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How could Bater fight Billi?
But, Guturgu was a wise bird. He knew
what he was talking about. He must have thought about it and must have felt
that this was the best option. But, why did Guturgu choose the most frightened
bird? Would not Bater get frightened when he actually stood in front of Billi?
The mere sight of Billi in the grassland had left Salonki thinking about all
her sad memories. And what would she do in the plan? How, how, how, how, how
could Bater fight Billi?
Bater most certainly would not go
anywhere without his family, thought Teetiri. So Bater’s family would also need
to be included in the plan. Whatever plan it was, it now included Bater, all
the jungle bush quail and Teetiri. There had to be a solution somewhere. She
could include Salonki and her cousins, Kotwal and his family, perhaps Dominga
and Darzi. Not Bulbul certainly. He could not hide any secret. Also Chimini.
She could not be trusted with secrets. But the plan had to revolve around
Bater. And she had to be seen to lead it. She could not hide somewhere and send
Bater into the marshy waters to fight Billi. What to do, whattodo,
whattodowhattodo, thought Teetiri to herself.
She looked at Bater and his family,
again and again. Just look at them, standing there, like an easy target, so
naïve looking, so identical, thought Teetiri. Who was that jungle bush quail
wandering about, seemingly more confident than the others? Was that not Bater’s
son? Now the jungle bush quail were no longer standing in a circle. They seemed
to have got over their fright and were moving about within the circle of all
the birds gathered there. Perhaps Bater’s son could be sent in to fight Billi.
He seemed more courageous than Bater himself. But which one was Bater’s son? They
looked all the same, exactly identical. They also seemed equally frightened. And
suddenly, Teetiri realised that was the answer. That, that, THAT, THAT, THAT
was the answer, Teetiri thought excitedly. Definitely. What an idea. She jumped
up and down, flapped her wings, and began to laugh at the simple idea that she
had got. Guturgu was smart.
The other birds looked at her in a
puzzled manner. Had she gone mad, Darzi wondered. Bater was getting more and
more frightened. Teetiri, my friend, have you gone crazy, asked Kotwal? No, no,
Teetiri replied, and added, I have only now begun to understand what Guturgu
must have wanted us to do. Look at Bater and his family, Teetiri continued to
explain to the other birds, they are always looking so frightened. But inspite
of their fears, they have agreed to help us. They do not even know what they
are getting into. But they are ready to help. They are ready to help, just
because we need their help and because they love their grassland. And here we
are, each one of us, skilled in one way or the other, experts in fighting Naag
and Dhaman, experts in fooling Lombdi and Shikra, and now we are frightened of
one single Billi. But it is Bater’s fright and nervousness that will be our
best weapon to fight Billi, said Teetiri.
