The forest was my home. I and father loved it. But my mother did not. Some days she would complain about the ants attacking her store while other days about the monkeys ransacking her kitchen garden.
We loved every aspect. From the birdsong early in the morning, when the sky would be turning the most delicate pink, like the blush on a newly-wed bride to the hooting of the owls or growl of a tiger deep in the forest, in the middle of the night.
My father came home one day with a small striated lump, barely able to stand. Weak from starvation and fear, the brownish-ochre kitten was not even audible when it mewled. But a few days of endless fresh milk and its coat gleamed golden. It ran after me all day in the garden. Stopping to chase the large orange butterflies, on the fragrant red roses.
Mom was smitten. She took on feeding ‘Raja’ without a single complaint.
Our big black dog, Bhaloo, growled at it, not trusting the little intruder. But soon he stopped. Often in the afternoons, when mom would take her forty winks, I would go exploring, followed by my troop.
We would find colourful lizards, eggs in nests, big anthills aiming to touch the sky, streams of cool water with minuscule fish by the dozens. Sometimes, we would spot some birds and collect their feathers. Often Raja would run to explore colourful snakes, chameleons and birds larger than him. Bhaloo and I would have to drag him off shouting and yelling. His quizzical look would convey his ignorance. “What? I am just taking a look!”
One day we found a baby snake, barely discernible in the carpet of yellow and brown leaves. The snake, was yawning time and again. His delicate pink mouth aroused Raja’s curiosity. He lunged towards it, in his playful mood. Bhaloo stood still, his hackles raised, growling softly from somewhere in the depths of his throat.
I knew what it meant.
Danger!
But Raja did not. It continued ambling towards a new ‘friend’.
Watching the undisciplined cub, Bhaloo, who felt he was the captain of our group, started barking loudly.
Scolding the careless cub incessantly, threatening the lurking danger and shoving me back, all at the same time! It would have been hilarious, if it wasn’t so scary.
Bhaloo lunged in front of the tiger cub, a physical barrier, baring all his canines.
The snake took one look at us and fled from the scene.
Only the far away screech of a peacock along with the urgent rustling of the dried leaves, concealed the thumping hearts.
When I was narrating our adventure, a little hesitantly to mother after dinner, she clasped me tight, kissing me a hundred times… Bhaloo too was rewarded with a roti, richly lathered in ghee and gur, just the way he loved it.
Months passed. Raja now looked like a Bengal tiger, though he still thought he was a puppy. Bhaloo, had now promoted himself to Colonel, if not General.
One night father said, “Be careful when you go out, an injured tiger has been reported. It can be dangerous.”
“Is it ok to go out in the afternoons?” I asked hesitantly.
“I think so, such creatures generally rest in the afternoons.”
We slunk out as usual.
I spotted a few peacocks flitting in the emerald green canopy ahead. Definitely I would find some of the feathers, with their iridescent blue and green colour. Mother kept them in her Puja room, “Krishna,” she would mumble gleefully. “C’mon guys, lets go forward!” I ordered my troops.
We loped on ahead.
“Growl!”
Bhaloo was on guard. He did not like something. The forest was silent, but for some monkeys chattering.
“C’mon Bhaloo! What is it?”
But how could General Bhaloo tolerate this indiscipline? Between a growl and a snap at me, he lunged forward, hackles raised. Looking at him I sensed danger. But my eyes were pinned on the flashes of brilliant blue ahead.
“Oh! Where is Raja now?” I asked, irritated by the insubordination in the ranks.
Suddenly, a flash of golden ochre slinked from behind the huge banyan tree.
She was magnificent! Strong face, with sparkling eyes, distinct dark lines, as it snarled. That’s when I noticed the big gash on its shoulder. It was in pain, could not put its massive paw on the ground, and it was hungry.
She looked at Bhaloo ready to gobble him up.
Crouching low she prepared to attack.
Silence reigned.
Bhaloo would not budge. He was not going to let anyone attack his troops. He had to keep me safe. A low menacing growl emerged from deep within.
I was torn between admiring the magnificence of the beast and the danger I could feel fluttering in my belly. And just when I thought Bhaloo and I were going to become Tiger-dinner, a resounding roar from overhead echoed all around. A flash of golden lightning went over our heads and landed squarely in front of Bhaloo.
Not a muscle moved, as it crouched facing the Tiger- older and bigger than it.
Tears were streaming down my eyes, as I shouted “No Raja!”
After a million years, the injured tiger retreated. Raja turned to look at his commander only then. Bhaloo licked him incessantly and I hung on to his neck letting my tears soak his golden fur.
Word count: 897
