Maya?
바카라Yes, Maya, my name.바카라
바카라Nice ring to it, your name!바카라
Maya smiled. He sat behind the till, absent-mindedly drumming the surface.
He often does that---she thought.
The place was empty. They waited. The water was pooling on the street. The traffic was light. She polished the top of the counter out of habit and watched the entrance. Covid-19 and restrictions! At least, the shop was open!
바카라Why do you continue in this place on minimum wages? Find a better place, kid Got better degrees than me. Try out some other job.바카라 Robert sounded genuine. Caring. She felt the concern in his baritone and saw it in the kind eyes.
She pondered the question for long.
Robert went on drumming. And whistling softly. The business was slow. Thankfully. Otherwise, managing with three was tough. She had to be more careful now. And attentive.
바카라Sorry! That was a bit personal바카라바카라
Maya replied gently: 바카라No, no, no. Not at all.바카라
Robert breathed easy.
바카라I did not want to intrude바카라바카라바카라바카라Not at all, Robert,바카라 she said. 바카라I was going to tell you this.바카라바카라He looked at the small girl.
The girl with spectacles and a Lord Ganesh tattoo on her arm.
Maya said, 바카라An amusing thing! This바카라바카라
바카라What?바카라 Robert asked, back from another reality, watching the swinging doors.
바카라Just sharing this detail with you.바카라바카라바카라Yes, please!바카라
바카라At the back of my tiny student apartment, there is a clump of trees바카라in a tiny yard with a broken fence.바카라
바카라Is it? Safe place, that one?바카라
바카라Yes, yes, it is바카라safe. Quiet also. I like trees. Watch them often.바카라바카라바카라Hmm. Trees sooth.바카라
바카라Oh, yeah! They whisper also.바카라바카라바카라Yes. Heard that.바카라 Robert agreed.바카라바카라Two of the trees are bare바카라바카라
바카라It is the end of the fall now, in Canada바카라바카라
바카라Yes, I know that. Fall, magnificent!바카라
Robert looked at her again, a bit puzzled.
Maya looked lost.
The rain beat down on the stacked condo apartments across the street covered in gloom.
Rain slanted and pounded the buildings.
A wind roared.
Robert sighed.
바카라So? What does it have to do with you sticking around this lousy place that has got rude clients and uncaring management? These trees, Maya? just curious. Do not answer, if you do not want to.바카라
She smiled. 바카라I understand your query. The trees, and my staying. Well, well.바카라바카라바카라Hmm.바카라 Robert grunted, looking at his smartphone.
She exhaled. 바카라Well, as I was telling you바카라there are two nests, one each on the bare trees. Fascinating! Is it not?바카라
바카라Nests?바카라 Robert asked. 바카라At this time of the year?바카라
바카라Yes. Nests on one of the top branches. I see them daily. Stark simplicity in design and beauty바카라so appealing in structure and functionality바카라a home from the avian world for humans바카라as an object of study바카라contemplation.바카라
바카라Hmm. What is the point?바카라
바카라The nest on a bare tree is full of wisdom바카라meaning. I find them transmitting silent messages! Often, when free, I watch the well-made nests swinging in the cold air바카라fragile, vulnerable, exposed바카라to the elements바카라predators.바카라
바카라Interesting! You sound poetic! Do you write?바카라바카라바카라No, no,바카라 Maya laughed. 바카라Poetry! Beyond simple me! Even otherwise, poets never made sense to me.바카라바카라바카라True! I also find current poetry inaccessible,바카라 observed Robert wryly.
A bird entered the corridor outside, flapping wet wings. It almost collided with the glass of the shop and then flew up, leaving a trail of water across the name of the coffee shop.
Robert continued to fiddle with the phone, stifling a yawn. 바카라The day is slow.바카라바카라바카라Yes,바카라 Maya confirmed. 바카라Good. We are understaffed. Two colleagues reported sick in the morning.바카라
바카라Yes, a big problem these days!바카라 agreed Robert. 바카라Do not worry, pal! We will manage. Chang is on the way. Hasina is ready for another shift.바카라바카라바카라Good! You are a good supervisor!바카라바카라바카라Thanks Maya. Lucky we are in. Anyway, the traffic will build up in the late afternoon.바카라
바카라We are ready, boss!바카라
Robert smiled. 바카라So, tell me about those trees바카라nests바카라바카라
바카라Oh, yeah! As I was saying바카라I often think about those nests perched high up. Swaying dangerously in the strong winds. I watch them closely. When it rains, they look desolate바카라lonely바카라dripping with water. They remain stable. As if stuck on.바카라바카라바카라Is it?바카라바카라바카라Yes.바카라바카라바카라Miracle?바카라바카라바카라In a way, yes. They are there only.바카라바카라바카라Indeed surprising!바카라바카라
바카라Yes. So far, no blast of the wind or a storm could dislodge them from that height. The slender, simple nests!바카라바카라바카라Really?바카라바카라바카라Yes. That is why I continue to study them바카라chart their daily progress바카라document them on film, mornings, nights. In different lighting바카라and shade. Nests as evolving symbols, their seasonal progress바카라the way they communicate to me on ground. I record these moments and keep the digital data safe. Whole thing is, well, thrilling!바카라
Maya laughed and looked at the doors---two undecided men. They stand, talk and go away.
The bird circles back in the corridor.
