Peacock In The Garden

When I was young, my aunt (Baby Athai) took me on a picnic. I remember it was a very big garden with a guest house in it.

We were all strolling in the garden after lunch. There was a commotion from a group which had spotted a peacock walking freely in the open.

I sat on a small rock formation and saw the peacock coming my way. I was thrilled. I was enthralled by its bright colored feathers and wanted to have a close look and put a hand out in friendship! Alas the bird came at me and pecked me with its sharp beak. For a moment I was too shocked to even move out of its way. Though I was sitting there so very peacefully, it was harming me.

Then my aunt pulled me away and shooed it away from there.

Though young I learnt the reality that all beautiful looking animals need not be friendly with us humans. They may not like us to be near them or touch them. They will not hesitate to attack us if they felt we could harm them in some way, even though our hearts may seem to be brimming with love and affection for them.

They are called wild because they live in the wild. Whether they are provoked or not they could attack us.

From that day onwards, I would admire and appreciate their beauty but from far away. I never take a chance with any animal. I will not harm them but I shall not allow myself or my family to be harmed by any animal whether domestic or wild.

Once a cow almost gored me. But for my agility I would have fallen and got trampled all over by a cow. There was no reason for it to go wild at all. It was tied to a post and I thank god that I escaped from a cow which is supposed to be a mild, domestic animal.

I love dogs, peacock, pups of all animals but only to watch them from afar and not get anywhere near them, not out of fear but out of respect for their own privacy. They all need to be left alone.

Mahalakshmi