Chapter 4 THE CATASTROPHE

                          4. THE CATASTROPHE     

The wrists watch on the left hand of Amar shows 9.40 A.M. They will be at the elephant reserve by 9.55 A.M.  Sameer slowed down the vehicle because he did not want to disturb any elephant that is ready for mating. Elephants that are in and close to the mating stage are dangerous. They behave aggressively in this stage.

All of a sudden a small bird with wide wings started to move over the top of their jeep sitting on the bonnet occasionally. It started screeching .It also started to press itself against the glass. Sameer turned on the wipers to avoid this behavior. After 2-3 minutes of valiant effort the bird stopped doing so and it flew away  

“What is it Sameer? Why is it behaving like this?” asked Sameera

“It is called Marelu chidya in these parts. It is commonly heard everywhere. But it is seen in rare. It is called bird of death. Whenever it screeches over your head it is believed that the person is soon going to meet death according to the legends of these forests”

“Oh my God!! It screeched over us now. Then does it mean……..” stopped Raja.

“Do not mind that much Raja. It screeched over me several times and I am very much alive till now as you can see.” Said Sameer

“There you see the elephant reserve we have reached it. It is the most isolated place in the forest … I mean you can see elephants here but not a trace of human. The forest guard visits here every fortnight to ensure no poaching and the count of elephants. It is hard to get back home unless you have an expert like me” said Sameer.

“There you see the guards tilt. This is where he keeps his things while moving around the reserve. I had seven passes of permission from him so that we could move around the woods.” Completed Sameer

All of them moved towards the tilt. They were late by five minutes because of the bird. Nethrika was still pondering on the points told by Sameer in the jeep few minutes ago. She was worried a bit. She could not stop herself from asking Sameer “What is name of that bird?”

“Marelu Chidya meaning death bird” replied Sameer

“Do not worry about the bird. It is of no harm.” Added Sameer

“Why did the bird behave so?” asked she

“It is quite strange for me too. I was not able to study the bird much because it is rarely seen. Very soon I will study them and will try to find out the reason. It is not good for a science student to believe in such myths.”

The conversation ended up there. But they did not know that Nethrika feared right. Sameer has ignored a warning. He does not know that

They did settle their belongings in their tilt. It was 12 noon. Sameer asked them to rest a bit as it would be unfair to ask them to walk under the mid day sun. They had lunch brought from the camp. They had relished lunch. Each had a word to praise the old lady.

All of them slept in a corner of the Tilt. All of a sudden Nethrika heard few sounds. She woke up and saw around. Sameer started hiccups .He is twisting around. He is giving high gasps. He is jumping from the floor.

Nethrika could not believe her eyes. She had woken up everyone. Everyone tried their level best to stop him from such thing. White foam started rolling down his neck from the mouth. It was a horrible scene for all six of them. They have run to fetch the water. They gave him a glass of it. No use. Instead he vomited the same. The volume of the foam started to increase. He was twisting even high. They had nothing to do except to watch him reach death. Nethrika started to sober high. It was his last minute. All six had a shocking experience in their first safari. It was more a misery than a shock. They have lost their thick friend.

The corpse lay on the floor of the tilt with a smile on its face. It was his last wish to die in a forest and on a trip to the reserve. He had a triumphant death smile but no one else had. Everyone had tears in their eyes. Their hearts were thumping fast .It was a heavy heart for them. They felt their hearts being crushed.

They paid last respects to their friend. Most brave of all. Forest is so cruel. She is so found of him that she wanted to bury him deep into her womb. They have buried him under the red sands of their holiday spot.

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It was 8 in the night. Everyone was thinking of him. They started seven and are six now. It was a catastrophe for them. Everyone’s mind had the same questions

Marelu chidya? Does it really indicate death?

It flew over every ones head. Does it mean all six are going to die?

They could not calm themselves down.

Even bigger catastrophe they have now is how to get out of this reserve? None in the reserve knows the way out of it unless he is a expert.

All they have to do is to wait for fortnight to complete for the forest guard to visit them .But will the forest allow them to live?

Are they lost?

They heard a screech long away

Time answers everything