Popcorn with penguins

You are early today for our walk Lady Florahellipall well Or has my broadening waistline reminded you to get me to walk the entire Marine Drive stretch Im not considering it The missus doesnt think so Sir PM announced when he noticed that his walking companion was at their usual halt a good extra hour before timeNot at all Pheroze Youre in fine shape she smiled at Sir PMs candour But there are other developments of note I cant take the bustle in my neighbourhood any more The crowds are back at the annual festival and this time I fear its reached a crescendo The Metro work is in full steam and the horrid condition of the road lining Esplanade Mansion has worsened matters she complained she complained That is unfortunate I wish there was something we could dohellip and before he could continue she interrupted him Actually we have to meet Sir EdwardHe has informed me via his winged messenger Percy the Pigeon we must get one of those that a new fancy cinema hall is coming up in the zoo Lets hope they are playing my favourite BogartHepburn films there Before he could react she tugged his hand firmly and off they headed to BycullaIt was well after midnight when they arrived the full moon light revealed beads of perspiration on Sir PMs temples This wasnt the ideal walk he told himself wishing he had traded his laceup Derbies for a more comfortable option Edward are you there both whispered hoping their friend would spot them amidst the foliage Thank goodness you got my message Percy isnt slowing down after all Please come in the royal remarked as he dismounted from his kala ghoda and welcomed them inside the zoo So Ive been informed by my sources here that the local gods have tied up with a huge moneyed international name to build a modern cinema hall It will screen wildlife films to Bombays schoolchildren he informed them This wasnt a happysounding Sir Edward Sir PM and Lady Flora could tellIts utterly preposterous This coming so close on the heels of varied reports about the condition of species within the zoo Imagine watching a film on the leopards of India in a space where the real inhabitants need to be looked after and where we barely have any left as a matter of fact They are calling it Indias first zoo to launch a theatre inside its premises he was visibly upset by now as he halted for a moment to catch his breathSir PM asked But why would children come to the zoo to watch a film especially with not a promising display of tropical animals in their natural setup Exactly my point brother Pheroze Its bunkum They plan to host many shows every day bring in the moolah by attracting thousands with this new facility There are plenty of incentives too like free entry to municipal schoolchildren he added This is making sense my friends Lady Flora interjected I think its a conspiracyThey just dont want kids to see the condition of the real animals and birds whoever has survived that is and instead watch films here I cant stop thinking of those poor displaced Humboldt penguins and their plight as another Indian summer looms over us This HAS to be their game plan announced Lady Flora who always considered herself to be the smartest of the lotI am told that they hope to increase interest about wildlife in India by screening these films The stories I have heard are not comforting Sir Edward warned reminding both how he was alerted by a snoopy monkey that the project would take off soon How can the gods woo little ones about wildlife when their own house is not in order Funds ought to be routed for the right reasons Will this mean a slow death for the zoo that was created with such noble intent Sir Edward thundered They all bid their goodbyes albeit in sombre fashion Not quite the night out as they had hoped forLady Floras newly restored glow had waned Her wish to watch a classic with friends in one of their favourite neighbourhoods outside the Fort didnt go to plan Sir PM decided to brighten her mood Lady Flora lets catch that film about the Indian ranee from Jhansi She was quite brave But not as brave as youmiddays Features Editor Fiona Fernandez relishes the citys sights sounds smells and stoneswherever the ink and the inclination takes her She tweets bombayanaSend your feedback to mailbagmiddaycomCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates