Teetiri protects the grassland - 18 - Salonki remembers the stranger from the village

18

Salonki remembers the stranger from the village

It was an animal that Salonki had seen only once before. Salonki had seen it inside the village. It was the time that she had accompanied her parents to the village. She and her brothers and sisters had left the nest and had begun to fly just a few days ago. Their parents had wanted to celebrate the fact that all their young ones had begun to fly with confidence, and her father had insisted that they go to the village. He had said that it would be his party. He would treat them to a wonderful feast.

At the edge of the village was a house that belonged to the rich sweet-merchant. Just a week before, a family of mice had successfully made a large hole in the roof of the sweet merchant’s house and had brought out some sweets to feed upon. This had been seen by a flock of mynas who had come to rest at that very moment on their evening flight back from the grassland towards their night roosting trees. Some of those mynas had gone boldly inside the sweet merchant’s house through the large hole to feed upon the uncovered sweets.

They had come back to their night roosting perches in the Peepul tree in the village and had sat drunk after having eaten too much sweets and drunk too much sugar syrup. They seemed so happy and so content throughout the night. Salonki’s father had decided to take his wife and children inside the sweet merchant’s house.  That day Salonki’s family had enjoyed themselves. They had perched on the roof and gone inside the shop, one by one, and fed upon the nice golden yellow coloured sweets. They had been very tasty. They had also eaten the dark brown coloured ones floating on sugar syrup. That syrup had been very intoxicating.

After having eaten more than they could, the family had flown out of the shop and was resting on the roof. They could hardly move off from the roof. A nearby banyan tree had its branches spread over the roof and offered them very welcome shade from the noon sun. The family had decided to take a quick nap under the shade offered by the banyan tree. They had been resting peacefully that day. Salonki could still remember her father and mother smiling very proudly at him and his brothers and sisters. Salonki could remember the day like it was yesterday.

Suddenly, out of the banyan branches, a brownish yellow animal had jumped on to the roof and picked up one of Salonki’s brothers and ran away. They had hardly realised that something was wrong. By the very next instant that they had realised that a member of their family had been taken by this brown-yellow animal, it had disappeared from sight. They had flown up in panic, and gone towards a corner of the village where they could hear some crows cawing excitedly. There, half hidden under an unyoked bullock cart, was the brownish yellow animal, sitting quietly, hissing at the myna family and the crows. There had been no sight of Salonki's brother. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 19 - Salonki’s father spoke to Kaawla Chacha

19

Salonki’s father spoke to Kaawla Chacha

Salonki’s father had asked one of the crows about this brownish yellow animal. The eldest of the crows, Kaawla Chacha, had replied that this animal was ‘Billi’, the village cat. It was very bold, very fast, very quiet and very patient. And, most important of all, it was very dangerous. One should not even try flying close to it. It could jump up, quite high, and injure you with its claws. Why do you grassland and forest birds come inside the village anyway, Kaawla Chacha asked angrily. Why do you come to suffer so badly? Do you see any of the village birds roaming around in the grassland? Or do you see the waterbirds roaming around in the forest? Get some sense, act smart, and survive. Stay in your habitat, Kaawla Chacha gestured angrily at Salonki’s father. Survive. Survive. Survive. Survive.

Salonki remembered all those unfortunate happenings very clearly. Salonki remembered Billi very clearly to this day. Only, he had not expected to see him inside the grassland, hiding in the marsh, and being an expert at camouflage, he told his partner. This animal in front of them, hiding away, very patiently in the marsh was Billi, Salonki told all her relatives. Why was it here, asked Salonki’s aunt, if it was supposed to be inside the village? If we should not go outside our habitat, what was this animal doing outside its village?