A Chinese man walks with his dog outside in the corridor---visible from the glass.바카라바카라Wonderful! I never thought you were that committed observer. You should join the Project NestWatch! They would be happy to have you as a member.바카라 Robert stated his admiration in a neutral tone.바카라바카라No need for all that. I am happy on my own바카라love watching these two nests from my rented room in Mississauga. The property looks over a trail. I see some other bird homes high up. But these two! Of immense value to solitary me.바카라바카라바카라Hmm. Good hobby! Go on. Discuss your findings with this ignorant man busy tidying up his own mess. Ha!바카라바카라
바카라The nests as symbols, signs, metaphors! Fragile units, yet strongly attached to the slender leafless branches바카라glued securely for chics there by a tiny bird바카라making a complex web of twigs, leaves and what not. A natural marvel! A real beauty!바카라바카라바카라Sure. I never looked at the nests from that angle. In fact, I hardly noticed them in my life, till now. Real interesting!바카라 Robert gushed.바카라바카라Thanks!바카라
Robert nodded head. 바카라Amazing!바카라바카라바카라Are they not instructive? The nests?바카라
바카라Yes, they are. Wow! You have made me see them in a different light. By the way, the nests are made by the squirrels, or, so I was told. Birds also make nests on properties. It is an art honed over the centuries.바카라
바카라Right Robert! One of my friends was telling me that preparing nests involve skills learned over a long period. Squirrels, birds, beavers. List is long. He is a nature enthusiast, my friend, studying ornithology part time. One day, a bit low, I stood and watched the little yard, as is my habit. A storm was building up and soon it hit the neighbourhood with great intensity바카라gloom, thunder, wind, boom바카라all that. It was intense. Came suddenly.바카라
바카라Hmm! Climate change, they say,바카라 said Robert. 바카라The storms keep recurring in Canada with more frequency now. What happened then?바카라
바카라Nothing. The storm came and battered everything in its angry way for more than an hour or so. Darkness fell. Thunder cleaved the sky. Lightning fell in some place. I shuddered.바카라바카라바카라Oh! I remember it now, some time back바카라바카라바카라바카라Yes. A severe one.바카라바카라바카라Then? Did it affect you or others?바카라
바카라No. We were safe. It shook the trees, fences, and tiles. Surprisingly, the nests remained there stuck on the bare branches during its passage. A marvel of sorts! The branches moved violently but the nests did not fall. God바카라s grace.바카라바카라바카라Yes. Unbelievable! You are a keen observer, Maya!바카라
바카라Thanks. My trait, watching folks. Anyway, I deeply admire the skills of its unsung creator, the tiny bird or squirrel or whatever, a humble creature of God who could make durable homes for their kids up there in the air.바카라바카라바카라Yes, you are right.바카라바카라바카라It is a season of change. Trees are shedding leaves. Winter is around the corner. And these nests are there as shelters to some sure-footed creatures, out there in the cold! Storm or winter, just there, as visible symbols, on leafless trees. A place to go back to in cold and rain and darkness바카라is it not wonderful, Robert?바카라
바카라Agreed. A place to return to. love the sound of your presentation, Maya.바카라
She smiled.
Robert hummed an old tune.
Maya polished the counter top and the coffee machine.
Then she addressed the supervisor: 바카라And, now, to your original query, sir. Why am I sticking to this shit job? Well, being human, I have my lows too. Certain days, I feel miserable바카라.바카라바카라바카라Hmm! I can understand that. We all suffer from this dark phase바카라some more regularly바카라바카라
바카라Whenever I feel low or want to quit the low-wage job, I am reminded of the high nests dancing in the wind, out there in the open. I have seen them endure in the worst situations. Nests! We all are working for them in our short lives. Aren바카라t we?바카라
Robert nodded. 바카라Right. Absolutely. Reminds me of an incident from another life and age.바카라
바카라Tell me, please? All ears.바카라 Maya said.
바카라OK. I was nine. We were living in Mombasa. I went out one afternoon to the shore, along with my kid sister바카라바카라
바카라Oh! Nice!바카라 she said. 바카라Family outing.바카라
The rain was letting up. A cat purred outside the doors, waiting to enter.
Robert drummed vigorously, eyes far off. He did not speak for long, biting lower lip.
The cat stood on its paws and looked inside.
바카라Tell me, what happened next?바카라
바카라Hmm! The usual. We made sand castles and here comes this bully and he demolishes our work of labour and love. My kid sister cries but again makes a castle, while I give up. The bully comes back바카라바카라
바카라바카라and destroys the castle.바카라
바카라Yeah! How do you know?바카라
She did not reply, just smiled.
바카라It went on for an hour.바카라바카라바카라Oh!바카라
바카라Yeah! My little sister! She went on making the castles; he, destroying them, till the bully got exhausted and left the scene, cursing us.바카라
바카라That is the spirit! Your sister is a fighter, a born fighter!바카라
They both laughed.
바카라Yes. My baby sister, no quitter. Ha!바카라
바카라In a way, we all are. Life! It leaves no choices for some.바카라바카라바카라Yes. Sometimes, some of us want to quit but cannot.바카라
They laughed.
바카라Are the nests hanging there?바카라
바카라Yes, yes. There only.바카라
Maya showed the pictures of the tiny homes on the bare trees.
Robert was impressed by the wide-angle high-resolution shots, their composition, lighting, clarity---everything.바카라바카라I would like to see them. and learn from them.바카라바카라바카라Sure. Most welcome! Any time.바카라
A young customer entered the shop, all wet and they got busy with her order바카라
(Toronto-based author-academic-editor, Sunil Sharma has published 23 creative and critical books, joint and solo. He edits the Setu journal)
