SOME
CONVERSATIONS
LT COL NOEL ELLIS
04/III/2023
Some days are lucky but some are
the luckiest, like today. Fish had taken about three days to adjust to their
new tank and were happy to surface more often. However, sensing the slightest
of danger they would dive to the bottom of the tank.
A flicker of a light, shutting of
the door a little hard, twisting of a leaf with the wind or a shadow of a bird visiting
the birdbath would alert them to dive to the bottom. After all they had taken a
beating of shifting to a new home, in new surroundings which was cooler,
shadier, safer, and above all a good summer home stay.
As I walked to feed them when Ms Black Butterfly came visiting. The flap of its
wings over the tank scared the fish again. I asked Ms B, how come to our house.
She said, this is the best garden in town. I smiled and asked her for the
gossip in town. She said, she was busy collecting nectar, but if I followed
her, she would be able to give me some inputs. I latched on.
How’s your photography going,
asked Ms B? I smiled and said, very well. Do you know the Green Pigeons have
returned? Oh yes! I met a pair yesterday. You scared them, they were
complaining. I apologised and told Ms B that I didn’t mean to. I mean no harm.
I extend an invitation to come to our bird feeder. In case they can specify any
particular grain, it would be on the menu with pleasure. Ms B promised to
convey it to them.
In between a pair of humming
birds appeared. Ms B got scared and didn’t want to become an ‘early worm’ for
them. She paused for a moment and sat on a flower. Blackie and Brownie the
sunbirds were in no mood to trouble Ms B. However, they would not spare Mr Moth
or Mr Grasshopper esquire for breakfast. True to their nature, they picked up a
few and shot into the bushes.
Then Mr and Mrs House Sparrow
arrived on the scene. They too had a complaint. How can I help you, I asked? Do
something about Ms Dove, they said. Once she gets into the feeder, it is very
difficult to even come close. She shoos us away. I understand, I said. Why
can’t you defer your timings, I said? Good idea and they flew away.
Suddenly, the car indicators started
blinking. The safety alarm went up. Thank God, we have set it only to
flickering lights, otherwise the whole town would have come to complain. I
caught the culprit red handed. Ms Bulbul it was. She just couldn’t allow anyone
else to sit on my car. Ms B would see her own reflection and attack it making
the front windscreen a ‘slide’ of sorts. From the roof she would slide to the
wipers attacking imaginary demons.
Ms B felt offended as she felt
ignored. I apologised. By then Mr Butterfly joined with fresh news of the
colony. He said, that down the lane a pair of Green Pigeons are roosting. I
took the clue.
I tip toed down the lane. Keeping
my feet softly while scanning the trees to catch a glimpse of my friends. It
was like going on a patrol in enemy territory, cautious as I could be. A crunch
of a dry leaf or twig could startle them. Morning walkers frowned and giggled;
I didn’t care.
The tree they were sitting on was
bare with hardly any leaves. Actually, there was a party on. Ms Bulbul, Ms Dove
and a pair of Green Pigeons were conversing intensely. That is how I could locate
them. A quick snap and I stood still shading my eyes to watch them.
By then there were many morning
walkers rushing to see what I was photographing. One of the passers by asked me
in sign language about my mission. I called him close and pointed towards the
top of the tree and whispered, do you see a pair of green pigeons. He shook his
head. Na. I pointed and whispered again, he kept shaking his head to say no.
The birds got agitated and
alerted. They took off and vanished. Arey, ye to chiriya hai. I said, haan inhi
ko Hariyal bolte hain. Ye ud kyon gayi. Good question, I said and walked back
home laughing to myself.
I promise not to trouble them
again. Will they return? I wonder!!!!!!!
JAI HIND
© ® NOEL ELLIS
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