It must have come to the marsh to try its luck in hunting down some grassland birds, Salonki said. Okay. Salonki could also play this game. Salonki could also take this opportunity to take revenge for what had happened out there in the village that day. Kaawla Chacha had told Salonki’s father that day that Billi was smart and dangerous. Now let us see if Billi was indeed all that smart, Salonki told her partner. She flew to the lone babool stem to join Kotwal and Teetiri. Rapidly, she told them the story of that unfortunate day in the village when he had lost his brother.  Teetiri had never seen a cat. Billi? What was a Billi? Teetiri asked Salonki. Was it like Bhainsa, the buffalo? Was it like Gadheda, the donkey? Or, was it like Lombdi, the Wolf?

No, No, Kotwal and Salonki said together. It was not like Bhainsa, Gadheda or Lombdi, Kotwal said. This was a Cat, a Cat, a very dangerous animal, Salonki said. There are many types of cats, some large, some small, some spotted and some striped, Kotwal said. So, which one was this, he asked Salonki. Salonki only knew about the village cat from Kaawla Chacha and about how dangerous it was. Salonki herself had not seen Billi from very close. Whatever had been seen on that day in the village was a very fleeting glimpse of a very fast animal.

You won’t understand, Salonki told Teetiri. Do not just wait for it to come out. We have to bring Billi out of the marsh and chase it away from the grassland, Salonki said. They could not allow Billi to take over the marsh. The birds of the grassland would not be safe. No, No, Teetiri said, we have to fight for our grassland. I will fight for the grassland, Teetiri told Kotwal and Salonki, again and again. Not merely fight for the grassland, Salonki interrupted, we have to also humiliate Billi so that he would never return to the marsh and the grassland. It would be a big favour; could they do her this favour? Salonki asked Teetiri and Kotwal. Could they help her take revenge? It would help her feel better and forget the unfortunate happening of that day in the village. They needed to help her plan. It would also help to drive Billi away from the marsh. Teetiri and Kotwal agree to help fight Billi.

Teetiri protects the grassland - 21 - Salonki goes to meet Guturgu

21

Salonki goes to meet Guturgu

Kotwal asked Salonki to fly fast to the village. Speed was important, Teetiri added. Yes, do not hang around to talk to anybody you meet along the way, Kotwal told Salonki. Go and meet Guturgu and ask him for advice. He would be easy to find, because Guturgu never went anywhere. He and his family were always to be found near the various foodgrain storage sheds belonging to the farmers. Salonki could meet Guturgu easily near these sheds in the village, Kotwal said. Make sure you meet Guturgu, because you are now our only hope to save the grassland and its marsh, Teetiri added.

Salonki agreed, actually he kept nodding and shaking her head, and flew directly to the village. We will never know whether Salonki actually understood what we said, Kotwal told Teetiri. Kotwal flew to the babool tree while Teetiri continued to walk around the grassland. Salonki’s partner was sitting impatiently on the babool tree, lost without Salonki and bored with the continuous chatter of his relatives. He asked Kotwal if he had seen Salonki. I am getting bored sitting here with nothing to do and nobody to talk to. What sort of a plan was this? Is Teetiri to be trusted, she asked Kotwal.

Salonki has gone to the village and will return after some time, Kotwal told Salonki’s partner. You have to trust Teetiri. She is doing all this to protect the grassland for its birds. Billi can be quite dangerous. You are all at risk from Billi. We will all be safe once Billi is chased away from the grassland. Salonki’s partner was not convinced. He argued as to why should all the mynas be asked to do as per Teetiri’s plan? Why should they not have a plan of their own? Anyway, Billi cannot chase all the mynas. Teetiri is doing this for herself and fooling the mynas, He told Kotwal.

