DANA PAANI

DANA PAANI

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

24/VI/2022

As they say, that everyone has a fixed place & time for his/her ‘Dana-Paani’ (DP) and it turns out to be absolutely true. Based on your destiny, your DP is predetermined. Sometimes you may have DP right infront of you but you can’t touch it.

Also, as the se ‘Dane-Dane par likha hai khane wale ka naam’. The grain meant for you and that drop of water which is destined to be yours will be yours is also so true.

This morning a new cat came visiting our lane, let’s call it Puddy-Cat PC. He is a male as his family jewels could be distinctly seen. This guy has been a colony resident longer than we have been. PC knows the dustbins as that’s where he gets his DP from. Some days he is lucky when he lays his hands on Pedigree kind of meals left by pet dogs & cats. These sly feline cats are too smart. They somehow know and get their timing right.

This morning while watering my plants I was watching Puddy from a distance. Dogs had already laid the banquet. The bin had been overturned and its contents were spread on the road. PC as she entered the lane got excited. It could be noticed from her ‘chaal’, as they say. The lazy walk became a brisk trot. With caution she approached the buffet and smelt it.

Alas, the goodies were gone. The lingering scent still remained. His DP was not here. He sat down making fresh plans and went licking her paws, a yawn, a stretch. It was time to move on.

I kept still, as this guy has been avoiding getting photographed. Today, I was in a mood to capture his moves. As he strode on the berm, a dove flew past overhead. He stopped and waited to see where it went and perched. It sat right above his head on a lamp post then a tree close by. Except for extending his paw in the air, dana pani was beyond his reach. He narrowed his eyes to focus, but alas.

There was no point wasting his time thought PC. He looked around and went rubbing his back on a tree trunk, took a leak by digging a small pit in the bed, closed that cavity and climbed on to a short wall at the neighbour’s place. Knowing him as a vagabond, there was something more than what meets the eye for him to climb there.

For him it is ‘Chiriya-Chipkilli’ instead of Dana-Paani and rightly so. Bulbuls and Hummingbirds roost on that neem tree touching the parapet. Now that his salivary glands had been activated by the passing dove, his breakfast menu was a Chiriya for sure, if not then a lizard.

Cats are agile climbers but this neem tree has its twists. Puddy leaped to catch a Bulbul which was way out of his reach and got stuck in the fork of the tree trunk. A wriggle, a slip, a desperate mew as if calling the birds to come to him. Birds were smart and raised such an alarm that within seconds there were about twenty of them diving and pecking on his head. Go away you slimy bum, the message was clear to PC.

Puddy had no choice but to squeeze out of the tree's grip. With all her hair ruffled, it was time to do some grooming. A lick-lick here and a lick-lick there. It sat quite attentive, hoping in case a bird might fall from the sky.

All this while PT had its undivided attention on the birds. Suddenly, I came into picture. Camera in hand and taking her pictures. A wry mew, as if to tell me to get some milk at least, don’t you see I am hungry. PT didn’t know, two villas ahead there is a small girl called Pari, who feeds Garfield and her kittens milk every day.

Moment the milkman comes, she is there with her ‘Bhagona’. This little darling doesn’t have the strength to carry it, so spills it. Somehow these cats know the sound of the milkman’s motorcycle and his loud shout DOOOODH and land up there out of nowhere.

Pari talks to them non-stop. They too hear her out, after all its Doodh- Roti ka sawal. PC doesn’t know of it. He walked away snaking his way under the neighbour’s car, sticking close to the edge of the hedge. Maybe to the next bin.

Daana Paani for the birds was next on my agenda. Keeping a keen eye on PC and Garfield I spread dana for them. Pani was already there in the drain. Out came the sparrows, doves and Bulbuls to peck. That reminds me, I have to get more daana for them.

If I don’t spread the grains, won’t the birds get DP? I wonder!!!!!!!!!!

JAI HIND