CAGED ???or NOT???

I saw that bird chirping on the guava tree in my garden. I asked her if her questions were answered ? She shook her head in disappointment and rose her liquid eyes to me. Such sorrow, such disappointment, such anguish; all trapped inside those two wide saddened eyes. I asked her as to why was she chirping if such is her actual condition? "How can I do such injustice to my fellow mates &; my liberator? Internal battles are fought with mind.Not with plain words!"

PHILOSOPHY is undoubtedly the most treacherous weapon human race has ever designed &; devised. It can justify from anything to everything. Philosophy questions and answers as well. The best part is we humans have the authority to switch to the various modes of philosophy and justify this disloyalty under the disguise of changing times. The problem is in admitting that ;"Yes! I was wrong at that point of time. or I am doing something wrong right now due to my weaknesses." On the contrary we take great pride in our actions and display our mask of varying philosophies each time we are confronted with reality.

Our bird at one point was questioning her liberator's duties is now unsure of the own state. That day she wanted her liberator to do something for her but now she is reluctant on getting it ,as one of the philosophies claim that ' if you get, you will have to give. All the world is give and take.' Poor birdy! She learnt it the hard way when her keeper made her realize all the things he had done to fend her, amuse her and keep her in the best of spirits. She suddenly fell from the sky to the harsh ground of reality.

The sweet voice she claimed to be her own was such as someone had taught her to sing. The beautiful feathers she possessed were because someone had brushed them, cleaned them since her infancy. The high flights she enjoyed in the open sky were because someone had fed her to develop strong muscles and waived off their night's sleep to care of her on nights she was ill.Its really easy to be selfish and say that all caged birds do get such care but how can the bird now feel all the entities she had forever claimed to be her own, be in her possession.

A voice within me is raising a question as to if she hadn't been blessed with a sweet voice; no melody would have turned it to song. If she hadn't possessed pretty bright colors on her wings, no amount of brushing would have helped her.But the issue is not about dwelling on the qualities possessed and the qualities developed by the bird. The creation of another chunk of philosophy is futile.

The question is of returns, of give and take, of selfish motives.The bird had once given her complete self to her keeper who now wanted a return for all what he had done for her. If such is the case with mankind then how can she trust that her liberator wouldn't do the same with her? Is she really liberated or only shifting from one cage to the other unknowingly ? Can love ever be selfless?

I really doubt!! We love our parents as we need their care .We love our friends and siblings as we need their company.We love our parents we wish to be accompanied for life.We love our kids as we want someone to dote upon us when we age.Then why? Why do each and every bit of philosophy claims the existence of 'unconditional love' ? Can the feeling of love ever be separated from element of greed, lust??

I always end by raising questions for my bird and my own self in the hope that they'll be answered someday......Alas! The wait is very long................