chapter 3 THE SAFARI

                                 3. THE SAFARI

It was about 6 in the morning. The morning sun light started disturbing Sameera. She could not sleep any more. She tried to cover herself with the blanket.  It was not working. She then decided to step out of the bed. Everyone around were still sleeping. But one camp bed was empty. She could easily guess whose bed it was. Sameer had kept his habit upright. He would wake up every morning at the stroke of 4not a second less, not a second more.

She went in search of him. There was no sign of him in any of the rooms. She searched for him in his study, the kitchen and the Backyard. All of a sudden she could hear the jeep. She hurried to the front door and opened it.

“So, where have you been this early?” she enquired Sameer

“To the small service center near the highway to make the jeep’s tank full” said Sameer

“This early” She did not complete her question

“It is a 24 hour one” he answered as if he had understood what she was going to ask.

“We are going to Safari this morning so I felt that it would be better to do so” he completed and hurried into the study

She smiled at the fact that he has not changed his secrecy. But he always plans for everything.

There was knock on the door at about 7 in the morning

Sameer has opened the door

It was the cook. They had some conversation and she rushed into the kitchen.

Everyone was ready by 9. Nethrika went into the kitchen to fetch the coffee for everyone. The old lady was setting the coffee into the cups. She went there to help her

“So, is it ok now?” asked the old lady

“What?  ” enquired Nethrika

“The panic you faced due to the porcupine last night” said the lady

“Yes. But how did you know that?” asked Nethrika

“It is quite likely young lady. The porcupine quills at the chola(stove) suggest  there has been a porcupine here yesterday and in the group from your face it is evident that you are the only one who possibly knew how to cook.”

Elementary my dear Watson was the only thing that missed from her words. Otherwise she could have sounded absolutely like Sherlock Holmes.

She was completely elated by the compliment of the lady. She distributed the cups around and went into the study of Sameer.

As she entered the room Sameer “The Old woman might have surprised you little sister. She has a lot of reason.”

“How did you know that?” asked Nethrika

“There is not much reason in this. Your face indicates surprise and you are walking from the kitchen, the coffee cups suggest me as no one in the group is that.. you know what I meant. I knew the lady is of great wisdom so I guessed “

“Nice, what is that you are studying now?” she asked

“It is Evolution of Indian Dhole”

“What is Dhole?”

“A Dhole is an Indian wild dog. Endangered and enumerated less than 1000 all over India. I was trying to get an idea which external influence if removed will increase its population.”

“Okay. But if you could finish that coffee we will be all ready for the safari you promised.” Said Nethrika

He started sipping his coffee. Thanuj came in meanwhile with a frown and asked “Do we have general cats around this place?”

“Not often why did you ask so?” enquired Sameer

“I have seen one at the jeep”

Sameer ran out with a camera in the hand and took two to three shots of it

“Thanuj it is a cat. Your right only up to that fact. It is a wild cat and it is called clouded leopard. This one you saw is just an infant sleeping and for now let us walk away as the mother might be nearby”

After they moved a safe distance, Sameer said “Clouded leopards are not usually found in these types of forests. These are usually found in Himalayan region. I am a bit surprised”

“Enough surprise let us start” said Raja

“Okay all of you get in” said Sameer as he seated at the steering

Seven of them seated themselves comfortably. The jeep started to move in swift.

“Where are we going now?” asked Khader

“To the Elephant Reserve” replied Sameer

“How far is it?” asked Roopesh

“It takes 50 min from now” replied Sameer

The jeep took a jolt and no one asked questions for the next 20 minutes

The jeep took a halt.

“Is it the reserve but its only 20 min from when we started?” asked Sameera

“It is not the reverse but have a look at the endangered Black buck with its mates. The one with horns is male and other without is female. The male attracts the mate with its horns” said Sameer

“Why does not the female have horns?” asked Amar

“Well it is evolutionary. The male buck is entrusted the duty of protecting the baby bucks and the lady buck from the other male bucks, hence the male bucks have evolved horns to be handy in the wrestling whilst the lady serves the purpose of increasing the population of its kind and rearing them. Hence a lady buck agrees to mate only if and only if it gets convinced of the male’s ability which is decided based on horns.” Said Sameer

“If you accept to learn from nature you will understand its principle. Evolve and Survive.” Completed Sameer

The jeep started to move

All the seven were moving happily unaware of the danger that beheads them

What is the danger?

How will they evolve?

How will they survive?