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NEW COUPLE IN TOWN

 

NEW COUPLE IN TOWN


 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

30/III/2024

 

Since about a month a couple has been visiting our neighbourhood regularly. They are shy but very talkative with each other. My guess was that they could be planning to build their abode.

This couple would come, hang around, visit our garden, appreciate our flowers but then the moment I or my wife would go out they would retreat and vanish. With circumstances prevailing in society, no one talks to no one unless the ice has broken. We took it in that spirit.

Renovation and construction in the neighbourhood brings its own issues. The clangs, bangs, cheen-choon of various cutters, the chatter of the labour, dust and above all an uncouth surrounding till the contractor leaves lock stock and barrel.

I had it in mind to tell this couple to please cooperate and ensure to reduce pollutants to the barest minimum. I kept quiet and kept observing.

Many times, they would get intimate. It was like catching Mommy kissing Santa Claus. They didn’t care. People zip-zap-zoomed on their vehicles and even walked without noticing them. These days no one bothers and cares. We too didn’t poke our nose or said a word for this public display of affection. The Sun City was definitely changing. Here, we have seen many youngsters ‘chilling’ quite often.

I was quite surprised at the lady for choosing him as a partner. This guy is short but extremely dark and handsome. His favourite dress is a black shiny coat. I consider myself to be dark, but this guy is the limit of that shade. The lady is much fairer and very graceful. One could make out that she was a thorough bred. They made a lovely couple and having them next doors would be a pleasure.

After about a week, their visits became quite recurrent. Earlier, they would come in the morning, do their reconnaissance and leave. Sometimes, they were seen in the evening too. Now, they were hanging around all day long. They would leave for a short duration and then return.

Finally, they started to build the structure. Probably, it was the Mahurat day. No labour was employed. It was just the two of them. They probably had a store of some kind close by where they were fetching items one by one. If the lady would be away, the man was at the spot and vice versa. Mostly, it was the lady doing the toiling.

It took me sometime to fathom about their recce patrols earlier. Firstly, they found that our colony and neighbourhood had no security issues. They would have probably checked us out too. Someone would have told them that we are not all that bad people. Food and water were in abundant supply, so while they were busy constructing, they needn’t be distracted with all that.

One piece at a time, they got things going. In between there was someone in the colony who objected. While we were inside, we heard a ruckus going on. One of them even tried to break their little beginnings. Moment, I came out, those miscreants vanished.

That is the time the Man came to me and kind of talked to me. I didn’t understand his language but his voice was very sweet and courteous. It appeared that he was thankful for our intervention. As I stretched my hand to shake his hand, he scooted off. Probably a little afraid.

Then both of them returned and went on with their business.

Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is Mr Blackie and Ms Brownie the Sunbirds who have started making a nest on one of the hanging fairy lights strung over the common fence. They have no dearth of water and nectar from our garden. They know that we would react if any predatory birds attacked their nest.

Let us see how many days this new couple takes to finish their ‘bungalow’. Our home is blessed and we too are blessed with the arrival of this new couple. When do we see their chicks? I wonder!!!!!!!

 

JAI HIND

© ® NOEL ELLIS 


PS- Photos later


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