December 18 2010,sunday
My exams were over and I had already planned a long holiday. I love mountains and my friend Ashish lives in Haldwani, so Nainital was my preferred destination.
I , instead of going by train or bus chose to go for a 300 km long drive alone. my santro CNG was ready . I started and my ipod started playing dil chahta hai songs to make my journey easier and enjoying.
After 6 hours drive I was close to Haldwani. it was hilly forest area and is no wonder to see wild animals wandering on the road. I was driving slowly as I was tired too.
Suddenly I felt something strength in the sound of forest. I was thrilled inside as it was my first long journey passing inside a jungle. it was early evening time and the shadow of trees has made it like pseudo night. and then I heard a slow roar , not terrifying in strength but the very fact that it was a roar was enough to chill my bones. Terrified, instead of rushing I stopped. and then what I saw stole my breath for a few seconds. There was a whole pride of lions appearing on the road. not just one but three lioness . Strangely they were neither crossing the road, nor were in an attacking mode. They were just staring at my car which made my fear more intense. Then my over optimistic inner-self tried to calm me down. It told me that I am safe inside car. May be they are just enjoying the road view. but then I was little surprised and shocked when I saw another smaller figure in that group. It was a cub that was bleeding on its front left leg. Probably it fell down into some small pit. The lioness was making a strange but not terrifying gesture. If it was shown by a human, that gesture was certainly friendly and more precisely asking for help. But that was a big cat. and no comparison there.
My mind started wondering what is going to happen to me now and then it stopped working as the herd was coming closer to my car. The lioness was giving slow roars and raising her right front leg and was close enough that she could directly look in to my eyes. my blood dried and I was sunk deep in to fear. But then suddenly something strange happened to me. I just remembered the old story of lion with injured leg and the man who helped him. But that was a story, it doesn't happen in real life. Before I could think further the one lion started knocking at my door. I knew that they can easily break into car or break it or send me directly into valley or may be it's a hungry family and a ready to eat material is being served here as me. But I guided my ongoing thoughts, unlocked the car and opened the door of backside. the lioness came carrying her cub by her mouth and put it on the back seat and again stared in to my eyes and I could read the need for help. I was surprised not getting attacked yet. That was the most hilarious moment of my life. The other lioness sat at that very place , looked at me and then turned her head to road as giving me indication that come back here, I will wait.
I , understanding the situation rushed to the next town Bilaspur there I inquired about a veterinary doctor. Hills are not so developed to keep a veterinary doctor in every town. But I realized that I was in forest area and forest office must have some help. I rushed to the forest office but was stopped at a check post. to add to my worries when they saw a cub in my car they immediately came to arrest me. I understood they are not trusting me so I ran over and broke the check post. I entered in to the office of forest officer and asked for help. To my (and the cub's) luck a doctor was there and he rushed to my car. The cub was very much in pain. Two more assistants came and slowly took the cub inside. Then it was treated and a small cover of supporting sticks were tied around the leg.
I got some relief. now there was another problem , the police came to arrest me but forest officer handled the situation telling them that I was helping not trafficking. But another issue, no body was going to believe my story and the officer insisted on keeping the cub there only. He could not believe that I was actually being waited for some 8 km away by a lion family. I was perplexed. I asked him to come with me and see himself but he denied. But suddenly came a hope, there was a lady forest officer who interrupted and asked to give me a chance. She was in mid twenties and her face was glowing with graciousness of a young lady. Her eyes was filled with sympathy .....so affectionate. I was allowed to go take the cub back to its family. It was getting dark and I was not sure about the condition I was going to face. but at least I was not alone. In 30 minutes I reached that place and was surprised to see the lioness sitting at same place. The lady officer looked at my face with disbelief . She was afraid and held my hand when I went on to open the door. I looked in to her eyes and assured her that it was alright. I opened the door and the lioness came closer. I don't know why but I came out of the car forgetting about the danger. The lioness picked her cub and placed it out. the lion picked it up and went little away to reduce our fear. the lioness looked at me again and came closer and I felt the whiff of her breath on my face. However, this time I was not terrified . I touched her hair, the 4 ft and 120 kg giant cat was thanking me , and then she turned and got vanished in the dark forest. It was 750 pm already . I got back in the car. Raina (the lady officer) looked at me with fascination as she was astonished by absence of fear on my face. I smiled and drove back to the town.
This evening become most hilarious and cherished incidence of my life.
I thought feeling to be communicated are not dependent on words or language..... just a look in to eyes conveys it all.
