The wind was picking up speed and Titu was worried the weather would worsen before she could reach home. She hurried up her efforts. It was important to collect all the material before heading back. The materials she had so far would be worthless if she didn’t find the binding agents she so desperately needed.

She had started her search a week ago. Her foresight and timely action in such matter was well appreciated by members of her community. What confounded her was how the weather had suddenly taken a turn for the worse. She had expected to have another week at least. And here, the clouds were already rolling in. She had heard some rumours about changing weather patterns but this…. This was something else, entirely.

Titu looked up at the sky again. She still had some time left. Home was not very far away but it would still be some distance. She found the last item on her list and quickly picked it up.

Rushing back, she placed the string strategically and bound the straw pieces together. Using her beak like a needle, she stitched the straw pieces tightly. Finally, she wound the thread round the base of the straw bowl and fastened it to the iron rod protruding from the ledge.

The wind picked up more speed and Titu waited, her heart in her mouth, to see how stable her new home would be. It didn’t budge. A few minutes later when the rain drops arrived and cooled the scorching earth, she and her little ones watched from the safe confines of their newly built nest. The cool breeze and the raindrops disappeared just as suddenly as they had arrived.

Dumbstruck, Titu looked up and saw the clouds clearing. It was only the next day she saw the wisdom of her timely efforts when torrential rains lashed the city. Her larger than usual nest provided home to nine families who’d lost their home when the tree got uprooted.