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WATER THIEVES

 WATER THIEVES

 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

 

19/IX/2022

 

            Water is such a precious resource which human kind needs to realise. Countries are fighting over it, so do our states and within states, it is a fight between industry and the farmer. There are fights amongst farmers for every drop.

 

            Water is fighting for itself to stay pure. People are encroaching on its space, concrete jungles are coming up, polluting industries are killing water systems, water mafias are sucking it out from underground wells.

 

            Someone stole water from us too. Shocking, unacceptable, deplorable, awful are a few words that come to mind. Let me explain.

 

            We had brought a water lily all the way from Alibaug to the Suncity. Due to changes in weather and some misjudgement of soil-manure mix, it perished. Aim was to grow it again.

 

            To find lotus and water lilies here is an issue. Very few grow them. Fewer are willing to share them. Option was to get them online or visit to a nursery to find them. They were ordered online.

 

            Instead of Lily pods they sent me water lily seeds. I was a little disappointed at first but how could I give up? Instead of Google Aunty, I went to YouTube Uncle for guidance.

 

            Water lilies grow in ‘muddy water’ and to hold water we needed a big container. I had a discarded bathtub. To bring up the lilies to mature and shift them to this tank would take some time.

 

            There was one Bonsai pot with no holes to begin with. Seeds were prepared and sunk in this pot. Within three days there was life in that seed. A small leaf emerged. In a week that leaf stretched and became about six inches long. Soon, the second leaf spouted and roots started showing. Our happiness knew no bounds. Water had to be changed twice a week.

 

            For more seeds to be sprouted, we need another container. A visit to the local potter became mandatory. He gave us a ‘Mitti ra Chaatta,’ the one in which ‘curd’ is made. This was the closest to what we needed and it did not cost a fortune.


            The lilies were showing good growth but the water in the pot was reducing at a very fast rate. Something was not right. Was there a leak? For that, one had to empty out the Chaata. Chances were that the new lily sprouts could get damaged but the leak had to be plugged. There wasn’t one.

 

            Could water be evaporating? A possibility which could not be ruled out either. So, the chatta was shifted to shade. Still, water was reducing and lilies touched the bottom of the pot and started drying up.

 

            Were the birds drinking water from the Chaata? Probably they had made it into another bird-bath. However, for that they had an exclusive container which they were frequenting. Could birds spill so much water was my doubt?

 

            Who was stealing the water then? It was becoming a kind of irritant and making me go mad. The mystery had to be solved soon.

 

            If it was a plant thief, why should he/she scoop water out? He/she would rather take the lily away. How would they know that we are growing a water lily in that chaata. We never found a water spill. All sorts of silly questions kept popping in my mind.

 

            One day, as we sat watching TV late in the night, there was a funny sound coming from outside. It was as if someone was hitting a stick on water. My wife jumped up to see the commotion. As she opened the door, two shadows whizzed past. The thieves were caught red handed.

 

            They were two stray dogs. Security guards keep chasing them all day and night. It was at our place that they found a nice ‘lotus flavour sherbet’ to drink. Paw marks were confirmation of the thieves. All my anger went away in a second.

 

As they lapped up the water, they could damage the lily sprout or even break the new plant if it got stuck in its tongue. How can you explain to a dog that a lotus is growing in it? I wonder!!!!!!!!!

 

JAI HIND

© NOEL ELLIS

 

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