What happens when you don’t get to admire the sunrise? You enjoy the sunset….
It was another typical chilly morning & I had cloaked myself with my much-loved shawl. Laziness all instilled, infused & completely filled in breezy air. My mind flashed back the events of yesterday night:
- Where in the bustling crowd of kite-selling market I managed to get my hands on contemporary binoculars.
- Where I was waiting for a call from some friend, any friend. I was waiting for a “Yes” to come alongside me.
- Where I decided to spend a day with birds.
- Where I made the decision “Better late than never”.
- Where I knew to arrive, but not quite sure how?
Blinding sun caused me to open my eyes. Although I would’ve loved to spend the entire day with birds, the other party had already arrived at the summoning point. I had given up hope on getting an affirmative answer from my friends already. As the time demanded, I broke my own record of getting refreshed in 4 minutes.
Gathering whatever I could, I ran out of my paradise, to see another one of different kind. I scanned for the 3 wheeler auto to take me to the bus station & hopped on as soon as I saw it. There were 47 bus too freaking more than required, I had to choose one. An old man saw me goofing around & asked “Where to?” He had a unique aura around him, simple but dominating. “Lake, Wadhwana Lake…” I fumbled. He looked around, pointed to a messy looking bus and ordered “Take that thing, get off at Dabhoi & than take a train from there to next station” as if he were Columbus. “Wait, what?” before I could complete my sentence he shooed me away in the direction of bus.
No sooner did I get my ass on the window seat than a creaky noise escaped from it. At this moment I took the first requisite sigh of relief & the bus cried, I mean got underway. Someone tapped my shoulder & that wicked person who came like a ninja & sat beside me was The Old man. “Weekday. Lesser known place. Birds. Why are you going?” whispered the man. It took some moments to close my mouth & give a reply but after recovering from the shock I reacted with “I don’t know!”
“A young shoulder with no destination has only one reason that is….. to change the sight. Am I right young boy?” I could only nod to his interrogation. “Do you know anything about birds, their flight or about the place?” I shook my head in distress. “Hahaha what an amusing fella you are” teased the old man and continued” Over 100 species of birds come & take shelter in this lake, majority of them head from Europe. The green headed Mallard are just like this generation very adaptive, the blue winged Shoveler are like old people who prefer silence”. “ Don’t look at me like that I am quiet but not old” laughed the old man & continued…
“Right from take-off, hovering and soaring till landing, the flight of the bird has a connotation. The Greylag always lags behind other birds, so the last word is justified. The only kingfisher you may know about is the alcohol but you will not get that over here. But you will see the astounding flight of the Pied Kingfisher & Smyrna Kingfisher. As their name expresses their breakfast, lunch & dinner are all fish.”
The old man looked at his watch & stated “My stop is very near.” Although so many questions in my mind I chose to ask “Who are you?” The old man had tired but humble eyes and responded “I am just an old man who couldn’t live young but I am alive now. I am wandering in certain direction & learning the things along the way. Have a good life boy”. He got off & I thanked him truly for giving me some invaluable knowledge.
Seeing the spirit of the Old man had me got all rejuvenated. I will have a good life oldie, I will live!
