My Azhagaa - my first love

I met him one fine day at the temple during Navarathri, an year and a quarter back, sitting silently in front of Lord Subrahmanya. I had never seen him around earlier. A friend told me that he visits the temple everyday. I probably had not noticed him earlier but something in him made me fond of him from the first sight. Maybe this is what people call 'love at first sight'. The following few days, I made it a point to visit the temple just to see him. We gradually got introduced, started talking and within no time I realized I fell for him. I addressed him as 'Azhagaa' for many reasons ('Azhagaa' is handsome/beautiful in Tamil). An hour before returning to hostel would be spent with him, no matter what, speaking my heart out. I experienced a state of anxiety and excitement everyday as I eagerly waited to meet him. My friends had a hard time listening to my stories before they got to meet him. And one day, I introduced him to my best friend and the three of us had a great time together, probably the most memorable one.

I should have trusted my gut feeling to not leave the place when I had to return back to hostel, and little did I know that that would soon be the last time I met him. The news came a few hours later that my 'Azhagaa' was no more.

It was hard to believe and tears rolled down my cheeks without a pause. The thought that he was no more and that I will not be able to see him again tore down my spirits. Gathering my senses, I prayed for his soul to rest in peace. I sat wondering about how much I loved him and would miss him and how time flew past when I was with him. He had shared all my happiness and had been a part of my sad times as well, as a strong moral support.

My friend came by to offer her condolences and gave me something of his which she found near the temple.  It was an integral part of him, which in a few years would have transformed into the eye-captivating, vibrant feathers, which gave him and his family the honor of being called our 'National Bird'. Yes, and he was my 'Azhagaa'.

He was brought to the temple and left under the care of the Gurukkal and those looking after the temple. He was kept safely inside an inverted mesh box just opposite to Lord Subrahmanya's sannidhi to protect him from the dogs which roamed around. Evenings, he was free to run and hop around with his little feathers trying to fly and feeding on tiny insects, while the students kept an eye on him. Everyone around was so fond of him.

That fateful day, the dogs probably messed with the cage, releasing him and attacking him when he tried to flee out of fright. No one knew where 'Azhagaa' disappeared suddenly. Just a few scattered feathers near his cage, indicating a struggle and the possibility of what might have happened. The temple seemed so void during the next few days. The fact that I would no longer meet him was hard to accept.

I am nostalgic while penning this down as I remember the days I spent talking with him. Yes, and he did definitely respond. He would walk in towards the side of the cage next to me or my friend when we spoke with him and made synchronous noises in response.

The two feathers are all that I have to his remembrance though his memories would always stay in my heart. I would have loved to see him grow and transform into a beautiful peacock, dancing gracefully at the onset of rains.

Miss you Azhagaa, wherever you are!