Buzzy Fly - Mission 'Harass Haem'!!

"It has become so hot. The sun has decided to roast my poor delicate body. Now its impossible to fly around any longer. I will have to get some rest. Maybe a parapet or a tree will do for a while.

Hey what it that? The weather!! O My God, its changing. I can see the clouds coming. I can sense them. I will have to tell my fellowmates and warn them. We have to start planning now and start buzzing around in groups.

'Hey guys! Did you notice the change in the weather? Its here now. Any moment. Come on, lets gang up now. Its the attack season, the season on invasion. Lets prepare our strategy.'

This is what we do every time. We are now buzzing in groups or rather a swarm as you would term it. Oh my God, its starting to rain!!

'Come on warriors, that house there. I see the window open. Lets rush in everyone. Fast fast, move it!

Try and invade each and every corner of the house that you can. The rain will not get us here. We are quite safe. Just be alert of those stupid fly swatters. Have your reflexes on guard.

Oh look there... target spotted. I think it will be good to start attack. Everyone move towards the human. Her name is Haem. Surround her.

Now, everyone, remember your job is to keep on buzzing in her ear. Create as much noise as possible. But never do that in a way that she can see you. Stay out of sight. That is more irritating. The other, groups 2 and 3, you are in charge of the hand and torso. Work like you are playing Kabaddi. You have to touch and fly away. Just remember, touch and fly away, and do it in turns. Never at the same side. When one finishes his turn on one side, the other takes over on the other and then back to one, and so on.

Groups 4 and 5, leg area. Keep moving around it and while circulating, like groups 2 and 3, keep touching and flying away. Remember, fly within sight for some time and then disappear and then come back within sight. All this has to be very quick.

Group 6 should be incharge of food. Everytime a plate or any morsel is spotted, it is your job to attack it. Hover over it, sit on it, and dont let Haem peacefully finish it. We have our right on it too, so while some can distract her by flying around her, the rest can deal with the food.

I will be incharge of overall supervision, and will continue to hover everywhere, and distract as much as possible.

MISSION BEGIN!!'

We have begun our mission and the hovering continues. This will be our daily task till the rains stop. And since the windows will not be closed always, we always have a way to enter. Once we are in, who can shoo us out. Sometimes they try and scare us with napkins but we fool them as we pretend to get out of the house and come right back in.

Its invasion time, and our mission -
HARASS HAEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. NOT TO LET HER EAT AND SIT IN PEACE AND KEEP BUZZING AND KEEP BUZZING. HA HA!"

Try it!

Have you ever tried talking to them? Have you tried playfully asking them nonsensical question when they come begging to you, like you do normally with kids? And have you had the fortune of seeing the smiles on their faces?

Project Care, conversations at the sea side, smiles while I am walking, talks in the train... lots of times and lots of smiles I can remember.

I say, TRY IT. Its worth it.

The smile that was still there

A ragged pair of shorts on the plump body lay

debating whether to fall or not,

tousled hair more like the styles of today,

dark skin contrasting with the cream interiors of the local train;

staggering steps automatically finding their way.

Approaching you as soon as you are seen taking a bite

from your food, the lunch leftovers,

Hovering and staring, eyeing the bit,

Trying to pick it from your very fingers;

Not asking for money no whining no crying,

Not even a frown, no beggar seemed he,

Walking aimlessly without a word spoken

Just looking for something for a starving tummy.

Used to the urchins wandering in the trains

And stopping the gush of pity that flows,

You just hand over the food to him

As he grabs the offering, reminding you of scavenger crows.

You watch as he gobbles

And are filled with a feeling so different,

It’s pity, though not so distressing,

Sympathy – with more of compassion,

Sorrow – for the state, the extent of wasted lives,

Happiness – for having removed life-taking hunger,

Wonder – at something that so mysteriously arrives,

All mixed up somewhere deep inside,

None ready to subside.

The food is over, but the hunger lingers,

As he looks at you with grateful hope

Though he knows he can’t get any more.

And then he looks at you

With eyes that strike,

Sad, tired, yet twinkling,

Black and beady and uncannily bright;

And then you see the sign, the sign that says it all,

A smile of brown and disfigured teeth,

A smile despite the hunger, despite a lack of reason,

A smile, that has innocence hidden beneath.

Ten years of life or maybe more

Was what it took for that being to be so,

And was the time worth it

When now he has to forage for a meal, a leftover bit;

Yet, the smile is still there…

A satisfaction strangely soars,

A still it is, no picture perfect,

It haunts you, flashes often, out of nowhere,

Humbles, reminds, touches a chord

The smile that was still there.

- © HAEM ROY