No, No, No, Kotwal said. Nobody has a plan, and it is certainly not Teetiri’s plan. It is a plan that belongs to all the birds of the grassland. In any case, Teetiri has put no bird in danger. She herself has been cautious because she wants to make sure that Billi is chased away completely. Once gone, he should not return to the grassland or its marsh. We have to work together. You cannot have your plan and I cannot have my plan and somebody else cannot have another plan. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 27 - Guturgu – the leader of the pigeons

27

Guturgu – the leader of the pigeons

Our young male pigeons guard us by continually flying in the sky in tight circles to keep a watch and warn us if any animal was approaching the shed or the neem tree. But what about Guturgu, Salonki asked, was he your leader?  Yes, replied the shy young female pigeon. He plans all the activities of our flock, keeps them together, and helps us find food, shelter and protection. He ensures that they we are not harmed while our aunts and uncles are at the nests. He controls the entire population of blue-rock pigeons in the village. All of us owe our safe existence to him, said the shy young female pigeon, in obvious and absolute reverence to Guturgu.

Again there was a sudden drop of conversation, and silence followed. An almost silent flap of wings could be heard inside the shed and suddenly, Guturgu was there at the window sill. So, Salonki, my old friend, what brings you here away from the grassland? Guturgu asked, stepping outside the window. He was a huge one, larger and fatter than the other pigeons, or seemed to be so, thought Salonki. Salonki had known him earlier when he was slimmer, leaner and faster. Guturgu had visited the marsh waters in the grassland during one very hot summer some years ago. The village pools and the river had gone dry throughout the region during that year. The marsh waters were thought to be bad for drinking for the humans and thus it was freely available to the birds and animals through the summer. Unlike the village pools and the river, the marsh had retained its waters through the harsh summer. It had become quite crowded then, thought Salonki.

I need your help, Salonki said. I guessed as much, Guturgu said, for otherwise you would not be here. Do tell me what is it that you need. Salonki replied, O friend, the marsh waters may no longer be safe. Your know how precious is the marsh to all the birds. And now, we can no longer enter the marsh. Surprised, Guturgu swelled his chest, waved his wings above his head and asked, You can no longer enter the marsh? Pray tell why? Why is it that you can no longer enter the marsh? Is it no longer there? Are the waters of the magical marsh finally gone dry? Are we to suffer this summer? This is a serious matter, my friend Salonki.

Happy that Guturgu had taken the matter so seriously right at the first bit of information, Salonki added, O Guturgu, my old friend, I come to you for help, because only you can help us in the manner in which we need it. The waters are present and will remain so during this summer. But we cannot enter the marsh because Billi is hiding out there, waiting to catch any of the birds that would come inside the marsh grasses. Guturgu gave a hum of understanding, and relaxed. You came to me on your own, my good friend Salonki? And pray tell me, how did you know that I was the correct person to give you advice against Billi?

Teetiri and Kotwal have also sent their regards and seek your support in taking action against Billi, Salonki explained. Guturgu hmmmmmed and grmmmmmmed loudly, and then trmmmmmed and brmmmmed for some more time. He is thinking, said the young female pigeon, obviously very much in love with Guturgu. The young male pigeon-guards were very alert, watching the sky, the roofs of neighbouring sheds, and giving wing signals to other male pigeon-guards flying in the sky. Salonki looked around at the thirty blue-rock pigeons that were standing there waiting to hear Guturgu's words of wisdom. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 29 - Guturgu asks Salonki to return

29

Guturgu asks Salonki to return

We have more and more chicks hatched each week. Many of my children and nephews and nieces have gone to neighbouring villages, Guturgu said. They will take over the other villages like we do at this one. Go back to the grassland. Talk to Teetiri and Kotwal, my good friends. They are wise. Take the help of Dominga, Phoolchuki and Darzi, Guturgu advised. Salonki wondered whether this advice was worth flying so rapidly all this way. Go back to the grassland and face Billi together? Salonki asked tiredly. I cannot go back and tell Teetiri and Kotwal that you told me to ask them to fight Billi on their own. Guturgu, my old friend, I need more advice, Salonki pleaded.

Guturgu laughed. All the pigeons standing on the roof, seeming to pay  attention to the conversation, also laughed uncertainly. They had rarely seen Guturgu in such a good mood. He was usually very angry, going around finding fault with everyone, and blaming everyone. He would scold all the young male pigeons, and threaten them that he would not allow them to become a leader among the pigeons in other villages. They seemed to be happy, Salonki thought, that Guturgu was actually laughing.

