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MEETING THE PEAFOWL


 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

 

24/V/2025

 

It was a lovely morning, the sun shone bright and the sky was as blue. My visit to the Mandir side beyond our colony boundary wall was due in quite some time. They had put barriers by deploying thorny Kikkar branches to block the entry of stray cows, near the mandir. It was time to give it a check.

 

Aim was to meet my very old good friends ‘The Peafowl’ family. I keep hearing their calls, beckoning me to say hello to them but I did not respond. Today, was the time to spend some time with them.

 

As I reached the side gate, there was a flock of BIRDS trying to scavenge some scattered grains. People were not feeding them like they used to. Maybe, people had gone on summer holidays. Even their water bowls were dry. I requested the guard there, who seemed totally disinterested.

 

I asked the ‘Tittahri’, about the rest of her friends. She too just kept feeding. Then I asked Robin. She was busy singing and bobbing her tail with each call. Then a squirrel came close and told me that my friends would be in the Mandir.

 

I could hear their calls, so I strolled till the backyard of the temple along the boundary wall. There we have a platform for feeding the birds. Sparrows and doves had already congregated for breakfast, but the peafowl were missing.

 

I saw Pandit ji busy with his pooja. His bell was ringing and the thali was in circular motion. His chants were faint, probably due to a sore throat. He finished and said goodbye to the deities’ and walked away from the premises.

 

As soon as he squeakily latched the temple gate, in flew my majestic male friend the peacock. He sat atop the gate and paused. Probably the sound of the latch was a signal to him for “all clear”. I was behind the boundary wall so he couldn’t spot me but I could.

 

Grandly, it came down the gate and walked like a royal prince to enjoy his morning meal. As soon as it started pecking the grains, I raised my camera stealthily to get photos of “His Royal Highness”. My presence did not bother him and he stood up tall and kept calling intermittently.

 

A princess responded to his invitation. A lady knight took position on one side of the temple boundary and paced up and down as the bodyguard and early warning in case of danger. She too was not perturbed due to my presence, though she had spotted me, I guess.

 

A princess came flying in. This beautiful girl seemed to be in distress. As she rose to mount the gate from where they generally enter, she could not balance herself on the iron bar on top. She just hopped down into the temple perimeter and started to walk to join the royal prince.

 

This girl had a limp which caught my attention. She was wobbly as she walked. The limp was prominent but she was hungry. “Lopity lop, clipity clip” she strode to where the prince was feeding and didn’t wait to start her meal. The knightess kept pacing up and down on the other side on duty.

 

I zoomed in to see what was her problem and why she was limping. One leg was thicker than the other. Why so? I wanted to ask her, but knowing any disturbance will startle them to fly away or move out, I kept quiet and watched them feed themselves.

 

She couldn’t have Polio, like we humans do. Could this have occurred due to inbreeding? Possibly yes. Could she have broken a leg in a brawl or competition. That was the most likely possibility I suppose.

 

The joint had not healed properly or was still in the healing process. This girl must be in pain. F fighting for survival must be very tough in these harsh conditions. The water bowl lying on the side was full here. They ate and drank alternatively.

 

It was time to move on from my breakfast too. I hope when I meet those royal folks next time, the princess will be much better and walking straight and with pride. I didn’t click her much as I could feel her pain.

 

Prince charming stood on one side, as if telling her to eat her fill while he groomed himself.

 

Suddenly a stray dog appeared from nowhere. Our lady gave out a plaintive and very loud call and took off. There was a parapet wall which she was about to hit, but luck was on her side. Hitting a side wall could be the reason for her fractured leg.

 

Could there be another reason? I wonder!!!!!

 

JAI HIND
©® NOEL ELLIS




Comments

  1. Anonymous24 May 2025 at 12:44

    Nicely put across Noel....thanks dear....

    ReplyDelete

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