Life in the suburbs has quite a few luxuries: a room with a view of a lush garden is one among them. Days when I am not spending my time scurrying about, I usually park myself beside the window and eavesdrop on the lives of other inhabitants who also claim the house and the garden their own.
It’s seven in the morning on a lazy Sunday. The sky is laden with thick monsoon clouds. But as the morning sun spreads its first tentative rays, it’s time for the noisy parakeets to assume an important air and perch themselves on the branches of the guava tree. They are definitely the ones to devour the choicest fruits first before anyone else can lay claim. Breakfast done, they take off in the same vein, condescendingly giving way to the remaining claimants.
Meanwhile, the dove has decided to linger a while on the window ledge. But a pair of robins is determined to break its morning reverie. Reluctantly, it shifts to the edge but feeling outnumbered, finally makes way for another pair. The mynah and its pair have decided to check out the rooftop flower pots first before venturing into the slushy foliage beneath. The monsoon rain promises a hearty breakfast, much more than they can stomach.
The day is wearing on, the kingfisher doesn’t consider it worthwhile to waste any more time. Perched decidedly with an intent air, it makes its first swoop of the day and comes out with a wriggling, glistening piece from the pond below. The woodpecker, meanwhile, sports a contented look as the rainy season has made its job easier, almost like bagging a free lunch.
Once the furry friends have feasted to their fill, it’s time for the mongoose family to start looking for breakfast. Mother mongoose, with two babies in tow, scampers through the garden and takes charge of its delights for the next hour or so. It’s now time for me to back off from the window—for Ma Mongoose has caught a mid-sized snake and would loathe to be eavesdropped—and leave them to their lip-smacking meal, while I go and get my second round of morning tea and perhaps a slice of that hot walnut cake which has just been brought out from the oven.
5 comments:
how i envy u and ur garden gang :-D
Walnut cake,mmmm!I often the pleasure of doing just the same in verdant Vasant Kunj too and it is a total delight. I would skip the snake bit though! My weak heart won't be able to take that. One face to face meeting with the wriggly kind was enough for me!
:)
Not to mention the corvus splendens that bring food from all around and settle on the edge of the kitchen terrace and have a feast.
Hey i happened to visit your blog by chance but i feel that i was lucky to get the chance.Anyways this mongoose post touched me alot as it reminded me of my childhood days in a small town.Actually while reading ur post i imagined myself in the place of yourself near the window.
Well looking forward to visit your blog again.
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