Yes, Yes, my friend, Guturgu said and added, I knew you would say that. It is always the best advice that is never found to be practical. Everybody wants practical solutions, not good solutions. You have not searched properly within the grassland to come up with your best weapon. Have you thought of all the birds in the grassland? Have you thought of those birds that know the dry grass areas and the marshy grass areas really, really, reallllllly well? Guturgu asked. Who? Salonki asked. Have you thought of that tiny small expert of the grassland, Bater[bb1] , the jungle bush quail? Guturgu asked. Go and ask Bater to help you. Go.

---

 [bb1]Bater – Jungle Bush Quail.

Teetiri protects the grassland - 32 - Kotwal meets his family

32

Kotwal meets his family

He was correct. His father was indeed there, along with Kotwal's two brothers, one sister, one aunt and her two sons. They seemed to be in a very serious meeting insde the very shady branches of the arjuna tree along the river bank that faced the grassland. They seemed happy to see him, he thought. His two cousins and his aunt did not seem to be so happy. They must have again come to seek his father's permission to hunt for insects in the grassland, he thought. His father would never permit it, he knew, for it was given to Kotwal and two of his sisters only. His father had given him strict instructions that he would have to be careful not to invite other black drongos for otherwise he would not get enough insects to catch.

Kotwal’s elder brother welcomed him by raising his crest and fluffing himself, while his sister fluttered her wings in appreciation of how well he looked. The discussion was about locating the best trees to build their nests during this approaching season, Kotwal’s father told him. It seemed like this year’s choice was between the arjuna and the banyan trees. These trees would withstand the severe summer that would surely hit the region this year. The climate seemed to be getting bad and bad each year. The days were getting hotter each year, while the summer, winter and the monsoon was longer. Every aspect of the climate was getting to be too much each year, Kotwal’s father told all his children. Kotwal and his brothers and sister nodded respectfully.

This was the problem with meeting his family, Kotwal thought. His father had to lecture them and instruct them. He seemed to think that Kotwal and the other children did not know how to live like black drongos. Someday he would tell his father about his own adventures in the grassland, and of how all the birds lived together. But Kotwal’s father seemed to think that the grassland was not able to feed more than two or three black drongos. Once Kotwal had got used to the grassland, he did not wish to hunt for insects near the river banks or in the village. His sister had also begun to like to hunt for insects among the bushes between the grassland and the scrub forest. She hated going to the village or to the river banks.

Kotwal interrupted his father the moment he paused in his lecture. I need your help, and I need it urgently, Kotwal told his father. Before his father could answer with another lecture, Kotwal told everything about Billi, about Teetiri and Salonki, about Salonki’s family in the babool tree chattering nonstop, and about Guturgu’s advice. He now had to search for Bater urgently. It seemed to be the only option left for the birds to be able to protect the grassland. Billi should not be able to hide out in the marsh tonight. If he would do that comfortably, even for a single night, he would return to the marsh regularly and it would not be a safe place anymore. Only Kotwal’s father could help them out at this moment, Kotwal said. And as Kotwal had hoped, his father took charge of the situation. He immediately began to lecture to Kotwal and his brothers and sister on how to search for Bater.

Teetiri protects the grassland - 45 - The War of the Marsh Waters

45

The War of the Marsh Waters

Billi sat there, hiding in the marsh grasses, waiting for some really fat birds to show up. He had got injured in a fight with the village dogs, and had decided to hide outside the village for the day. Billi planned to catch some food that he usually was not able to taste in the village. He had heard Naag tell his wife and children that the marsh was a good spot to catch unsuspecting birds. He had come very eagerly to hide out in the marsh and try his luck in catching some fat birds. His plan was to hide in the grasses surrounding the marsh and pounce upon birds who were not expecting him to attack them.

