Synopsis
Gula is a young fish who lives in the Verinag spring, also known as the Neel-nag (Blue Spring) in Kashmir. He lives there with his mother, Sheer, and his other fish friends, Nika and Kaakh.
The Neel-nag spring is significant since the river Jehlum flows from here into the valley. Neel-nag is surrounded by gardens laid out during the Mughal era and used for leisure in the following centuries.
Haer was a graceful mynah who lived in a cozy nest on the tree by the spring of Verinag. She was a great friend of the fishes, especially Gula.
Early in the morning upon waking up, she would start looking for fresh worms. Pecking at the damp earth she would gulp a mouthful for herself, and find more for Gula and his friends.
Plop! Haer would drop a mouthful of worms in the spring, bringing the fishes out from their nightly slumber.
She would flit back and forth, getting more worms. This way she would share breakfast with all but one fish, named Ganhar, who always ignored her generous gestures.
So why do you think Ganhar behaved in such an odd manner?
Well for one, Ganhar was never one given much to talking and that was okay. He was quite cranky and also getting very old. Since a few months, he was talking even less and small round black spots were growing around his mouth. All day he would sit in angry silence. Unlike Sheer who sat in calm repose, reflecting on life, Ganhar would huddle in the corner, grumpy and glowering at anyone who dared come near him. As if that weren’t enough to make him grumpy, he was also growing thin and weak.
Many times Gula felt Ganhar was in pain, but he did not dare ask him. Ganhar only kept growing grumpier. Gula wondered if the black spots growing around Ganhar’s mouth were the reason for his behavior getting worse.
Summer gave way to fall, and fall turned into winter. Haer would visit them every morning. She even came when most birds huddle deep into the tree holes and feast on their stores, not daring to brave the frost. Haer was not only generous but brave too.
She was happy making sure everyone had their fill.
There was one more special thing about Haer. She was also very knowledgeable. Her songs and stories were worth listening to. She knew so much about everything that Gula had nicknamed her Google-didi.
Haer would warble at the top of her voice.
“You only live once
So why waste it sad
I wish the night away,
And spend the day glad”
The fishes would jump from joy, their scales glistening in the winter sun as they flew out of the water and fell back with a plop. They feasted on the food she brought and the stories she told.
Gula would listen wide-eyed as Haer painted colorful pictures of the places she had been to and things she knew. Haer would tell tales of bears stuck in honeycombs; doves nestling in a sacred cave in the Himlayas, and deer that got lost while foraging in the snow. She told them about this huge statue that was being built in the city right in the middle of the Lal Chowk but did not know what it would be.
Winter gave way to spring. The almond blossoms spread their fragrance, and daffodils shyly emerged to grace the homeland.
The animals rejoiced.
Haer was looking forward to the summer when she would take a trip to the famous lake lovingly called Dal by people of the valley. Interestingly, visitors from beyond the mountains called it Dal Lake, which amused Haer. “They are only repeating the name in English, what good is that? It is like saying Gula Fish, Haer Mynah, Hangul Deer, so funny!” and everyone would laugh, all except for Ganhar.
It seemed his mouth was droopier, now covered in more spots. He seemed sore but hardly opened his mouth and did not agree anything was wrong with him.
One morning Haer sat on her favorite branch after everyone had had a hearty breakfast.
Gula asked her so many questions but she would never tire of answering.
“In the city you can see mountains capped with snow even in summer and the sunset on Dal is so beautiful, but the people scurry home before dark,” she said.
Gula was reminded of his travels to see Taksheem. The memory made him squeal with joy but he wondered about why people rushed home early?
One morning Ganhar was trying to nibble at some soggy leftovers from last night. The spots on his mouth side made it hard for him to catch food.
“Wait, I will get you a fresh worm from Haer,” said Gula without waiting for Ganhar’s answer. He called Haer who brought back a fat squirmy worm for Ganhar.
Also Read: GULA OF KASHMIR: TALES FROM THE SPRING OF VERINAG
Also Read: PART II: GULA MEETS THE ELEPHANT, FINALLY!
