Green Goggle – an Iguana

There used to live a big supple green iguana in our house that Grandmother had brought from Mussoorie. In fact there were a few other lizards, I guess, but none of them was as much large and supple as the one that I used to call Goggle.

Grandmother had a strange fascination for reptiles. The way she would feed Goggle and touch him without any hesitation simply suggests her love and care for animals. Last time when she went to Mussoorie, she snapped many pictures of different types of reptiles. And most of them belong to lizard category. Be it Chameleon or Chuckwallas, Agamid or Geckos, venomous or non-venomous, she would never get scared. 

Goggle was big enough to have a big heart. He would never scare any of the children at home. Unlike other lizards, he would never run across the floor in a swift motion from one corner to another only to disappear somewhere. Everyone was aware of his presence but none ever complained anything serious about him except for Sima Pisi, one and only sister of my father.

My grandmother used to call Goggle by the name Gopal. To our amazement, Goggle would respond to both the names. One of his interesting qualities was that he would never attack any insect without giving it a warning no matter it was a beautiful butterfly or a deep brown cockroach. Every day at 12 noon he would appear in the Thakurghar where my grandmother used to offer worship to Gods and Goddesses. Goggle would lie at one corner and wait for the Aarati to be over. After grandmother was done with her puja, she would give prasadam to her green Gopal and ask us to take ours.

It was indeed nice to notice how beautifully Goggle would cherish the sweet and feel contented. He would simply run his tongue over the piece of Nakuldana and enjoy the taste. His limbs were well developed, his tongue was short – barely protrusible and his crest as much rigid as my father’s helmet. Goggle became quite foodie upon the indulgence of Grandmother. It was because of her indulgence and care Goggle had the opportunity to savour jam, jelly, biscuits, milk and soup.

It was summer vacation.  One day grandmother bought some raw, green mangoes from the market. We were all very happy as she announced that she would prepare mango pickle for us. Gulguli, my dear cousin as I lovingly call her, came up with her composition book where she had recently read a paragraph about how to prepare mango pickle. Grandmother encouraged Gulguli to assist her in the preparation. Having heard it, Gulguli’s joy knew no bound. She started dancing like a colt. Goggle perhaps eavesdropped our conversation. He appeared from his hideouts and expressed his glee by wagging his long tail a bit and running his tongue around his rigid jaw.

“Gopal! Gopal it is Gopal Grandma” - Gablu, my brother, shouted

“Now, I have had all my family together, I will prepare a special bowl of pickles for my Gopal” – Grandmother announced. 

Having heard it, Goggle moved his crest a little while sitting perfectly on his perch.

In the mean time Sima Pisi landed on our place with her luggage. We never liked Sima Pisi. She was too much strict about discipline. During her stint at our house, every kid had to wake up early in the morning. No one was allowed to watch television. At dusk when we would start our lesson, she would be there to teach us with a stick. Her arrival would spoil our sport during the vacation as we had to follow all her instructions. Even Grandmother would not say anything to her. Sima Pisi knew nothing about Goggle. Both Gulguli and Gopal assured me that they would be with me in this mission as we decided to use Goggle as a tool to teach her a lesson.    

One fine morning, we caught Goggle from his hideouts on the attic and let him slip into Sima Pisi’s big leather bag. Goggle perhaps found the place very comfortable so he did not move anywhere. We kept waiting for Sima Pisi to take her betel case while preparing our lesson. Suddenly Sima Pisi gave a blast by screaming.

“What happened, Sima? Why are you screaming?” – asked Grandmother coming from the kitchen.

“Look! Something went inside my bag. How it is moving and jumping!” – Said Sima Pisi looking frightened.  

“It might be my Gopal” – said Grandmother with a smiling face.

We all gathered to the place and started looking at each other. We were feeling partially happy having taught a lesson to Sima Pisi and partially frightened as we could be punished if we were caught.

“Gablu, open the purse and let Gopal get out” – instructed Grandmother.

Gablu followed her instruction and as soon as he opened the bag, out popped Goggle. He squinted up at Sima Pisi. His lung was filled with air, he was looking even more enormous than his actual size. Without delay he fled away. However, grandmother was grand enough to understand that it was our plan. She rebuked us and punished us. However, since the incident Sima Pisi never tried to be strict with us.