Hello folks who wonder why people are still wishing each other a Happy New Year 12 days into the new year,

Stray dogs are a common sight on India's streets. Even if you don't have a pet at home, you can still get your "pet fix" as these friendly strays often approach people walking by. Since most of these dogs aren't spayed or neutered, you'll frequently encounter adorable puppies throughout the neighborhoods.

But what if, instead, you saw the same scene with one major twist - the dog was hanging upside down while eating that fruit? You'd probably stop in your tracks, whip out your phone, and start recording this TikTok-worthy moment, completely forgetting about wherever you were headed.

And that, my friends, is the magic of fruit bats—specifically, the aptly named Indian flying fox.

*readers begin to applaud enthusiastically... one reader drops their phone. Audience gasps.

Most people catch glimpses of fruit bats at dusk, during that busy time when day shift workers are heading home and night shift workers are just starting their commute.

Don't worry, let's watch again, but this time in slow motion.

I spot one trying to hide its face from my camera. "Please don't film me," it seems to protest.

"You're in a public space, friend," I reply sternly. "I can film whoever I want. If you're camera-shy, wear a face mask!"

My friends recently suggested I seek counseling since I've started arguing with fruit bats. But I think they're missing the point—they're probably just jealous that I'm more well-versed in my constitutional rights than they are.

Sorry, I got a bit distracted there. Let’s focus on the fruit bat I was arguing with. It turned its head away because it didn’t want to be filmed. What a diva!

These fruit bats are quite different from their smaller American cousins. These bats don't use echolocation at all. Think of them as nature's vegans, choosing to eat only fruits or nectar (though they won't turn down the occasional insect that happens to be inside their fruity meal). Since fruits don't zip around like insects do, these bats don't need special equipment to track their food through the air.

Instead they will use their big eyes that are sensitive to different colors to identify which fruits are ripe.

Warm, warmer, warmer.

I'll share the answer with you, but shh... don't let the bat know!

Oh no! It found the ripe fruit. Did any of you tell it the answer?

Look at it enjoying its prize, looking so proud! Hey buddy, that was too easy. Next time, I’ll bring my paints and color all the unripe fruit red. What does it think of itself?

In the next post, we’ll take a look at some ants I encountered during my trip. And let me tell you, these ants are the pit bulls of the ant world!