There is a resident spider in my bathroom . The first time I entered , it saw me and we both gave a start . In its own language , I am sure it let out a blood curdling scream too . Luckily , no one was at home . That left the spider and me both to our own devices .
I did my job , and it stationed itself in an unobtrusive corner . We gave each other space without descending into hysterics .
Now, one year later , It still lurks in some corner of the bathroom , whenever I use it . Mostly , I am able to see it . I am sure it spies on me too , with its eight eyes , all its eight limbs on full alert , to scurry quickly away .
When my parents came over , they yelled too . They live in a city, and cannot comprehend the idea of sharing private spaces with arachnids . But the spider is wise . It keeps itself hidden , inside the ceramic sink pipe cover . Comes out only when the coast is clear .
I google lensed it . It is a huntsman spider . That does make it all the more fearsome .
Being hunted by eight pairs of eyes and eight limbs clambering all over you might not be an agreeable way to depart from this planet.
Yesterday , I discovered a smaller , transparent and frailer version of the same huntsman on my clothes rack . So , the tribe multiplies .
On second occasion , I am in the throes of making a sweetmeat for Holi . It requires constant roasting of besan with ghee , and I am engrossed in the process , mechanical to the point of numbing . I find something tickling the insides of my elbow . After few attempts I brush my gresy palms across the insides of my elbow , to find , nestled in the crook my arm , a baby centipede . Almost transparent , but wriggly , and very much alive .
Last evening we saw a very interesting beetle on the porch . It was there because , in a total cliched fashion , it was attracted to the balcony light. It had landed on its back , it was pitch black in colour and was wriggling its legs in the air , ineffectually .
Suddenly , it shot up in the air with a click , jumping at least four feet high , to righten itself again . It was a fascinating sight . It repeated its jump couple more of times , eventually landing on its feet and scurrying away .
I looked up on the net . They are called click beetles .
It had a large stodgy looking companion . I discovered that even that one ( a flea beetle ) is known to jump .
The servant quarter leads to my home through a region full of undergrowth . I have often told my help , Rano , to not come through the undergrowth . But , as I said it is a short cut .
Today morning , I could hear panic in her voice as she called me . There was a large , nearly three foot long snake intertwined in the new and old vines of the tree and hanging precariously from there . It seemed loathe to move from its hanging perch . However , rano's husband hit the nail on the head when he said that " The snake is as afraid of us as we are of it ." However , while we were still watching , clicking photos and making videos , it quietly slithered away .
It turned out to be a rat snake and non poisonous .
Two cute rosefinches tried very hard to make a nest in my window , last spring . They are rosy coloured sparrow sized bird , and I was lucky to see them , for the first time in my life . I also saw , Brahminy starlings , Yellow wattled lapwing , bank myna, blue throated barbet , and black redstart . Loten's sunbird , small sunbird , ashy headed starling , jungle myna , and chestnut headed bee eater. Black capped kingfisher . The list goes on .
On another occasion , I was engrossed in a phone call , and was standing idly beneath the peepul tree . Suddenly , something soft landed on my neck . I brushed it away , not thinking much of it . Later , I found both my palm and neck covered in fine transparent needles that quickly began to itch madly .
Several soap washes and anti histaminic ointment applications later , I realised that I had brushed off "Kambal keeda " , or the larva of Macrobrochis Gigas , a beautiful black and white moth endemic to these parts . It is notorious for leaving its itchy "needles " as a survival strategy.
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