The Pigeon Fancier

“Some people play cricket, some read books. I fly pigeons.”

Nadeem had been deeply attached to pigeons since childhood. As soon as he returned from school, he would rush up to the rooftop. When dozens of pigeons took flight from the roof of his four-storey house, his neck would stiffen with pride. His grandmother tried many times to make him understand that pigeon flying was a waste of time and cruelty to birds, but Nadeem never agreed. He always argued that it was merely his hobby.

“Some people play cricket, some read books. I fly pigeons. How is that cruelty?” he would say. “I feed them on time, spend money on them, protect them from heat and cold, and even give them medicine when they fall sick.” Listening to his arguments, his grandmother would fall silent for a few days.

That day, Nadeem was especially happy. He had captured two very valuable pigeons belonging to his rival, Pappu. Pappu had openly challenged everyone, announcing a reward of ten thousand rupees for whoever managed to catch his pigeons. All the pigeon fanciers congratulated Nadeem on his achievement.

Holding both pigeons, Nadeem was coming down the stairs when his foot slipped. He managed to save himself by grabbing the wall, but one pigeon slipped out of his hand. Its wings were tied, yet somehow it flew and landed on a wall. Nadeem’s breath caught in his throat. Losing the pigeon would mean public humiliation.

He carefully picked up a bamboo pole with a net tied at one end. The pigeon sensed danger and flew to a nearby electricity pole. It was still within reach. Nadeem threw the other pigeon into the cage and focused on the escaping one. He climbed the wall quickly and swung the bamboo to trap it. The bamboo struck a live electric wire. A violent shock knocked him unconscious, and he fell. In his obsession, he had forgotten that the bamboo was wet from rain.

When Nadeem regained consciousness, terror overwhelmed him. He had turned into a pigeon. He was in an unfamiliar place, with evening darkness spreading. A boy locked him and other pigeons inside a dark, filthy coop. Insects clung to his feathers. With no hands, he scratched himself with his beak like the others.

Exhausted, he complained to a pigeon beside him about the filth. The pigeon replied calmly that the coop had been cleaned four months ago and that their owner was better than many others. Nadeem suddenly remembered that he too cleaned his pigeon cages only once or twice a year.

He was extremely hungry. He recalled that pigeon fanciers usually fed pigeons only once a day to keep them “fit.” He had no choice but to wait.

Later, the boy forced them to fly by waving a cloth. Hungry and thirsty, they flew unwillingly. After separating in the air, Nadeem followed the others to a nearby rooftop where grain and water were placed. Just as he moved toward the food, a net fell over him. He was grabbed harshly, his wings cut, and he was locked in a cage. His protests meant nothing

An old pigeon advised him not to leave the cage until his wings grew back, warning of deadly predators. He learned that cutting wings was done to make pigeons forget their old homes.

Days later, he was sold, examined cruelly by buyers, and finally purchased by another pigeon fancier. When his wings grew back, his owner praised his loyalty and entered him in a flying competition. During the race, exhausted and thirsty, Nadeem was suddenly seized by a kite in midair.

At that moment, he heard his grandmother’s voice calling for help. He woke up in a hospital bed, surrounded by family. Everyone said it had only been a nightmare—but tears filled his eyes, for he had learned a painful truth.