Barred

Silence – her new mantra. Eyes tightly shut, she remains, pretending to be oblivious. People look at her, wonder at her silence, enquire about her health. They display concern, not knowing the reason for her muteness. They prescribe remedies and proscribe isolation. All as a measure of uselessness. None could find out the reason, none could bring her back to her former self. All efforts were spent in vain. One fine day, a little girl came by and repeated the same questions. They told her. She thought for a while. She smiled. She opened the latch of the cage and out flew the silent parrot, never to be silenced or caged again.