CHANGING OUR CLOAKS
These days one has got into the habit of speaking to all visitors of the ‘non-human’ kind. When they are in a mood they chat too. Generally, they are busy feeding themselves. Once in a while they get startled and fly away, only to return and continue our conversation.
Reptiles like Chameleon are too shy to speak. They talk to their own kin when they are in the ‘mating mood’. Squirrels reply to my squeaks and come as close as their comfort levels permit. Most of the time we exchange notes on food and predators as our favourite topics.
The other day, I heard loud peacock calls. It took me to the boundary wall close to our home. A photo if possible was all I wanted. However, there was a high wire mesh for security reasons which was between me and them. A short call from me and they responded by inching close to the wall.
I climbed up an embankment to peep across and say hello but saw a village cremation ground. The pyre was still simmering but had turned to cinders. People must be on their way to pick up the ashes for disposal. A flock of partridges were sitting and calling on the side, while these peacocks were feeding and moving closer to me.
The wire mesh obstacle between me and them was an irritant. Still, from in between the mesh I clicked. They got alerted but knew I could do no harm from across the wall, so didn’t mind my presence. In between our exchange of calls, I heard my wife call. It was time for me to head back home.
As she was laying down breakfast, a champa leaf caught my eye. My old friend Mr Hopper was sticking to it and swaying with the wind. I was looking for him for sometime now as many of our plants had been gnawed by him. The bonsai lemons were almost bald with no leaves at all courtesy him.
Admonishing him for his behaviour I shook that branch for him to fly away. He just wouldn’t move. With rain clouds encircling, it was dark under the leaf where he was stuck. I asked him to mend his ways but he just kept quiet. All I heard was the rustling leaves and chirping of birds.
I thought he was enjoying the joy ride which the movement of the branch was giving him. As the sway died down, I thought I must finger him to hop away. I touched him but he didn’t move. For a moment I thought he was dead.
How come no bird had seen the carcass, if he was dead? They would have enjoyed this juicy variation in their morning snack. Something was amiss. I asked him again to fly away before I evict him from his perch. He refused and kept sticking to that leaf as if he was stuck with glue.
Enough Mr Hopper, I said, and touched him. He still acted like a statue. He was dead. How unfortunate! It was then I realised, it was just the outer shell of his body. He would have stuck himself on the leaf by digging his claws firmly. Then emerged out of that shell as a new grasshopper and flew away.
That is why you were not responding to my closeness Mr Hopper, I said. It was time to take a photo of his shell. He had moved on to greener pastures in a fresh soul and body.
I wasn’t aware that grasshoppers exit their old coats. Can we humans also shed our ‘dirty cloaks’ of ‘hatred and greed’ and start afresh? I wonder!!!!!!!!
JAI HIND
© ® NOEL ELLIS
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