My exams were over and I had already planned a long holiday. I love mountains and my friend Ashish lives in Haldwani, so Nainital was my preferred destination.
I , instead of going by train or bus chose to go for a 300 km long drive alone. my santro CNG was ready . I started and my ipod started playing dil chahta hai songs to make my journey easier and enjoying.
After 6 hours drive I was close to Haldwani. it was hilly forest area and is no wonder to see wild animals wandering on the road. I was driving slowly as I was tired too.
Suddenly I felt something strength in the sound of forest. I was thrilled inside as it was my first long journey passing inside a jungle. it was early evening time and the shadow of trees has made it like pseudo night. and then I heard a slow roar , not terrifying in strength but the very fact that it was a roar was enough to chill my bones. Terrified, instead of rushing I stopped. and then what I saw stole my breath for a few seconds. There was a whole pride of lions appearing on the road. not just one but three lioness . Strangely they were neither crossing the road, nor were in an attacking mode. They were just staring at my car which made my fear more intense. Then my over optimistic inner-self tried to calm me down. It told me that I am safe inside car. May be they are just enjoying the road view. but then I was little surprised and shocked when I saw another smaller figure in that group. It was a cub that was bleeding on its front left leg. Probably it fell down into some small pit. The lioness was making a strange but not terrifying gesture. If it was shown by a human, that gesture was certainly friendly and more precisely asking for help. But that was a big cat. and no comparison there.
My mind started wondering what is going to happen to me now and then it stopped working as the herd was coming closer to my car. The lioness was giving slow roars and raising her right front leg and was close enough that she could directly look in to my eyes. my blood dried and I was sunk deep in to fear. But then suddenly something strange happened to me. I just remembered the old story of lion with injured leg and the man who helped him. But that was a story, it doesn't happen in real life. Before I could think further the one lion started knocking at my door. I knew that they can easily break into car or break it or send me directly into valley or may be it's a hungry family and a ready to eat material is being served here as me. But I guided my ongoing thoughts, unlocked the car and opened the door of backside. the lioness came carrying her cub by her mouth and put it on the back seat and again stared in to my eyes and I could read the need for help. I was surprised not getting attacked yet. That was the most hilarious moment of my life. The other lioness sat at that very place , looked at me and then turned her head to road as giving me indication that come back here, I will wait.
I , understanding the situation rushed to the next town Bilaspur there I inquired about a veterinary doctor. Hills are not so developed to keep a veterinary doctor in every town. But I realized that I was in forest area and forest office must have some help. I rushed to the forest office but was stopped at a check post. to add to my worries when they saw a cub in my car they immediately came to arrest me. I understood they are not trusting me so I ran over and broke the check post. I entered in to the office of forest officer and asked for help. To my (and the cub's) luck a doctor was there and he rushed to my car. The cub was very much in pain. Two more assistants came and slowly took the cub inside. Then it was treated and a small cover of supporting sticks were tied around the leg.
I got some relief. now there was another problem , the police came to arrest me but forest officer handled the situation telling them that I was helping not trafficking. But another issue, no body was going to believe my story and the officer insisted on keeping the cub there only. He could not believe that I was actually being waited for some 8 km away by a lion family. I was perplexed. I asked him to come with me and see himself but he denied. But suddenly came a hope, there was a lady forest officer who interrupted and asked to give me a chance. She was in mid twenties and her face was glowing with graciousness of a young lady. Her eyes was filled with sympathy .....so affectionate. I was allowed to go take the cub back to its family. It was getting dark and I was not sure about the condition I was going to face. but at least I was not alone. In 30 minutes I reached that place and was surprised to see the lioness sitting at same place. The lady officer looked at my face with disbelief . She was afraid and held my hand when I went on to open the door. I looked in to her eyes and assured her that it was alright. I opened the door and the lioness came closer. I don't know why but I came out of the car forgetting about the danger. The lioness picked her cub and placed it out. the lion picked it up and went little away to reduce our fear. the lioness looked at me again and came closer and I felt the whiff of her breath on my face. However, this time I was not terrified . I touched her hair, the 4 ft and 120 kg giant cat was thanking me , and then she turned and got vanished in the dark forest. It was 750 pm already . I got back in the car. Raina (the lady officer) looked at me with fascination as she was astonished by absence of fear on my face. I smiled and drove back to the town.
This evening become most hilarious and cherished incidence of my life.
I thought feeling to be communicated are not dependent on words or language..... just a look in to eyes conveys it all.
