Conversations-17

Another day, I suppose. Someone is walking towards my room.

My room ... Of course, it is my room. I spend more time in this place than anyone else.

That old man visits only once in the day. That girl - his daughter - came only once. Rest of the time, this place belongs to me.

Oh, here he is.

"Hello, how are you?"

I will surprise him later. For the moment, I will keep quiet.

"Oh, someone fed you with money plant leaves. Good. Sorry, it did not occur to me that you would be hungry.You believe ir or not, my wife says that you must be the new reincarnation of Zack. Know why?"

"Because she says whenever she has approached, you always jumped at her and tried to terrorise her. Haha! Well, that is what Zack used to do to her. Though she fed him and bathed him, his love towards her was marginally on a lower side. Don't know why. He was ecstasic with my daughter and respectful towards me. My wife must have done something that must have annoyed Zack.

"Now that you have spent a week plus, I will google to know more about food habits and get you what you cherish, Okay, dear?

"Of course, you can do that, Dad."

What? .... What did you say? ... You spoke? Huh?

Yes, Dad. I can speak. Your daughter and myself had a little conversation this morning. ..

Wow. Is that so?

Yes. She called me Greenie. What does it mean, Dad?

You call me "Dad"? Haha! Zack used to call me 'Boss".

Dad, I can call you "Boss", if you wish.

No, no. Dad is fine with me, Greenie. Your new name 'Greenie" means that your colour is 'green' - like the colour of fresh leaves.

Okay.

Are you a male or female?

What does that mean?

Let me put it this way... You lay eggs and hatch like all female species do? Or you do the manly thing?

I don't lay eggs. That is not my act. There are others in our family who manage this.

Then you must be a male. Welcome, Greenie!

You're a male? You don't lay eggs, dad?

Nope. Not at all.

Okay.

Are we the first human beings - I mean, like us - you are getting friendly with?

Yeah. Dad, you surprised me on day one.

What? Surprised? I?

Let me explain. Lot of human beings - smaller than Miss - your daughter - humiliate us.

How?

They catch and tie a string and as we fly, they pull us back. Some of my family members have died out of exhaustion or physical disintegration. Or getting crushed under human feet since we lost the ability to fly after wings got clipped.

So sad..

Otherwise, we are kept in glass jars and observed by some big people like you.

You mean in laboratories?

I don't know. But neat places, but smelly again - like this place.

Sorry. I will get this place cleaned up quickly so that you have no complaints.

Thanks, Dad. Coming back, you're the first person to look into my eyes, smile and began talking. Like we do in our own community. That's when I felt comfortable and knew in my heart that you won't harm me.

Thanks, Greenie. ...

Otherwise, I would have flown away had I smelt danger in the first instance, Dad.

Not all people are bad. Some are, no doubt. Am sure even your community may have such elements...

What's elements?

Fuggedit. Grasshoppers like you.

Yes.

How did you come into my washroom?

Ah... That's interesting. I was munching peepul leaves just outside this window. Suddenly a monkey came from nowhere and I tried to fly away from danger. In the process, I saw a hole in the wall and scooted in. Don't know what happened. When I opened my eyes, I saw this place.

Are you injured?

Injured?

I mean, are you hurt in any part?

No. Am perfectly fine. Just hit the wall forcefully and got swooned, I reckon.

Okay. Relax.

Dad, why you come to my room only once a day?

Your room? haha! Yes, your new home!

Home?

Where you live is your home.

Okay.

A home or house consists of seveal rooms for different activities. There is living room, where we sit during daytime. There we also eat. So it can be our dining room also. Then there is bedroom where we sleep in the night. Then there is washroom or bathroom where we take bathe, wash clothes and clean our bowels.

What's cleaning bowels means?

Greenie, you creatures can dispose off waste in public - anywhere, anytime. We have been trained not to do that. Maybe we also did that in public in the past. Now we go into a washroom or bathroom to empty our bowels. Whatever food we eat gets digested and the waste is pushed out of our body. Am I clear?

Yes, dad.

That's why the visit to this room is limited. We don't live here, you know?

Our lifestyles are different, Dad.

Why don't you move onto my worktable and stay there? You will be more comfortable there, Greenie.

Worktable?

The place where I sit and write.

What is writing?

Uff. Fuggedit. You will learn, Greenie. Come with me now!

Are you sure, Dad, you want me there?

I have no problems. Let's go.

(To be continued)