Sumit Maitra

The Nest

Jatin Mahato’s house becomes a wonderful sight during the monsoon when hundreds of open-billed storks arrives and breed virtual colonies in the trees adjacent to his house. Jatin and his family feel an uncanny attachment to the feathered friends who are almost their own children. But the world beyond the Mahato family is not so friendly to the birds. Over the years they are being mercilessly killed for their tasty flesh. Jatin has severely beaten up several times and the villagers have ostracized the family. But the morale of the Mahato family is too high. They guard the birds day and night so that no one can do any harm to them.