On My Terrace! Step in to know more....

Habits die hard, they say and it suits me well, I cannot sleep without my quota of brisk walk. Hard pressed with time in morning, I try and fit the “walk schedule” in the evening. With sun going down soon and the roads ever dug up, I decided to follow my small exercise regiment on the terrace of my building. My terrace has got lights but we usually switch it on only during occasions. Other days it is open to moon light and the tall pole lights which give a calm sheen to the deafening darkness.

I switch on to my music and take my brisk walk of 45 mins. I prefer my music to be pop or rock as that sets me pulsating for quick steps and also motivates me! The terrace is calm and quiet and all that I can hear is the music on my ears and not even my steps.

It just happened on last Friday, when I was walking and grooving to my music, letting myself fully loose, my eyes quickly got fixed on those lovely eyes that was watching me from far! His presence made me conscious and I quickly gathered myself. He was gazing at me and from how long, I wondered! My heart started beating faster and my pearls were shining in the dark. I flashed my best smile and he still kept gazing at me. I jumped lightly, oh, I know him, I know him, I muttered. He moved a bit but his gaze did not. “Common sweets, how come you are here”, I wanted to ask him, talk to him, but still like a girl in her teens the words were just lumping in my throat.

Dearies, I was overjoyed, I wanted to click his picture on my mobile but the moment I flashed my camera, he moved away. Where did he go! Where! When will I see him again! I want to see him again! I started running from one corner of the terrace to another! He was not there! Was he also shy or uncomfortable with me around? Does he come everyday at that time! Sweets, I have no fixed time in the evening, sometimes I return at 9.00 too. But, he has a fixed time, I was sure by now. Then my weekends and my life moved as usual. He also skipped out of my mind.

Today, I once again went to my terrace and started walking. I looked at my watch, the sun had set as usual, music was my company. My friend who was on his way home called me on my cell. It is a routine, we always call each other when we are traveling and give company!

“On the terrace”, he asked me,

“Yes, it is very dark outside and the roads are dug up for gas and water pipelines. There are chances of me falling in to a pit!”

As I was chatting with him, I again saw my handsome hunk, this time he was much closer but still not very visible. The darkness had engulfed the beauty of his face and body, but still my love for him could see him. He seems to have recognized me, he stopped and again gave me those looks, which makes my heart go dhak! Dhak! I quickly asked my friend to hang up, “my love is here”, I told him, “he has come once again to see me, this time I have to click his snaps”. I cut off the phone line and switched on to the camera mode. My hero was watching me; my eyes were fixed on him and his on mine. We both could never take our eyes off from each other, I wanted him to hang around and talk to him, but before that, I wanted to have him on my album. The moment I focused on him, he moved away once again. God, where, did he go! I was upset, ran towards the direction in the dark he moved, I could not see him anywhere. I searched crazily, I wanted to get closer to him, a small desire to hold him also twitched my heart, am I getting naughty , Mals, please check your emotions, control them yaar, I hated my reflexes which lost the focus for the second time. It was not easy to approach or talk to him, I wanted to click and then zoom him, admire his looks and then decide how to proceed further.

All my dreams had shattered for time being, next time, I will do it, I picked up my sinking emotions. In the meantime, my friend called back, “so you have done it”, he said. “No, I lost him once again”. “Forget him”, he yelled, “why do you have to capture someone whom you do not know, you have missed him again, he is not right for you, he could be a bad omen!” I could not take those last two words! Bad Omen! He was so cute, his gaze was so enchanting, his physique was demanding more attention and how could he be a Bad Omen!

My friend started drilling in to my head, “Don’t you know spotting an Owl is a bad Omen.”

Gals, yes, I spotted a White Owl on my terrace, a pukka Mumbai girl who does not get to see anything beyond crow was more delighted than a school girl to have spotted a nocturnal creature who has taken his flight searching for food! May be he comes to my terrace everyday at a fixed time, he has to get used to me, to hang around, he has just seen me twice, so he flies away, but only after gazing at me for long!

My friends lecture went for long, Owls are not good to be spotted, do not try to click their pictures, you should never see them, now that you are repeatedly seeing them, it is going to bring in news of illness, death.. blah… blah

I am an ardent lover of birds and animals, I cannot take my darling Owl as a Bad Omen.

I have been asking my Security guy, “I hear a strange cry of a bird at night, which bird is it, have you seen it”.

I have stood at my windows at night and have tried to spot him in the dark, but have never seen him, couple of times I have seen a little large bird- white in colour flying at night. Now, I know who is making that noise at night, It is my handsome Owl, hooting to glory. I have read that they hoot the loudest when they are mating. With them around, the mice are at run! It is their life and they have right to live. Why should I brace him in the list of Bad Omens? Though I have been told by the seniors of my family too, “Say, Narayana thrice when you spot one, the evil happenings will be at bay”.

I would like to once again spot him and have a closer look. Gals, I want to click him! Will he oblige next time!!

I spotted an Owl on my Terrace, Yes, I DID!

Hey Mals,

A really captivating post. I was really wondering whom you were admiring...was thinking of the moon etc....but never did an owl come to my mind.

Great gpoing gal.

Dear mals,

well-wriiten. I thought it was the moon, but was not sure since you have mentioned about the moonlight in the beginning itself.
Good suspence till the end.

Hi Roopa,

I am so happy to know that you still remember my fascination for the moon or you just guessed it could be the moon as it was night time. Thanks dearie for stepping in.

Hey Babes!

A captivating write-up! I had guessed it to be a meoooow! But it was our very own Ullu! I am also for animals and birds dearie! No human can be as faithful as our own bow-wows! What say?! Keep them coming dearie...luv reading all of ur posts! U r one talented gal....!

Mals
A very enthralling writeup of meeting a rare bird!
Initially I thought it could be a dog or cat but soon realised this was little more rarer.. My heart too went dhak.. dhak..
If you did manage to get him on film do share here..
I was not aware of that bad omen.
If you want to befriend your owl, you can try and keep food like insects or small rodents.. or maybe not!

Good one ... Dearie !! Enjoyed..... Keep it up !!

With love,

Hi Usha,

Actually, I wanted to just keep it simple like - Hey I spotted an Owl.

As I started writing, I gave it a twist. Usha, I am so excited, I spotted an Owl! God, a wild bird on my building terrace. I still cant get over it.

Hi Ank

Wows are the best as they respond to our emotions! Being an adrent lover of animals and birds, the Bad Omen part did not get in to my ears!

Owl is clubbed with ugly looking birds, ask me deary, he was looking so chweet. big body and a small head with big eyes. Oh! He rocked! How to befriend him!

He is camera shy also!!

Thanks dearie for taking time to read a long post!

Ac Darling,

So you also went on a spin! So cute nah! Arre in Mumbai, spotting an Owl is like unearthing diamonds! Wish I could click his picture, it is very dark on the terrace and this fellow gives a good stare. He was sitting there for around 30 to 40 seconds,by the time I switched on my cell to the camera mode, focus him the pitch dark area, he flew away!

It is not easy to capture an image in dark!

I will surely post his picture, if I ever get him behind my lens.

Thanks dearie, in the melee of posts, you did find time to dig out this one.