( Tatya is a black and yellow jacketed hornet with a nasty sting on its butt , an abbreviation of Tataya , the generic Hindi name for wasps , and Pitambar is a yellow wasp , meaning one with a yellow attire . )
"So , in the house where I live.." began Tatya one morning with a great deal of presumptuousness and pomposity .
" You live in a house now ? Like humans ? " Pitambar was incredulous , impressed and a trifle scared for his friend , and his own association with Tatya . Proximity to humans always spelt danger . There were screams , sprays of poisonous gases , flames , smokes and hot water . Pitambar shivered from his past reminiscences .
"Arrey , no . relax . " Tatya continued to clean his proboscis which he had unrolled from inside his mouth , slowly , deliberately , thoughtfully , after a long draught of water he was having at the central fountain in the park , when Pitambar chanced upon him . He was reclining on a branch , his legs one on top of another , just like a human . Pitambar thought , this Tatya must have been a human in his last birth .
Heck no, he might be one in this birth too , just taken the hornet's form , by mistake .
Once again , Pitambar's danger alarm went off , in his mind . Should he continue being friends with this freak ?
"Then ? You have build a house , like we all do for our babies , our queen ?"
"Pshaw !! " Tatya scoffed . " No queen -shween "
"What ? You built a home for yourself ?" Tatya nodded and smiled his don-like lopsided smile .
Pitambar was beside himself with disbelief . How could he ?
"How could you ? Isn't this against the code ? You are a male , you are supposed to find a mate , then build a house for her and your future kids !!"
Tatya just mouthed his friend's words , noiselessly , rolled his large compound eyes , and said nothing .
"So you built a house just for yourself ." Pitambar had to say it again to make it sound true .
Tatya just nodded .
"How could you ?"
This was where Tatya lost it .
"What do you mean , how could I ? Why can't I ? I ask you , why shouldn't I ? I want to live in a snug . cosy place , protected by the elements , all by myself . Why can't I ? Why should I share it with a grumpy , grouchy , complaining , demanding woman and screeching , brattish children . Listen , I have a very short life . I want to spend it in peace , and tranquillity and quietude . Get it "
Tatya was out of breath after this tirade and had rolled back his proboscis , sucking it into his mouth with a thump .
Pitambar was still in shock . But he knew better than to butt Tatya with more questions . Tatya had gone too far again . Again , he was thinking and acting like humans . A home all for himself !! What a preposterous thought ? Pitambar was flying away , away from this half -human hornet . He knew from his usage of big long words , that he was in a very , very bad mood . He didn't want to be around his friend right now . He would come back later , once he had cooled down .
Or , who knows , Tatya might visit him , at Pitambar's mud abode , crawling with young ones .
But he liked playing with my kids . And he always praised my wife's cooking . What happened with him ?
Pitambar prayed an age old prayer " God ! please find him a wife . A woman hornet , crazy enough to love him , " .
Feeling suddenly very paternal towards his friend , Pitambar heard a whoosh next to him . He was thrown off guard . Pitambar flew slowly , deliberately . This thing flew at the speed of light , like a jet .
Pitambar had to stop suddenly , or "step hard on your brakes " , as Tatya would put it .
Tatya was hovering on his flight path , folded arms , looking very cross, staring straight at him .
"Whhat now ?" Pitambar found his tongue .
"Don't go about tattling about me ?Ok? "
"No, no . Of course not ."
"I do not want paparazzi outside my home when I wake up in the morning . " Pitambar and Tatya were hovering in the air , facing each other .
I think this is what is famously called " face -off" , Pitambar thought and almost slapped himself mentally , for such " human thoughts "
Then , suddenly , inexplicably , Tatya burst into laughter . He clutched his tummy , rolled mid air , his wings , still buzzing , and snorted from his nose . It was a quizzical and hilarious sight , all rolled into one . A passing mynah tut tutted and took a swipe at them . Both quickly shot zig zag then disappeared inside the fronds of a banana leaf.
Gathering themselves , it was Pitambar's turn to be angry .
"What is wrong with you Tatya ? First , you say , behave , and do strange things . Then you block the birds' highway , creating a ruckus , right there .We could have been killed , swallowed into that mynah's tummy ."
"You should have seen the look on your face ?" Tatya was still laughing , wiping tears from his compound eyes , against the leaf frond.
The place was warm , sticky and infused with a leafy green glow . Pitambar was feeling dizzy , like having taken drugs . He peeped out , cautiously from inside , and was about to fly out when Tatya zoomed out , all style , with great noise , and settled down on one of the branches of the neem .
"You are reckless . " Pitambar had just one cautious word to say to Tatya . "I am going home ."
Tatya just tut tutted , imitating the mynah .
" Be careful not to drink any neem sap . It is poisonous . " Piatmbar called out even as he faded from Tatya's sight .
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