EXCHANGING NOTES

EXCHANGING NOTES

 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

 

28/III/2023

 

This morning, I was lucky to spot ‘Greeny’ the Green Pigeon again, high on a branch of the ‘Drum Stick’ tree adjacent to our garden. Hello Greeny, I said, long time no see! Oh! Hello my dear; yes, I’ve been a little busy lately. So, less time and so much to do, she said.

 

What has been keeping you busy was my obvious question? Well, she said. It is nesting time. ‘Papa Greeny’ has become so naughty these days, he is hardly home. Too many beauties around and he goes chasing them. A nest has to be built and we need to settle down. Papa is busy in his own world. All men are like that only. Hmm, I said.

 

What about the nest in the Ficus tree where we met the other day? It was nicely camouflaged and tucked in and quite well protected by wasps. Nay, she said, their constant hum and violent shaking of the tree by children playing football in the garden made me abandon it.

 

Children can’t reach that high. I said. Their football could, Greeny said. One of the boys had a nasty habit of kicking the ball too high. The ball would sometimes get stuck in the tree. To recover it children would shake the tree, throw stones and fagots. The shaking loosened the twigs of my nest. I was scared for my life. The first egg I had laid, perished, as the loose nest could not hold it, so I abandoned it.

 

I see, that’s the reason Ms Dove entered your readymade nest. Not only that, Ms Greeny said. There was too much traffic. Shrill and ear piercing screeching from cutting and grinding of tiles and wood in the adjacent house. The clatter-clatter, bang-bang of tools & tackles till late night was too disturbing. I agreed, as we living down the lane too feel disturbed with the shrill screeching of the drills and cutters.

 

Where have you finally settled, I asked? On your opposite lane, she said. Those thick trees over there, you see. We are a couple of friends who have decided to nest there. Its shady, quiet, and absolutely no disturbance from the houses around. Hopefully, by mid April, I shall bring the little ones to meet you.

 

What has been on your garden front? Any new development, any surprises? Definitely, I said. An Easter lily, which we had procured about eight years back bloomed out of the blue. Eight years, that’s a long time, Greeny said. You cannot imagine our happiness. This was a deep red coloured one and remained in bloom for a week plus. Every passerby paused to admire it.

 

I also have a problem. What? Greeny asked. Have you heard of ‘Mother Pluckers’. No, who are they? Well, in school we had ‘Pen Chors’. You left your pen unattended for a wink and whack it went.

 

Here innocent looking mothers and grand mothers pushing prams of their grandkids pluck flowers. They have no ‘sharam’. Most of them know that there is CCTV surveillance, but they still do it.

 

The other day we were out in the garden till about 9 in the morning. A pang of hunger churned our bellies. My wife and I rushed in to enjoy our meal. On return, I found out of the two lily flowers, one was missing.

 

I looked around the pot but the flower hadn’t fallen. The oozing liquid from the freshly plucked stem was sign enough that some one had picked it. I checked the camera recording and to my surprise I found a grandma pushing her grandchild in a pram, halted short of our parked car. One step into the pots and a quick flick of the wrist. She hid the flower in the ‘pallu’ of her sari and off they went. She hasn’t returned since that day.

 

Don’t you complain about these ‘Mother Pluckers’? No, I said. They were visitors and have gone away.

 

It is time for me to leave, said Greeny and before I could bid her goodbye, she was off. I kept thinking about our conversation and returned home. When shall we exchange notes again? I wonder!!!!!!!

 

JAI HIND

© ® NOEL ELLIS