Today was one of the 10 fine days there are supposed to be, in the otherwise rainy month of 'Karkidam' (the Malayalam month).  It hasn't rained the whole day and all the stars are out.  I went for my evening walk and it was such a pleasure to see the stars after quite a gap.  As I head out for my walk I see Scorpio, sprawled across the Southern sky.  As I walk, the gauzy cloud veil moves aside and the stars get clearer.  An occasional firefly adds it brilliance.  Alas, now  the light pollution is quite high even in our small town.  So, I finish my walk, sorry that I couldn't see the myriad stars in the night sky just a bit better.

Law of the wild.

Today, around noon, hearing a big commotion outside and much screeching from the birds, I went out to see what was the matter.  Peering up through the foliage, I saw a pair of frantic racket-tailed drongos, screeching and generally carrying on.  I thought they were trying to chase away another pair from invading their space.  But instead what did I see, an owl, or maybe a small kite, I couldn't quite tell, taking away one of their babies (or maybe an egg).  The pair tried their best to get their offspring back.  But I don't think they succeeded.  That's the law of the jungle alas!