24
Salonki asks for Guturgu at the village
I need to find Guturgu, the blue-rock
pigeon, and seek his advice on taking revenge on Billi, Salonki told Bade Miya
and Chote Miya. Billi is hiding in the marsh near the grassland and frightening
all the birds, Salonki added. Bade Miya snorted angrily. Billi is hiding in the
marsh near the grassland? That would not do, that would not do, that would not
do, Bade Miya said, and angrily snorted and shook his head up and down and
sideways. Chote Miya also nodded vigorously. The marsh is my favourite resting
spot during the hot noon sun. I need the marsh, to relax, after a hard day's
work at the cropfields.
Bade Miya added, we need the marsh,
and we need all our bird friends. We need Kotwal, the black drongo, Salonki,
the common myna, and her cousins, along with Teetiri and Teetiraa, the
redwattled lapwings. We need all our friends while we rest and wallow in the
marsh. Salonki also nodded and added that all the birds also loved their
presence. The presence of the oxen in the marsh disturbed the insects from its
bottom and provided easy food for most birds. Especially Salonki and her
cousins and for Kotwal. They simply loved to perch on the backs of the oxen.
Billi should be chased away from the
marsh, Bade Miya said. And who would do that, would you? asked Chote Miya
sarcastically. Yes. Yes. I can chase Billi away. I can chase all the village
dogs. I am not a coward like you, replied Bade Miya. Coward? Who are you calling
a coward? Chote Miya asked. You. I am calling you a coward. Bade Miya retorted
and added, I would have loved to go with
Salonki right away to chase Billi from the marsh, but I am tied down to the
post by my farmer. What can I do? I am helpless right now.
Chote Miya snorted angrily, and said
that it was more likely because Bade Miya had just eaten a lot of sugarcane,
and could not even move from his spot. Bade Miya again rose to retort, but
Salonki decided not to hang around and listen to this conversation that went
back and forth throughout the day. Salonki knew that these two could argue upon
absolutely useless topics for days and weeks without any purpose. They had
nothing else to do. They had to sit next to each other, walk alongside each other,
work with each other, and live with each other as long as their farmer kept
them together. Without seeking any more advice from Bade Miya or Chote Miya,
Salonki flew off to the flock of pigeons and to ask them about Guturgu.
