30
Salonki returns to the grassland
Salonki left Guturgu, puzzled and
disappointed, and flew straight to Bade Miya and Chote Miya. They seemed to be
arguing in very lazy voices, about the usefulness of their tails to chase away
mosquitoes and flies that were hovering above them. Bade Miya wanted to use his
tail to kill the insects, while Chote Miya was arguing that the tail should
only be used to chase away the insects. Not to kill them. Chote Miya's opinion
was that dead insects would be replaced with more and more new insects. It was
better to have the number of insects that they were familiar with. Salonki
perched upon Chote Miya's forehead and told them about Guturgu's advice about
Bater and how the birds of the grassland need to protect the marsh by
themselves. Bade Miya snorted immediately
and said,
what use is that
advise? How can Bater help? He is a tiddly-piddly-widly small little scared
ghost of a bird. He is frightened of the slightest movement of grass. Maybe the
sight of his cousin jungle bush-quail would also frighten him. How can he help?
Chote Miya snorted angrily and told
Salonki, O friend, do not get taken in by Bade Miya's words. He is more
frightened of Billi or the village dogs than he would care to admit. He is of
no use and his advise is also of no use. Do not misunderstand Guturgu, Chote
Miya said. Guturgu is very wise, and usually knows what he is talking about. If
he means that you have the strength in you to fight Billi, then Guturgu is
correct. If Guturgu asks you to take Bater's help, then do it. Go and
take Bater's help to fight Billi.
Puzzled at the strange advice from
Guturgu being confirmed by Bade Miya and Chote Miya, Salonki flew back to the
grassland. She flew nonstop to the lone babool stem near the marsh and perched
on it to take some rest. Teetiri did not seem to be nearby. Kotwal could be
seen perched on a high branch on the babool tree. All the other mynas were now
settling down in the babool tree, some chattering, some flying back and forth
from the river at the edge of the grassland. The farmers had returned on their
bullock carts, filled with the foodgrain that they had harvested today. There
must be a lot of spilled grain along the river edge where the carts had crossed
over, Salonki thought. She could see mynas, doves, pigeons and sparrows feeding
rapidly at the river-edge. There were a lot of birds flying about behind the
bullock carts and in the cropfields beyond the river.
Salonki called out to Kotwal and
Teetiri. Hearing Salonki, Kotwal flew down immediately from his perch, while
Teetiri was not to be seen. She must have gone back to the nest, Kotwal said.
She is not here? She is not here? asked a worried Salonki. We need Teetiri.
Guturgu gave some useless advice. We need Teetiri, Salonki gasped. Calm down,
calm down, Kotwal said. We will get Teetiri back. Let us wait till she comes
back from the nest. No, No, No, said Salonki and added, we will need to search
for Teetiraa to return to the nest so that Teetiri can come back to help plan
against Billi.
