THE MINI ADVENTURES OF SHRUTI

CHAPTER 10

Hiraman gave in. Shruti stood a little farther away from Hiraman's perch this time, and held her arm up to shoulder level, in front of her. Hiraman flapped a few times and took off. He perched safely on Shruti's arm. She smiled and pet him. She then moved farther away from her bed and this was a signal for Hiraman to fly to the bed. He flew to the foot of her bed successfully.

"Now fly back to me."

Hiraman flapped a few times and took off. He came back to Shruti. Shruti then looked around to find a spot which was far enough. She spotted the balcony railing. She went up to it and let Hiraman perch on the railing.

She moved back, till the entrance, and an extra step backward. Hiraman was nervous at first, but after a little persuading, he flew to her gracefully, and back. This practise went on for a while, with different spots. After an hour of practise, Shruti let Hiraman rest for a while. He drank lots of water and ate some nuts. Shruti watched him and kept petting him. A while later, Hiraman regained strength and wanted to practise more. Shruti was surprised. "How is it that you want to practise more today?"

"I'm liking it now."

She smiled and the practise continued for some more time. After a while, it was lunch time for the two. Shruti's lunch was brought to her in her room.

She soon finished it and watched Hiraman scratch his neck with his talons. She slowly began humming a song. Hiraman tilted his neck and watched her for a while, as she was humming and looking at the balcony. "What is that tune?"

"I'm humming a song."

"What's a song?"

"You don't know what's a song?"

"No."

Shruti was taken aback. "A song is a combination of musical notes and the voice of singers... Haven't you ever heard a song?"

"No."

There was silence for a while. Hiraman asked, "What does a song sound like?"

Shruti smiled and sang a song for him.

"Where's the music?"

"Musicians play the music and singers sing to it. That's how a song is made."

"Oh... Is a song so short?"

"Not at all. I sang how much ever I knew. There are thousands of songs, long and short. In fact, there is no letter from which a song does not start."

"There is a song from every letter?"

"Yes."

Hiraman was surprised. "If I give you a letter, can you sing a song from it?"

"I don't know many songs, but I'll try."

Hiraman thought for a while. "B."

Shruti thought for a second. "There are lots of songs. I know two... no three... no wait... Should I sing all the songs I know?"

"Yes."

Shruti sighed. "I don't the full song, so I'll sing how much ever I know."

Hiraman nodded. Shruti sang to all the letters Hiraman gave her. "Good... Now... Enough."

"Enough?"

"Yes."

"So soon?"

"Aren't you tired of singing?"

"Not at all."

"How?"

"Natural."

"Hmm... Now what?"