A - Night Bird

Another page from my dear diary.


I got up very late ? late to bed and late to rise. Everyday I
promise to get up early, would so much like to drink the fresh morning
air before my first cup of tea. But no, I break my own promises. I drew
aside the window curtains and saw my neighbour's garden bathed in the
early morning sunshine, and the smiling sunflowers facing the east to
welcome the bright red ball just out of his sleeping bag and marching
on its rising spree.


The flowers and plants in the garden swayed in a happy mood
with the chilly wintry breeze, enjoying the warmth of the sun. The
garden washed with colourful roses, marigolds, dahlias, zinnias,
sunflowers, with butterflies hovering around. The sunflower has the
guts to look up straight into the face of the sun.


I sipped my morning cup of tea, special Darjeeling tea aroma
filled the room. The screeching of the birds drew my attention. The
sound came from the backyard. The jack fruit tree in my backyard had
large number of visitors today ? a feathered lot. They seemed to be at
war with someone. To my utter surprise, perched on the acute angle
formed at the meeting of the lowest branch with the tree trunk, an owl
sat there with its eyes closed. These birds, bigger than the sparrow,
had flocked in large number to attack the night bird taking shelter
from the sunlight that blinded it. A white owl, its claws gripped the
bark of the branch but least bothered of the other birds that dared not
peck him but flying close by.


This tree bore fruits in summer and housed many crows with
their nests on the higher branches. The feathered lot did not like my
presence and interference in their domain and I did not have time
either. The owl, white breast, twisted from side to side with its grip
firm on the branch, eyes closed as in meditation, cool and calm,
showing no volatile action to the attackers.


I had kept six live crabs in a big cardboard box the previous
night only to kill them this morning to feast on them. Dressing crabs
is difficult and spent a lot of time on this sinful act of killing. But
when cooked and served on the table with rice ? so tasty it was. Six
crabs and two people to eat ? kept the rest for dinner to be served
with hot rotis.


The neighbour's kids came to see the owl, shrieks and shouts
from them did not disturb the sleepy head. Simi the youngest of them
had learnt to spell 'owl' and went on repeating it over and over
again.


One Eyed Jack that is what we call him ? the stray cat with
one eye ? stole in through the front door, climbed the tree, jumped on
to the wall from where he could have a look at the owl.



My neighbours said, 'a white owl in your backyard, it's a
good omen. It is 'lakshmi pecha', will bring you loads of wealth, you
are very lucky'. Their words brought a smile to my face and how I
wished their words would turn out to be true, but I am thinking
something foolish.


At nightfall the owl hooted and flapping its wings flew away
in search of its prey, maybe a mouse it would feast
upon.


I have seen sparrow's nest, crow's nest, bulbul's nest,
pigeon's nest, haven't seen an owl's nest. How does an owl's nest look
like?


Today I have kept my promise and am off to bed early making
it easier for me to say, 'early to bed, early to rise, makes a man
healthy, wealthy and wise'.