31
Salonki tells the story about Guturgu
Salonki told Kotwal the entire story
about Guturgu and Bade Miya and Chote Miya. Upon hearing about Guturgu's
confusing advice, Kotwal agreed with Salonki that Teetiri should be part of the
plan to chase Billi away from the marsh. He said that he would search for Bater
while Salonki should go to talk to her partner and relatives at the babool
tree. It was a wonder that Billi had not already run away from the marsh while
listening to the mynas chattering away non-stop and so loudly. Kotwal did not
agree with Salonki that Teetiraa had to be called back to take Teetiri's place
at the nest. Let us search for Bater first, offered Kotwal. He may perhaps know
more about tackling Billi than we may know. Who knows? Kotwal shrugged.
Kotwal flew off across the grassland
in search of Bater. He flew up high, trying to decide which area should be
searched first. He could see Teetiraa hunting for insects near the river’s
edge. He went up to the river and perched on an arjuna tree. There was Bulbul,
moving around inside the arjuna tree branches. Phoolchuki's cousins were
arguing nearby. Teetiraa seemed to be talking to some of his cousins from
across the river. He could hear Teetiraa calling out to his cousins with short
abrupt calls and their replies in a similar manner.
The sparrows were also enjoying
themselves here, feeding on the fallen foodgrain and drinking at the various
small puddles near the river, and getting themselves wet. Bater was not to be
seen. How does one search for Bater? How could he search for Bater? He knew
that the jungle bush quail was a very nervous bird, very protective of its
children, rushing off in a great hurry, always seeming to go somewhere
urgently. He had not seen Bater stop to chat with anyone. He had not heard any
gossip about Bater. So how did he go about in the grassland without any other
bird actually knowing about him and his family?
This would not do, thought Kotwal. He
needed help. He could not go about alone
trying to search for the jungle bush quail in the grassland. He had to take
help from his family. Even if he did not like to depend upon his family, he
would have to go and ask them to help him search for Bater. He flew back and
forth across the river, searching on both the banks. He knew that his father
loved to sit in the shade of the arjuna trees and hunt for insects flying above
the dry river bed. It seemed like a good day to meet up with his father,
thought Kotwal, watching the numerous insects flying about. He could see at
least four other black drongos flying out of a large arjuna tree and catching
an insect each on every attempt. That was probably the spot where he would be
able to catch up with his father, he thought.
