Goodbye, oh, POOR White Bitter Gourd vines!

Fourth Sis suddenly came to notice the army of ants marching on and about her White Bitter Gourd ( Momordica charantia ) vines  last week, while she was sorting her piles of dirty laundry on her balcony. She was so shocked that she phoned me right away, to tell me about her discovery, which to her, was a most dreadful one. She asked me to go over to her apartment and help her have the vines removed soonest possible. In order to get rid of the ants.

I was most reluctant to do so. Thus, I tried my very best to make her change her mind. I spent quite some time persuading and making her understand ( which she eventually did ), that they are friends and not foes. That they are pollinators that could possibly help her get her first, much longed for fruit. I also assured her that they were there for the flowers on the vines only, and not likely would they care to find their ways to the foods in her kitchen, something which I knew she was most afraid would happen. 

But still, eventually, after all the persuasions and reasoning, she was adamant about her initial decision. She wanted to have her White Bitter Gourd vines gone. So that the creepy-crawlies ( ants ) would go too, and make their living elsewhere, away from her balcony. She said she could not tolerate their presence. No matter what. ( long sighs ).

So, with a heavy heart, I had them ( the White Bitter Gourd vines ) killed ( cut at the base ), cut into small parts and removed from her balcony yesterday. 

Goodbye, oh, POOR White Bitter Gourd vines! ( sobs )