Billi suspected that his luck may not be good on this day. Strangely, there had been no birds visiting the marsh through the day. There was only that absolutely irritating flock of more than hundred mynas, who had been chattering throughout the day. Not the entire day actually, for about an hour there had been peace and silence near the marsh. The mynas had gone away and seemed to have spread out all over the grassland. It seemed like some strange ritual among the birds in the grassland. They seemed to have gone crazy all over the grassland. Why did they not repeat that crazy behaviour in the marsh? He could have had his pick of the birds, and decide which ones to catch and which ones not to.

The peace was gone once again over the past five minutes. The mynas were back at the babool tree chattering again. They seemed to be spread all around the marsh, some on the trees, while some were feeding on the ground. He could not run after them all over the grassland with his injured leg. If only some of these silly birds would enter the marsh, his stomach would then stop growling. He needed some food, needed it urgently. As if in answer to his prayers, the grasses in front of him parted very hesitantly, and a jungle bush quail stepped out, very nervously.

Not realising that the birds had begun a war against him, Billi looked happily now at the sudden appearance of Bater in front of him. The mynas were chattering away, while a drongo perched on the topmost babool branch, was calling out in a low unfamiliar syllable. This was most unlike the usual calls of the drongo. A bulbul sat on a low perch, silent, watching him and Bater. Billi looked once again at Bater. This jungle bush quail looked very silly, standing there frightened, lost and nervous. This bird could be easily caught, Billi thought. He looked around once again, at the chattering mynas, at the drongo sitting up very high, at the bulbul nearby, and felt that there was no harm in trying to catch the jungle bush quail. He could not keep waiting for more birds to come inside the marsh. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 48 - Bulbul wonders about the plan

48

Bulbul wonders about the plan

Up above in the babool tree, Bulbul wondered as to what this plan was all about. He had thought that he had understood it when Kotwal had warned Bater twice, at the very instant that Billi had pounced. Bater had disappeared in the grass in a very rapid flash, the moment that Kotwal had changed his call from a low single syllable to a harsh screech. But Kotwal was not to be seen now. How Bater would escape Billi this time, Bulbul wondered. Phoolchuki kept moving from branch to branch and warbling in a low voice. Just as Billi stopped crawling and crouched to prepare for the jump, Phoolchuki stood still on a low branch and changed her call to a longer melodious note.

Billi had begun to make the jump when Phoolchuki changed her call. But Billi had not noticed the change as he was absolutely engrossed in trying to catch Bater. Billi landed once again on the marsh ground, but this time on very wet and soggy soil. He tried to get up but seemed to be stuck in the slush. He struggled and somehow pulled himself out of the soggy and slushy mud patch. He searched the spot to see if he had caught the jungle bush quail. He had failed once again. This was getting to be very irritating. He was usually very good at catching birds in the village, when he hid himself in the trees and bushes. What was puzzling was that he could not seem to catch the most frightened looking bird in the grassland. How did that jungle bush quail do that? How did he manage to escape his lunge and at the very next instant disappear and reappear four or six feet away?

Bulbul realised now that while Billi kept chasing Bater around the marsh, Phoolchuki, Darzi and Kotwal were moving around in the low babool branches. Kotwal stayed inside the thick canopy, unseen but coordinating Phoolchuki and Darzi. They were signalling back and forth to Bater and his family, indicating which way Billi was moving about, and where he had to be taken. Bulbul began to assemble the plan as he understood it at the moment. Teetiri had probably identified one bird to warn Bater at the very moment that Billi would make his jump. The birds in the grassland had also apparently decided that Kotwal would warn Bater for two jumps while Phoolchuki and Darzi would also alternately warn the jungle bush quail. Salonki and her mynas had surrounded the marsh along the sides facing the grassland. The unguarded side of the marsh was the one leading towards the village. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 54 - What could he do? What could he do?

54

What could he do? What could he do?

