Chapter 2 THE SUPPER SURPRISE

2. THE SUPPER SURPRISE

It is around 6.30 now. Every one settled themselves well in that wooden cottage. Sameer removed those logs around. The store room is completely clean. Raja helped few buckets of water for the girls. All of them were fresh after bath.

“I never knew an evening bath would be this refreshing “said Thanuj

“Will the cook come to night? I am feeling hungry” reported Khader

“I am afraid that she may not, if she turns up she would normally do it by 6. We will wait for another 10-15 minutes. If she does not then we will have to do it for ourselves. I am afraid about the supplies too.” Said Sameer

“Hope she turns up” Nethrika and Sameera sounded in unison

“Let me check the supplies mean while” said Sameer

“Light the Lanterns around Amar with the match sticks that lie on the table next to you” was the call as he left to cooking place

All the lanterns were lit. It was still partially gloomy. Moon is playing hide and seek in the night sky.

“There are supplies guys but not certainly enough for everyone. I reckon that I have to fish now. Anybody is coming with me?” enquired Sameer

All shot their hands up. Everyone was equally eager

“I want you to accompany me Khader. Rest please rest here. Please be watchful whilst I am not here. Any problem one of the boys get to the river nearby as fast as possible, you will find me there.” Instructed Sameer

Everyone agreed upon. Both of them went out with bamboo sticks in their hands. They have a lantern with them too.

“How do we fish with Bamboo?” inquired Khader

“It is quite simple Khader. We have a Lantern. Cat fish are heavily found in fresh waters like this, they are small in this part of the world, and most of them are nocturnal in nature. They are attracted by light and approach us. We will split the bamboo mouth into six parts using this pocket knife, spread them apart and sharp their edges. As soon as the fish near us we will pierce the sharper side of bamboo into them. If we are lucky we might catch 10-15. It will serve our purpose to night.” Explained Sameer

“That absolutely sounds like rock age hunting” said Khader

           “You are absolutely correct; it is an old technique, but you will have to be very careful and alert as they are only around 12-15c.m, small enough to escape in this light. It needs a lot of experience. I will use the bamboo and you will show up the light. Is it alright?” said Sameer

            “Ready for it” replied Khader

            They did fish for about 30-45 minutes. It did not work much. They have caught only 8. They have decided to spend another 10-15 minutes there

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            Every one at the camp is really feeling hungry. It is around 8.30 in the night.

            “Let us start cooking rice at least before they arrive. We will save time so that we can cook fish then “said Nethrika

            “Yes at least I will stop feeling hungry if I am involved in something “said Raja

            Cat fish is not the only nocturnal being in the forest. The guests are not aware of this fact.

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            Sameer and Khader are walking back. They have caught 12 of them. It is not a good number for an expert like Sameer but a fair job for a new guy.

Both of them are back at the cottage .It is 9. All of them are hungry. Rice was already done. It is getting cold too. Sameer showed into the kitchen where Nethrika is cooking. The Lantern is hanging to the center pole. Half the room was still dark.

“You should have put the lantern by your side” advised Sameer

“It is adding to the heat of cooking flame” replied Nethrika

“Still you cannot work in dark here” said Sameer and took the lantern near her

 It is a traditional stove where the cooking flame is produced by dry sticks.  It is in one corner of the room under a small chimney to let the smoke out.

As he moved close Sameer told in cold voice “Nethrika please move out of that place, as normal as possible:”

“Why?”

“Do as I say” said Sameer in stern voice

She smelled something wrong and just moved

Sameer took her hand in fast and pulled her along

Plttt…taap ……. All the steel utensils sounded high

Everyone came into that room

Sameer showed light into that corner.

It is a porcupine.

Nethrika yelled loudly when she was some 10 foot away from that creature where she happily cooked food when it is few centimeters away

It left the place through the back door from where it might have come from. It was a horrifying scene for the other six but was quite common for their host

“Lucky, porcupines cannot aim their shoot, they do not even shoot but leave their quills out and are harmful in short range” said Sameer

No one was interested in what he said but was worried what else would come in here in the night

They had supper with catfish. Everyone’s thoughts were filled with respect to that old lady who cooks every night

The moon has stopped playing hide and seeks. It is a clear sky and is a nice scene to look at.  The Camp beds were made ready. All the six lanterns are shown into the same room where they are hung. 

None of the six might have thought that they could sleep comfortably in presence of light and wish for some more of it