I May Be A Goldfish, But I’m Definitely A Bumblebee

Say What Now?! — Edition 8

Before you go ahead, let me take your coat of reason and rationality. Things only get wibbly-wobbly from here.

I like to believe that I have been blessed with the gift of the gab (read talking). However, this gift often limits itself to the inside of my brain and sometimes in front of my well-wishers’ army. When it comes to talking to my screen (which I have been doing a lot lately, thanks lockdown!) or going up on stage (a seemingly distant non-virtual future) there’s a big metaphorical foot that gets lodged in the middle of my mouth. Ouch!

I’ve always been a tot that talks too much since I was, quite literally, a tiny tot. The earliest memory of me putting on the airs of an adult, was when my best friend and I were put in the same daycare, on the same day. On one hand, where I was my poised, powdered self, all ready to launch myself as the next debutante of the toddlers’ world, my best bud was all shades of blue (surprisingly the literal translation of that colour in Hindi is his name).

I remember telling him that he’s got nothing to worry about because the parents would be

back in a vrooomm. That, to my two-year-old self was the sound of swift-moving, fast motions. Almost two decades and a half later, I still thoroughly believe it really is that sound.

When I talk, I often think of my words as little bunnies jumping their way to glee. Their fluffy white fur bounces in the air and the pinks of their hind paws play hide and seek with the onlooker. These thought bunnies give me quite the alluring (only for myself) ability to jump from topics faster than the Road Runner would. Meep meep! Here we go, nosediving into a new topic!

I’m sure you must be a tad bit concerned about the number of animal metaphors that I am using today. Don’t you worry because I am actually not done yet! (Smiles cheekily) This topic-jumping with words on-fleek habit of mine might someday gain me the title of a goldfish (psst…it actually already has). But, if there was an animal/insect that would describe me best, it would most definitely be the bumblebee!

Now that I have roused your curiosity, it is only fair that I give you a reason to satiate it. Guess what? I’ve got not one, but 21 reasons to attest to this bumblebee nature of mine. In this case, though, I would like to appeal to my goldfish side and only talk about three.

1. Bumblebees have a favourite colour — it’s violet!

2. These insects need to eat/consume every 40 mins.

3. If you try to disturb a bumblebee lying on its back, ya gonna get stung.

Guess, whose favourite colour is also violet? Oh, don’t be guessing, I will tell you, it’s me! The second point doesn’t need to be put into a relevant perspective, because if you know me, you know how much I like to eat. And, if you ever find me droning on in my sleep, you should know that a healthy distance will be much appreciated.

Now these are the operational reasons, the cloth on the body, tangible to be distinguished, yet easily lost in the crowd. Let’s talk about the intangible reasons. They seem like super easy-going, chill droners who take their time to fly away from one flower to the other.

They could be the real world drifters, but with a purpose. Did you know that they can pollinate by mere buzzing? Such fuzzy little creatures, and interestingly non-harmful too! The male bees don’t have stingers, only the females do and they don’t harm you unless you put a hand through their hive. They are particularly social and masters of their own minds (unless their queen is present in the picture). I am two of those things and aspire to be the third one too.

I haven't seen a bumblebee yet in person — they like to live as far away from the sea-level and I like to live as close to it as humanly possible. However, I do believe that just like the bumblebees, it is important for me to take life as it comes.

My advice to me would be — to enjoy fluttering in a wobbly manner from one situation to the other, laugh at life and its comedy of errors, smile more often and christen more closed ones with names of vegetables.

If a bumblebee could talk, it would tell us to take breathing seriously and life as lightly as possible! Laugh loudly with our parents and friends, offer ourselves a cute haircut, skip with our pets, and belt out a tune or two as we attend nature’s call.

Do it all and do it wildly, because this day is the one that you are truly going to live in. Stay on the trail of happiness and bliss in the spectacular now!

And, that concludes the ‘weird things I thought of one, sweaty Sunday afternoon’ bit for me.