MORNING MEETING

 

 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

 

24/VII/2025

 

It was time to say hello to the morning sun after almost a fortnight. The Rain God has blessed this parched desert land in abundance this year. Most of the dams are overflowing. Rivers which are generally dry have water flowing in them for real. It was time for a break or crops could get affected.

 

Having tended to the garden, it was time to see what was ‘unusual’. ‘Curry leaf sprout’ was spotted by my wife growing on its own. Not one but two. I asked her to check for its aroma and taste and she gave a thumbs up. From where and how it grew is a mystery. Nevertheless, now we won’t have to go asking for ‘kadi-patta’ also called “Murraya Koenigii” botanically.

 

She also pointed out to the buds sprouting in the ‘passion flower’ vine. I couldn’t help but break into a broad smile. These flowers are also called the ‘Rakhi Phool’. Having worked on them since they were six inch babies. Now they are six foot plus and growing well.

 

Because there was no watering required, I had some time at hand to meet the Peafowl. They were calling at the top of their voices from across the boundary wall of our colony.

 

One has to peep over the wall to catch a glimpse of them. Before I reached there, I heard the loud ‘scurrying’ of a squirrel. She was in panic mode and alerting everyone of some impending danger. I was far from the scene, but could hear her shrill voice loud and clear. It was time to have a dekho.

 

Increasing my pace to the tree, this girl was sitting overhead. She had seen me and our eyes had met. Intermittently, she kept the alarm going and while twitching her tail. Across the wall, the grass has grown tall. What could be lurking in it? It could be a mongoose, a snake, a stray cat or anything else. I waited for disturbance in the grass, but I couldn’t see anything.

 

I focussed on Ms Squirrel. She was a beauty. On close examination, I found that she was a “wet mom”. That meant her nest must be on the same neem tree or in the near vicinity which I could not spot. Squirrel’s being very possessive of their babies, I knew, she will leave no stone unturned to shoo away whatever was troubling her.

 

Squirrels are called an Écureuil in French, Ardilla in Spanish, Esquilo in Portugese, Belka in Russian and so on. In India she is called a गिलहरी (Gilahari) in Hindi, Khar in Marathi, Khiskoli in Gujarati, Anil in Tamil, Kathburali in Bengali and Kaato in Punjabi. Call it by whatever name, she is a darling.

 

I called to her with my ‘special squeak’. This I know since NDA days when I had kept a squirrel and her babies in my cabin way back in 1983. She lived with me and followed me even when my squadron changed. Imagine, she left her babies behind, or maybe they had grown into adults. Both of us were madly in love with each other.

 

The final goodbyes were difficult when I passed out. Tuk-Tuk was her name. It was a closely guarded secret. One day a Duty officer landed in my room during the day time. My girl was sitting on the banister and enjoying a piece of bread which I used to flick from the breakfast table. I am sure he noticed her but must have brushed it away thinking that it would go back to the wild.

 

Be that as it may. I told this Ms squirrel that I mean no harm and she calmed down. It must be time for her to feed her babies and we exchanged goodbyes. Swiftly and quickly she disappeared running gracefully on that branch.

 

I too skipped home, happy as happy could be. This girl reminded me so much of my NDA days. She knew when I entered the cabin and if I did not open the window, she would scratch on it. Then she would complain about the delay in opening it. Why didn’t you open, where is my food and water? I am sure there must be more questions. Then she would sit on my shoulder and loved to be hand fed.

 

I wish Ms Squirrel here brings one of her babies to me. Will she? I wonder!!!!!!!

 

https://youtu.be/op3cw6c3p-8

 

JAI HIND

©® NOEL ELLIS