Also Read: PART III: WHEN NITCH SAVED THE DAY
“Here is a nice juicy breakfast,” she said in an easygoing manner.
Ever the grouch, Ganhar pushed it aside, refusing to eat it.
“Well take it away, I do not have time for your loud boasting, your freedom, your flying in the skies and your songs, go away. I have no need for your knowledge,” he said rudely.
Haer was taken aback, “What do you say all that?” she asked, with her eyes wide, her heart beating fast.
“I am not a giddy young fish. I know a loud mouth when I hear one. Do not try to flaunt your knowledge of the outside world to me. Go away! I have seen enough world in my younger days, I want nothing to do with you,” Ganhar was being rude but Gula noticed that his words slurred.
Haer fell silent and her heart skipped a beat. Big round tears fell from her kind brown eyes and she flew away. Gula and the other fishes tried to swim after her but she disappeared into the tree.
The next morning, there was no plop and yet the fishes swam to the surface looking towards the tree. Gula had not slept a wink.
Ganhar sat in the corner flitting in and out a slumber; the spots around his mouth seemed bigger and shiny. Every time Ganhar’s eyes fell on Gula he would glower at him.
Gula desperately wanted Haer to come back. He wanted Ganhar to realize that his behavior was wrong.
Sheen had only one word of advice for Gula, “Be patient”.
Gula did try to practice patience but when he did not hear the flitting of bird wings, and songs and stories, he felt he needed to do something to remedy this sad situation.
Later in the day, Ganhar’s face was scrunched even tighter, as if he was holding something inside his mouth. Gula thought he’d go and ask him to apologize to Haer. After all, she was not to be blamed since she’d only been trying to help.
Ganhar seemed as if he was about to say something nasty to Gula, as was his habit. He scrunched his face a bit more and when he opened his mouth instead of words out came cries of pain. He flailed from side to side.
“I am dying with pain Gula, help me,” tears streaming down his eyes as he began to plead for help.
It was clear Ganhar had a mouth sickness and soon enough, the word got around. Generous and giving that Haer was, she did not hold a grudge but instead she came quickly to visit Ganhar.
On closer inspection of Ganhar’s face, she exclaimed loudly: “I know this, I know this!” Ganhar looked expectantly; her knowledge did not annoy him this time. His pain was increasing, and all he wanted was to get some relief.
Haer began to speak like the Google-didi she was. Gula held his breath, unable to imagine what she would say next.
“Ah! This is easy to recognize. I have seen this before in fishes in Wular, it is stress and pollution. That is how fishes get flukes, which are burrowing under Ganhar’s skin making the black spots. No wonder he is in pain. And I know how to get rid of this,” Haer said in such a science-ey manner that for a moment Gula thought she was a doctor.
“What do we do now?” asked Gula asked.
“I know, you all stay back and let me work; you do not want to be near the flukes, they are sneaky. Trust me we birds know and how, do not even ask me now!” she said confidently.
Gula thought this was a story for another time. His attention was on Ganhar, the stubborn fish who got annoyed at Haer for sharing her knowledge had turned into putty. He began eagerly following the instructions that Haer was giving him. Haer began to operate on him like she was a surgeon; only instead of a steel scalpel she was using her delicate beak. After some time she cut out all the black spots from Ganhar’s face. He was still writhing in pain but thankful that the flukes were gone.
Haer said he was on his way to recovery. “Would his mood recover too?” Gula wondered. Well, going by how he had behaved so many times, no one could guarantee that! But one thing was sure, that Haer returned the next morning as sure as the sun with juicy worms. And Gula was ecstatic to have her back.
A few minutes later Ganhar came towards them. He took Haer aside and apologized to her for his behavior and thanked her for saving him.
Haer said she would accept his apology only if he ate breakfast with them. Ganhar agreed, much to Gula’s happiness! Ever curious about the world, he was also ready to listen to the story of how birds know about flukes.
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