Today I woke up to the sound of water being poured from a large jug into a smaller tumbler . The sound repeated itself , at intervals .
The sound emanated from a branch of the jamun tree outside . Upon investigation , it turned out to be a treepie . a rufous treepie. A bird from the crow family , endowed with the whites , browns and whites , in a fetching and complicated combination . stripes of white ending in black , on the tail , a single slash of white on black wings . Brown body with a burnt sienna head and tail . The moment I had located the noise maker , it was joined by its compatriot , producing another sound which can be best described as the rubbing of an inflated balloon .
Then three of them flew away , cackling in their usual, hoarse cries . Presumably telling each other that " what a performance that was , wasn't it ? "
I , in my short stay here, have seen two unusual varieties of flame backed woodpecker, one black shouldered and the other lesser golden backed woodpecker . They hit a termite infested dead branch of eucalyptus infront of the house with tremendous force and their bills appear to continue to ricochet , for several minutes . It sounds like a marble thrown on a steel plate . Ricocheting endlessly . It is amazing to see a woodpecker do that . Nature's very own power packed drilling machine.
Another day a couple of bright yellow and black golden orioles flew past . Peelolo. One cried . The mate Peeloloed right back . Very cute little birds . The type that would make people want to cage them , and make them sing for their supper . Beauty , even in birds , is a dangerous thing . It can cost you your freedom .
I remember seeing a caged bulbul in Kolkata once . The poor thing was set out on the hot tin roof , in a cage , made of wire . I , most likely heard it , before I saw it . It was probably asking for help , or hurling abuses at its captors , in its own dulcet tones . What humans heard as a pretty song , was probably a desperate plea for help, a plaintive yelling . What made the sight more tragic , was it continually moving around in its small cage , round and round .
Then the crows . In the plains , you see the common house crow , which has ashy grey neck. Here we see the Jungle crow , a glossy , jet black cousin of its house variety . They have harsher cries , and are equally noisy when roosting , equally intrepid , intelligent and vastly outnumber any other bird .
Pigeons , those common rock varieties , who so plague our lives in the cities are conspicuous by their absence .
Amongst all the common dove varieties , I have seen only a few small brown doves here.
The mynahs are also fewer in number , Though , the same common mynah we saw in the plains .
Then there are hornbills and peacocks. The unmistakable stars of the show . There are hornbills with a massive black casque over their yellow , enormous beaks . They have black tails , tipped white . Black enormous wings , white tipped . They sway branches with their sudden weight . They fly low , and slow , like miniature aircrafts .
The peacocks rarely come out of their wooded areas . But occasionally , they fly clumsily , their wings beating the air into a hugely audible whoosh. Then they honk, which is heard far and wide .
In our previous station , I saw the brown headed barbet , whereas here , I have seen the striated barbet. a close relative . The calls and habits identical . They too , come attracted to the termite infested dead bough .
Then there are sparrow hawks , white throated kingfisher and the black shouldered, bright red beady eyed kite. They keep , nonchalantly , sitting on fences , or power lines . But they are known to feast on toads , grasshoppers , even raid the smaller birds' nests.
Another star attraction here is the glossy ibis . Of the black curved talon like beak , and a large clumsy body which flies agilely and lightly perches on the topmost branches of the eucalyptus.
“Correction , it is a room full of few donated ( and probably defunct ) pieces of musical instruments. ”
” No. It is a music class.” She emphatically put her glass down . Whatever she was drinking , could wait.
The aggressive clank of the glass attracted some interested glances . Most , however , quickly looked away .
“Okay Baba. It is a music class. But what am I supposed to do there ? ” I hastily whispered. I hated scenes . And I quickly capitulated . A lifetime secret of survival , when living with a gaggle of headstrong females.
“You play and teach kids to play .” She wiped her mouth , decisively.
“Play what ? ” I was near hysterical now . The last time I played any musical instrument , it was 45 years ago , in our school band . Flute . From what I recall , there were no flutes in that godforsaken room .
“Guitar “. She said with simple finality . Draining off her glass . “I saw the way you were looking at that guitar .” Now She winked mischievously. Almost sounding as if I was eyeing a girl.
“Listen ! There is no stopping a person from staring at what he likes , that doesn’t mean …” She passed me by , a cloud of boozy odour followed her , “Tomorrow , 9am , sharp.” She smiled sweetly as she shut the door .
God , I hate that woman . And I would hate to disobey her , in the same breath . What kind of a mouse am I ? My inner masculinity wailed .
“And on guitar is our own Mr. Sanders.” I was never so nervous in all my life . The damned belt cut into my shoulders . I fingered the strings once for effect , and the entire class applauded . “Sheesh.” I Thought .
She was still clapping . The witch .And smiling sweetly to boot . I had rung her up at midnight , thereby breaking another protocol , and woke her up in the midst of her booze fuelled dreams. I had told her , after a couple of hours of binge watching youtube videos , that I can teach them basics , Do-Re -Mi . The notes . Thats all . No fancy songs or tunes . That should take care of a couple of lessons .
She had drawled in reply “I love you Darrrling . I knew you would come up with something , Brilliant . ” And then she had blown a kiss . That kiss travelled all of 35 kms and got stuck to some unmentionable part of my god damned anatomy .