A Twitch in Todai
The traffic noise and the “Nokia tune” were my morning alarms all these years. While I left the former in Riyadh, it took almost a month for me to leave the latter, until I realized that there is something serious happening beyond my balcony in Komaba. A “bird parliament in full session” it was, complete with the sounds of breaking benches (aka twigs) and the hurly-burly of the full house. Was it a fight over the 2G scam or the mockery of the Lokpal bill? I needed an immediate investigation. I took my gear and followed the tweet-trails. What I saw was a winter secession of chitter-chatter early in the morning. Endemic Japanese wagtails warbled and the little meadow buntings chirped. The tree sparrows sung some morning raga perching pretty on a low branch while the oriental turtle doves trilled. Do they also run a coalition government? But the burly boss was still in hiding. For two hours my crazy cackle chase continued. If I move a step forward, the winged wonders would retreat ten. At last, the leader of the opposition surfaced with his unmistakably loud cadence along with his two aides on either side. It was a long billed crow. I am not a birder and when it comes to birding, a baby camera can easily beat an iphone! I could take a few pictures only when he agreed for a full photo shoot just ten feet above my head. Finally, as my fingers froze on the touch pad and as the sun rose, the house was adjourned sine die. |