The Great Hornbill Gliding Over and More

This morning as I head for the school I saw a hornbill gliding over the school. It was a great hornbill and the great sight my eyes met. I watched the flight till it got lost in the woods at the edge of the village. Without flapping its wings it glided swiftly like airplane over us. The children were doing their morning cleaning work. The people hardly observe the flight of the birds. It’s like a sunset and sunrise to them. For the love of the creatures under threat, I give some part of my time to them. One day when human selfishness crawls in I would miss the sight of these wonderful creatures. Backed by the rich vegetations the flights and sights of hornbills of all species are quite common. Now with motor road piercing the nature and forest losing inch by inch to human farming, the sustainability of hornbills is under question. The time will record.

    

The sky was sheepish as if to announce us that it would cry and let its tears pour ceaselessly any moment. The assembly was held. The rain didn’t fall. Fine. The red bougainvilleas climbing up the fishtail palm in front of the academic block was fresh as always. The mist hung around the trees slowly drifted up and slowly the showers came when we stood for the national anthem. The anthem was sung with light showers on. But it lasted for few minutes only. By around 10:00 am the sun rays filtered through the thin clouds and slowly Kagtong brightened up. The children of PP in unison shouted, “Today it’s sunny.” They didn’t need to sing, “Rain, rain go away…” for the brief appearance the sun has made.

During the recess, we had a tea and biscuit by our colleague Mr Yeshi wangdi celebrating his daughter Yeshi Wangmo’s birthday. In the assembly, the children were given chocolates. The children in unison wished, “Happy Birthday to you, Yeshi wangmo…”

These days the red whiskered bulbuls are in abundance. They all gather in the trees even when the rain is in full rhythm. They sit right on the twigs to pick up brown seed and fresh flowers. They dart from tree to tree. The presence on the trees made the trees to lose their purple flowers petal by petal. The meadows under these trees are strewn with purple flowers. It’s awesome!

Making some teaching aids for tomorrow, I made my way to the playgrounds to watch children play. Mr Tshering Dorji, our colleague was coaching the children. I watched them play and practice the ball. The sun was dipping far beyond the clouds inspiring grey-gold sunset. Some villagers and labourers too enjoyed the children play. We let both boys and girls play together. After a brief coaching, Mr Tshering made the children to wage the match boys vs girls with a bet of frog jump for losers. The girls here can equate boys in volleyball. To everyone’s surprise, the girls won and the boys were made to frog jump in the court. It was, indeed, great fun. The tiring mind was finally refreshed.

Then the sky began to darken. The children were sent to their homes. Teachers and labourers began playing football as usual for the evening refreshment. I resigned to my residence. I’m still not recovered with my Knee injury I had about fortnights ago in my tussle with a villagers one evening while playing the football. I’m looking forward to take part by next week with great anticipation that my knee will be all right.

The rain is on still now. It’s drumming hard on my corrugated roofs. There are flashes of lightening and rumble of the thunder. The light loving insects comes in hovers around the tube light. Right now my cat Kaka snatched a green praying mantis and munched it right in front of my eyes. Lord! I couldn’t do anything to save it. So often the insects visiting my room fall as prey to my cats.

 I think I need to sleep to the rhythm of the rain outside and silent within. Goodnight Kagtong.