Whatcouldhedowhatcouldhedowhatcouldhedo? Billi kept repeating to himself. He had to find himself some food. He began to walk around the stony patch, not wanting to go back across the path where he had had bad luck trying to catch the jungle bush quail. Bulbul was watching him from above, wondering as to whether Billi now had a plan. He knew that Teetiri certainly had a plan and that seemed to be working so far. Where would it end? How would it end? How would all this running and chasing be able to scare Billi away from the marsh? He certainly did not look like he was about to leave the marsh.

Suddenly, Kotwal moved from his perch in the higher branch and came to one of the lower ones, in complete view of Billi. On another tree, away to the left, Kotwal’s father could be seen perched on one of the higher branches. And, another tree had Kotwal’s sister perched on one of the higher branches. And all the three drongos began to call each other. Billi looked up, startled at the sound of three black drongos calling out to each other behind him. This did not look good, he thought. But, wait a minute, Billi realised, perhaps it was a good thing, after all. If those three drongos were busy chatting with each other, way BEHIND him, then there would be no problem in hunting for birds in FRONT of him. Well, he was certainly an intelligent cat, and nobody could fool HIM, that was for sure, Billi told himself.

Billi kept walking slowly in front of him, towards the high ridge of the grassland. The marsh ended at the high ridge, and the waters collected underground as a natural spring and came out below the fifteen feet ridge as a small stream that flowed into the village. Anybody visiting the grassland or the marsh would not be able to understand that even the grass and bushes growing on the ridge-top were actually supporting the marsh in providing waters to the village. The fifteen feet high ridge had a natural slope that fell away gradually towards the river on the other side of the grassland. The river waters supported the agriculture while the marsh waters fed the stream to the village.

Bulbul - the redvented bulbul - wondered about Billi's walk

Why was Billi walking slowly along the water stream?

[Photograph - Govinda Swami]

Bulbul kept wondering as to why Billi was walking slowly along the narrow water streams in the marsh towards the high ridge. Perhaps it was because of Kotwal and the other drongos chattering away to one side, inside the marsh. At the further end, Salonki and her cousins were creating a loud noise. Chimini and her cousins along with the other members of the family had now taken courage and were settling on the babool branches inside the marsh and gossiping loudly. Billi was perhaps looking for some peaceful spot to hide and hunt. What would Teetiri do now? Bulbul asked Darzi, unable to contain himself any longer. Darzi seemed to glare more fiercely at Bulbul and continued to keep quiet. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 58 - Billi is chased away

58

Billi is chased away

First, Kotwal had turned up suddenly. He seemed to have come to the mango tree ahead of Billi. How had he done that? Did Kotwal know that Billi would come here? And how come that Billi could keep thinking so much even when he was jumping. And why was he in his jump for such a long time? Why had he not landed? He kept searching for solid ground to land on. There wasn’t any to be found below his feet. He seemed to have gone over a low ridge, and found himself in a leap that covered a lot of distance, most of it downwards, before landing very badly, injuring himself some more. He tumbled along for some more distance, over very sharp stones that hurt him badly. When he sat up, he seemed to have come down very close to the village. Yes. It was indeed his village, and those seemed to be same dogs that had chased him in the morning. Billi ran again, back into the village, to hide from the dogs.

Up in the ridge, Kotwal reported back to Teetiri and all the other birds. The dogs seemed to be only ones who loved Billi. They were running after him, barking loudly and chasing him all around the village, Kotwal said. Their plan had succeeded. Teetiri had led from the front, like a true leader, keeping to herself the final dangerous part. Billi had thought that Teetiri was at a nest, while she had actually been sitting at the very edge of the high ridge. And as Teetiri had predicted, Billi would have become very desperate by the time he had failed to catch the jungle bush quail or the sparrows. He had jumped to try and catch Teetiri, but had actually jumped over the fifteen feet ridge, and landed inside the very village that he had come away from, to escape the dogs.