Sri's Musings from Bangalore

Note: This is a old mail I sent to my group E-mail friend distribution list - almost a year ago on June 7th, 2009.

Dear friends and family,

I have not written to you'll in a while. Life became robotic with work getting too hectic on the one side and me not finding substance to write about, until now... ...as monkeys have started to co-exist with us in our flats!

Maya told us this story at brunch today:

A resident commented "There is a small bear too, among the monkeys!".

It turned out to be a toy teddy bear that the group of monkeys had picked up from among a child's collection in one of the flats! Their little ones also like playing with teddy bears, you see. It's a universal phenomenon.

Maya also mentioned that the monkeys had visited her friend's house – the monkeys came all the way into the house and took away a bottle of vitamins! Wonder who among their clan needed that urgently -- "food for thought"

Some kids saw the group pour a bag of rice out slowly from the 3rd floor all the way to the ground – real monkey business that!

They are getting to the clothes dried on the balcony, nicely fastened with clips One resident was embarrassed to go pick up his underwear from the neighbours downstairs where he saw the money throw it.

There were many suggestions on the "Magnolia Block Residents" E-mail group. Call "People for Animals" (shelter for exotic animals and other animals too perhaps), Call Zoo authorities to come take them away, shoot them with pellets and scare them away, "renters" threatening to leave the apartment if "owners" did not take action to make the apartment complex "free of monkeys" etc. etc. But, so far, nothing has happened.

Here's one mail from a resident:

"Now showing - at a balcony close to you. The much-(not) awaited adventure thriller "The monkeys are back". :)"

And here's another funny mail I'd like to share - came from another resident with a big funny bone I think:

……………….

Hi all

Yes, this is Raja, the leader of the monkey troupe speaking. We had to return because we are extremely hungry. Am sure you understand.

A couple of firecrackers can keep us away for only so long.

Nobody make a false move, nobody gets hurt. Kapish?

All we ask is for an occasional banana, mango to feed our young.

What’s in it for you, you ask? Well, we brought the zoo to your doorstep. You get to while away the hours watching our children’s antics.

Jai Hanuman

Monkey Raja

………..

Looks like for now, they inhabit the 2nd and 3rd floors, and the terrace and 14th floor - although no floors are safe or spared! My husband spotted "monkey poop" right in front of our door (7th floor) early one morning, and he cleaned it up himself as the housekeeping would not arrive until later in the day. They are making us do all the dirty work too!

We can't leave milk outside - the milkman rings the door bell as soon as he leaves the packets at the door and we have to immediately open and take it in. Otherwise, monkeys are sure to get to it! They are constantly on vigil to ensure they get their morning drink every day from few the 100 flats in our complex!

The situation is not as grim as in Delhi, where I hear the ministers too have no protection. There I hear, they bring the big langurs to scare away the monkeys, so the focus needs to shift to solving the trouble with the langurs now?

Best Wishes,

Sri Lakshmi (Cheema)