BIRD FOR BREAKFAST AND DINNER

 
Mehera mentioned the robins at Meherazad, but there was another bird that visited, who was the tamest of all. Every October, starting in the 1950s, a female, biscuit-colored redstart, with a rust-colored breast, came from the Himalayas. It was not indigenous to the area, but spent the winter at Meherazad and returned north in March.

When the bird first appeared, Mani and Rano threw it crumbs, coaxing it to come nearby and eat. She was named Biki, because at first they gave her biscuits to eat, which she liked better than breadcrumbs or dried chapatis.

After the second accident, Baba could not easily come outside to see Biki. One day in 1959, when the bird came near the kitchen, Mehera came inside and told Baba, "If you feed the bird with your own hands, it would be good for her soul. She will be very fortunate to have your prasad. She loves crumbs, and you would enjoy watching her feed."

Baba agreed and, with much enthusiasm and love he went outside by the kitchen, stood, and fed Biki on the farsi (flagstone), throwing crumbs to her.

In later years, the women kept a bowl of crumbs on the windowsill in the dining room for the bird. During their breakfast, Biki came to the window and fed. When Baba saw it, he stopped eating, because he did not want the bird to be afraid and fly away.

"No, Baba, you must eat your breakfast," Mehera said, "It doesn't matter; the bird is used to us. It won't fly away." Baba very slowly did eat, but he was careful not to make any sudden movements.

"Baba had so much love for the bird that he himself stopped eating," Mehera pointed out. Once, when Baba was on his ghadi in the living room, he told the women to be quiet. They watched, as a hummingbird hovered and tapped on the window. "So sweetly would Baba motion us not to make a sound or any movement, so as not to frighten the tiny creature.

"Baba had so much love for birds and animals," Mehera continued. "God is love. Baba is full of love; that is why you young ones come to him, because he has loved & loves each one of you. Baba said, 'My love brings you to me.'"

Mehera described Biki to Irene:

In October, a redstart comes from the North to spend the winter here. We call her Biki. She loves biscuits and comes on the windowsill to feed. Also, she hops very close to us on the verandah, demanding crumbs of chapatis. You would love this bird also. She is so tame. She knows her name and flies to us when called. She has even taken crumbs from our hands, she comes so near.

After 1964, however, Biki stopped coming to Meherazad.

Once Baba asked Mehera, "What birds stay in Meherazad all year round?"

Mehera replied, "There are bullbuls, robins, tailor birds, mynahs, and salangoos. Doves also."

"Doves?" Baba asked. "I love doves. They are so fluffy and sweet, and they walk like this." Baba swayed back and forth, his elbows pressed to his body, humorously mimicking a dove, with its short legs and stocky body, waddling from side to side.