Choti choti batyen of Happyville [1]

 Choti choti batyen of Happyville (Episode-1)

When I booked our flat here back in 2015, I never imagined that, ten years later, this area would blossom into such a beautiful, lively place! For years, I lived in company-sponsored township quarters — spaces where money and resources were never in short supply. Wide roads lined with tall trees, and gardens overflowing with every seasonal flower imaginable, no matter which region I was posted in.

And yet, this gated society of Happyville feels just as special — in its own quiet, comforting way. The greenery here has its own charm. Bakul, Jarul, Kadam, Neem, Krishna chura, Palash [fire of forest], Chatim [children's park] Almonds [exit gate], Kath-Badam (a few), decorative palms, and a variety of flowering plants quietly add life to the surroundings.

The scented treasure: While our society has its share of fragrant flowering plants — like Kanchan (near Fern), Champa (in Central Park), and Bakul (behind Aqua) — the most scented treasure here is perhaps one that many don’t notice: the Swarna Champa (Golden Champa). Its blooms release a strong, sweet fragrance — somewhat like jasmine, but warmer and creamier. If you stand close,  you might catch subtle hints of ripened tropical fruit — like banana — mingling with a soft, floral richness that fills the air gently, yet surely.

When these trees bloom, you simply cannot miss their scent as you walk past. Last year even, they were small, and you could easily pluck a flower by hand. Now, they’ve grown tall, reaching for the sky.

Wondering where to find them? Look beside the Citron building, right at the end of the open parking lot.

The flowerless, yet flowery tree: These trees are plenty in our housing complex. They usually bloom in late spring or early summer. We have many Bakul trees (also known as Spanish Cherry) scattered around — behind Aqua, beside Fern, beside Citron, and in several other spots. The open park behind Aqua can safely be named as - Bakul park as it’s surrounded by Bakul trees only!  

When in full bloom, an adult Bakul tree looks truly enchanting. Its small, creamy-white,

star-shaped flowers gently fall to the ground, forming a soft, fragrant carpet beneath. Their delicate scent is most noticeable at night, carrying a quiet charm that fills the air. Strangely, though I often spot a few scattered flowers here and there, I’ve never seen a Bakul tree in our complex fully covered in blossoms — like they do in old parks or temples. Maybe someday, when the trees grow older, they’ll surprise us with their full glory!

About us: A ballpark figure of around 1,500 residents now call this place home. Along with them, the complex quietly shelters at least few pairs of Orioles, a few sparrows, a dozen or so parrots who mostly fly by during mornings and evenings, a dozen wagtails, several cuckoos, butterflies near the amphitheatre, a pair of mongooses, a few hundred pigeons and a pair of owl whom I found sometimes near the Kadam tree at Indigo corner.

We also share this space with some “unofficial residents” — seven stray dogs (two black and five yellow). Despite repeated efforts to relocate them, they continue their hide-and-seek with the security staff and have made this their permanent home, thanks largely to the unfinished boundary wall left by Siddha.

And of course, our beloved furry companions — at least 20 pet dogs — bring joy to the community. Many of them are well-known personalities here: Daichi, Orio, Scooty, Max, Jack, Lucky, Sporty, Kuttus, Hunter, Gogo, Junu, Ginger, Akira, Milo, Toto, Bluto, Simga to name just a few. Each one enjoys their own fan following — sometimes even more than their human!

[comments are welcome…more to follow ]

[some names may have unintended errors ...]

Somnath Bera