SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

07/X/2025

As a habit, I generally catch the full moon. Yesterday being ‘Sharad Purnima’, one was looking forward to get a glimpse. Between the hide and seek of clouds, one got a window, but the clouds veiled the face of the moon, like a bride removing her ghoonghat.

It has been raining like hell. It was as if all clouds had gathered over our place and emptied everything they had. Thus, this morning, I had all the time in the world. There was no watering to be done, thanks to the rain.

My first encounter was with a small group of tailor birds. There were eight or nine of them frolicking around. Little babies and their parents. All masis, phuphis, chachis, tais and mamis were there with their husbands picking on insects hiding in the foliage.

It was time for a walk in the common garden on a cloudy morning. I thought to myself, why walk alone, and picked up my camera. Maybe, some special guest may pose for me.

As customary, a look on the half dried ficus tree is a must. Believe you me, if you stand for sometime, there are a number of species of birds which visit it. My eyes fell on my old friend Mr Malya the Kingfisher. This bird fascinates me no end.

He sat in the sway of the breeze but mind you his head was absolutely still; like those dancing dolls balancing their heads while their bodies swayed. The Kingfisher was keenly scanning the landscape below, looking for shikar. These days, chameleon babies are abundant in the garden. There could be no better snack than a juicy ‘Girgit’ for Mr Malya.

Just then a passer by got into a conversation with me. “Photo kheench rahe ho”? Yes, I said still focussed at Mr Malya. Today, I was keen to catch him in action with something big in his mouth. But the guy walked over and stood next to me. I knew, Mr Malya would get conscious and fly away. That is what happened.

“Meri photo lo na”. I had half a mind to tell him to FO. My mood which was so upbeat suddenly went downbeat. But then one has learnt to live with such interruptions. I told him to pose while I clicked his photos. “Nahi, aise lo, waise lo, idhar se lo, baith ke lo”.

Helloooo! Mister, who ever you are. What do you think I am? Please let me continue doing what I was doing without disturbance, I told him curtly. This guy was cool and continued, “Kaun sa camera hai? Kitne ka hai? Kya ye mobile par picture bhejte hai”? He kept firing a volley of questions at me without a break. I gave him my number and promised to send his photos.

Some irksome characters just do not understand. “Kab bhejoge”? Thora setting kar ke bhejna,”. “Der mat karna”, he said. O Bhai! Tu jane ka kya lega, I said with folded hands? He told me that he was the caretaker of a house opposite ours. A Nepali guy. Within minutes I traced out his village near Tanakpur in UP.

I asked him if his family was affected in the recent riots. He replied in negative and was quite surprised I knew his place so well. I told him I had visited those villages in my childhood. That story later. This guy was born and brought up in Delhi. In the little Gurkhali I knew, I told him “मेरो कम्प्युटरमा डाउनलोड गरेपछि म तपाईंलाई फोटोहरू पठाउनेछु, बुझ्नुहोस्।“

He frowned and laughed and walked away smiling. He knew, I knew his language too.

By then Mr Malya had left for greener pastures. So, I thought to myself that the light was not perfect, the photos won’t be perfect either . The kingfisher would return everyday. So, I shifted focus to a flock of sparrows who were feeding on the road near my car.

Just then from the side of my eye, I noticed birds flying in formation. From the looks of it, they were ‘Ibis’, going for their daily hunt. I wish I could have also spotted a few cranes too.

As I promenaded home, Mr Malya called, like we were playing peek a boo. He had changed sides on the tree. A few clicks and I walked home to admire the plants. A dove had joined the sparrows for breakfast and my breakfast was ready too.

When I have nothing to do, hunger strikes hard, but the day there is a camera in my hand, food pangs don’t bother me at all.

The day is dedicated to Mr Chettri, who modelled for me besides the birds. What can you say to such an unsolicited ‘guest appearance’? I wonder!!!!!!!!

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