Where have all the daddus gone?

It occurred to me yesterday that there weren't any daddus this year. Come the rains and the lawn is usually teeming with them as they hop about in a short-splendored frenzy. A daddu, for those who don't know, is a small frog that used to emerge from its underground habitat during the rains. But this year we haven't seen any. I wonder where they've gone. Nana says the jugnus (fireflies) have also disappeared. He remembers the hedges used to tremble at night with their flickering lights. Not any more though.

I went to the local video store the other night and came away with a copy of Parineeta and a CD of Noorie's latest album, Peeli Patti aur Raja Jani ki Gol Duniya. I'm not exactly sure what the title means, apart from being a slick advertising gimmick to lure suckers like myself into buying the album. The music is loud and plain and completely devoid of any excitement, unless of course you like music that is loud and plain and can be used to work up a mad rage. Otherwise, please save your hundred rupees. Give them to me.

And in case you were wondering, the best ringtone in the world belongs to one of Nana's friends; a short and simple message that drones "Abbu, phone uthain!"

That's it for now.