Sandeep Tambe
The day had dawned fresh and bright, the morning air was crisp and golden sunshine was filtering in through the trees. Midsems were just over and my room mate Vineet and I decided to go to Powai lake for a stroll. On our way we saw Roseringed Parakeets playing hide and seek amongst the tall Palmyra Palm trees. The hollows in their barks serving as an ideal resting place for the less athletic ones. Juvenile male koels were learning the intricacies of the plaintive kuhoo-kuhoo from their elders. As we reached the periphery of the lake we were overawed by its beauty. The deep blue waters of the lake were calm and placid. The river terns with their bright yellow beaks and red legs were darting at the fishes with gay abandon. Suddenly a blur of blue caught my eye. It was the flash of the gaily coloured Small Blue Kingfisher breaking the surface of water, shedding a shower of diamonds from its wings as it rose with a chirp of delight, a small fish held firmly in its vermilion beak. Who would imagine that amidst such serenity lurked death, yes cruel death !
Soon we reached the boat house, and were surprised to find the door ajar. When our eyes became accustomed to the darkness of the room, we could make out three persons eating a meal of fish and rice. `` But what's that ? '' , Vineet grabbed my hand and pointed towards a small animal pacing frantically inside a small cage. Closer inspection revealed that the animal was a young Palm Civet. In its persistence to free itself its nose and lips had turned raw and were bleeding. Its beautiful brown eyes were drowned in anguish. My first impulse was to break open the cage and release the civet. But the cage was too strong to open easily. `` Why not call the security personnel and catch the poachers red handed, '' Vineet suggested. Yes ! That was a better idea; we rushed back to our hostel and rang up the security officer who ordered some security guards to accompany us to the boat house to nab the poachers and save the civet.
We stormed the boat house and nabbed the poachers. But the cage was empty! Had the civet succeeded in its valiant bid to escape? It seemed to be so. In high spirits and with a feeling of a job well done, I was going through the belongings of the poachers, when a dark object caught my eye. There on the dying embers of an improvised fire lay my civet, fully roasted and ready to be served, that mournful look frozen on its face. Whenever I think of my civet, of those beautiful brown eyes, a wave of anguish engulfs me. If only I could rewind the time machine, if only ...
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Last modified on: Tue Apr 5 15:35:54 2005