ACCIDENTAL DISCOVERY

ACCIDENTAL DISCOVERY

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

07/VII/2023

Sometime or the other, many of us have accidentally discovered something which we had long forgotten or misplaced. We understood when mom used to say ‘bahut sambhal kar rakha hai’. It meant, it could not be traced till it reappeared accidently.

Be that as it may. The weather is hot, wet, and sultry here due to the pre-monsoon showers. This saved me the effort of watering the garden.

With more time at hand, one sat down to groom some pots. A little bit of de-weeding was the need of the hour. At that moment, my attention was drawn to a beautiful purple flower. It was the deepest shade of purple I had seen. I smiled, trying to remember where I had kept it ‘sambhal ke’ till now.

Flashback…. It was in Alibaug where we had first got these flowers in white, pink, and purple colours. They, being seasonal, died at the end of their term. Their stems must have been uprooted and put in our compost bin. Seeds survived and sprouted here after a gap of almost two years. The happiness is inexplicable and its colour is beyond comparison.

This flower has a small story behind it. Once we were visiting a village called Revdanda, for our weekly shopping, when we found this shrub on a hand cart. On asking the owner its name, he said it is “Latest”. Since then, we call it latest, though the official name is Torenia or Wishbone flower.

Another accidental discovery was a ‘Karonda’ bush (Carissa Carandas) growing in our neighbour’s backyard. It is a neglected bush but is fruiting abundantly. This thorny plant grew wild in Alibaug and maid servants used to get them for us from bushes growing around their village.

It has so many medicinal benefits, I came to know. It is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory & vitamin rich. It also gives a ‘cooling effect’ to the stomach etc. However, it is extremely sour but makes very tasty chutney and adds flavour & tanginess to ‘sabzi’. Best use is when taken as an appetizer. I shall seek permission and pluck a few jamun sized fruits, if the neighbour doesn’t mind.

The third accidental discovery was a ‘Bulbul Baby’. Sensing the agitated parents, that is bulbuls with a red bum, I understood that their nest was close by. They had bees and worms in their mouths which was a clear indication that a chick was somewhere around.

I used to wonder, when some bulbuls picked up crumbs I made from Roti from the feeder. They would collect a few pieces in their beaks and fly away. Obviously to feed their chicks. As I clicked the parents, I tripped on something and caught a bush to balance myself to avoid a fall. That is when I heard the squeaking of the chick. It assumed that parents had brought food & opened its mouth to ask for a treat.

My day was made. I was safe and so was the chick. As I walked back home, dreaming of Karondas on my plate. ‘Latest’ smiled at me and I smiled back. It was time for breakfast.

Mother nature has so many surprises in store. Things go off your mind. Sometimes you pass by without noticing, till you accidentally re-discover them. Have you experienced it? I wonder!!!!!!

JAI HIND