Special Edition: Hema Ravi

Hema Ravi

Those Eyes… (Poetry)

 

‘Sweet is the greeting of the eyes…’

A comfort! This is what everyone thinks.

In time, one can see through that  disguise–

the secret plan behind those occasional winks…

 

Years ago, I saw an Indian film, ‘Athey Kangal.’

Seeking revenge upon the  members of a family

a masked man, tangled and strangled

until his sinister plot was exposed callously…

 

‘Tricks and treachery are the  practice of fools…’

Integrity requires understanding and awareness

A pity! Today, you stare vacantly…your own tools

have deserted you. As Karna, you’re left with the same unfairness…

***

 

Eyes that see… (Prose)

 

Magpie-robin at Adyar river pathway, Adyar, Chennai

Photo Courtesy: N. Ravi

 

Happy Dussehra, uncle… Mira gushed out in joy as she handed the box of sweets to Sandeep Uncle’s wife, Mitali.  Auntie received it with a gentle smile; Uncle had a neutral look on his face, because of which, he looked older than he was.

 

Without exchanging  pleasantries, he quipped, ‘Where does your husband go so early in the morning, rain or shine?’

‘Oh, uncle, he enjoys outdoor photography, he goes to capture birds and street scenes on his lens…’ replied Mira.

‘What does he do with them?’

‘Well…. at times he shares them on social media, but mostly, he clicks them for his personal joy, not for competition or promotion…’

‘Does he know there’s a story waiting on this very street? Moment by moment, it keeps changing —a kaleidoscope of colors, images, sounds, noises, and anything else the senses can grasp.’

Auntie interrupted: ‘You’re lucky that he has some hobby to keep the blues away.  Here, Uncle merely spends time warming the bamboo chair in the veranda, watching the passersby, passing some adverse comments…’

 

Gul Mohar Tree, Sholinganallur Wetland, Chennai

Photo Courtesy: N. Ravi

  

Ignoring his wife, Uncle continued – On that Gul Mohar tree over there, I have watched the crows nesting. The Asian Koel stealthily places its egg in the crow’s nest…..Once or twice, I have seen crows chasing the female Koel…most often, the Koel couple play a trick….while the male keeps the crow away from its nest, the female does her job stealthily!

 Life isn’t fair, many a time…. saying this, he kept nodding his head.

That statement hung in the air, and Mira used the opportunity to take leave.

That evening, while Arya was downloading his photographs on his computer,  Mira was around, and suddenly, she began to show interest in the pictures.

Ji, ‘What is the most important thing you focus upon while photographing birds?’

Delighted with Mira’s question, Arya began: ‘Golden hour lighting – early in the morning, or in the late afternoon, which is also the peak activity time for birds. Understanding their habits is important- birds never remain in one place; knowing where to find them is important.   And Mira, you always complain about my muddy trousers – that’s because I stoop down, crouch, crawl…to get that eye-level shot.   Most importantly, the eye of the bird! That is the key to engaging photographs, where focus is on emotion and the overall composition. There’s so much more to learn; this is just an overview.’

‘Arya ji… You and Sandeep uncle are stalkers! You stalk birds to capture them through your lens, Uncle silently observes the happenings from the comfort of his verandah; most certainly, he enjoys keeping tabs on them all, just as he does upon you,’ Mira chuckled.

The months of September and October brought along a copious monsoon.  Wet spells continued endlessly. Arya was bored stiff and his hands itched to click images….When the rain stopped for a while, he walked up to the terrace and began taking pictures of the neighborhood.  The neem tree, the Gul mohar, the mango, the Ashoka tree, and others were lush and green; the leaves had quenched their thirst adequately after a rather long dry spell. Interestingly, his camera got pictures of a magpie atop the largest tree in the salubrious environs.  Squealing in delight, he took shots in the burst mode, although he could not see much in the dense foliage.

While processing them, he was jubilant….he had captured a magpie’s nest; in it were two infant birds. Arya had read somewhere that such a breeding pattern was favourable;  food was available in plenty for the babies.

He quickly walked up to Sandeep uncle’s home and rang the doorbell. A surprised uncle stared at him and reluctantly welcomed him in.

Uncle, did you observe the magpie’s nest atop that large tree? Arya asked, without wasting time.

Uncle, in his customary nonchalant tone, said: ‘I don’t know that bird. I only know the crows, cuckoos, the parakeets, and the squirrels.’

‘Uncle, look over there- that bird has a distinct black and white body, its tail is long and upright.  Like the mynahs, woodpeckers, the crows, and others, they are common in urban gardens…’

He handed his binoculars to Uncle. He watched the birds for a while.  A faint smile escaped his face.

‘Magpies are known to be thieves; they steal shiny objects…do you think that bird has stolen Auntie’s stainless-steel spoon that she had left last week for drying? The spoon was along with several other utensils, though. I wonder if it could have stolen it….Auntie would have dropped it down, and the domestic help would have swept it off and thrown it into the garbage, is my strong belief.’ 

‘Uncle, it could have happened either way. We do know that we cannot climb that tree now, the chicks are there, they should not be disturbed…Once they leave, perhaps…’

Arya thanked Auntie for the steaming cup of filter coffee, and as he was about to take leave, she said:

Both of you have eyes for the simple joys of life… only now, I realize that uncle has been sitting quietly, even meditatively, and has been observing natural scenes unfold on the large screen... I, on the other hand, resort to the sensational serials on the small screen… most of the time, they leave me disturbed and irritated…’

Mira had entered while this tete-a-tete was going on.  ‘Auntie, both our husbands have eyes to perceive fabulous sights; they dive deep into several experiences, which others would dismiss as mundane and ordinary.   

‘Yes, dear!’ Auntie replied.  ‘Hasn’t a great man once said, ‘Eyes are the window to the soul...’

***

Bionote: Hema Ravi is a part-time educator and an enthusiastic writer. Her poems and short stories have won awards. She is the author of ‘The Cuckoo Sings Again,’ ‘Joie De Vivre,’ ‘Everyday English,’ and ‘Write Right Handwriting.’ Her book of short stories and micro stories titled  ‘The Greatest Sweepstake’ is currently with the publisher.

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Setu, October 2025