Look Who's here

I was reading a short story 'The leopard' by Ruskin Bond , where Ruskin Bond describes his experiences as he rambles along the Himalayan mountains. In this story he mentions how he spots a leopard as he is trudging along the mountain paths. Though initially he is scared, he keeps his cool and tries not to alarm the cat. Soon he and the leopard become comfortable with each other - so much so - that the leopard follows and trails the author on his journeys in the wilderness - and lets the author enjoy himself in the midst of nature. It’s a beautiful and touching story of bonding between a leopard and a man.

Nature and animals are as full of life as any one of us. They feel, care, love, respond, fear just the way human beings do. Most of the times, we, supposedly the most intelligent of the living species, tend to be insensitive to or even scared of the life around us. Those of us who are able to break free of their thoughts, are able to experience the most beautiful companionships with life and nature.

As I was reading the story, I remembered an incident that had happened to me, one evening, when I was around 9 years old.

It was a lively, pleasant, beautiful spring evening. For the want of doing something new, all of friends decided to go to the nearby park. We loved this park - it had a huge lush green lawn. Around the lawn, was sand and mud, covered with the flowers, fruits and twigs that had fallen from the flowering trees all around. It was an ideal place for us children to run and fool around. This particular day we were playing 'blind man buff' - and I was the 'blind man'. With a cloth around my eyes that completely barred me from seeing anything, I was supposed to run and touch my friends - who were now teasing me around.

We all were in a very playful mood and I went around chasing my friends - sometimes I would hear them to my right, sometimes to my left - sometimes in front and sometimes at my back. I ran in all directions. At one point I ran to my left. I guess I ran a little too further - because the next thing I knew was that I was tumbling down the sand and was feeling the flowers and twigs of the trees all over me.

Like a typical child, I quickly pulled myself up – pulled my blind fold out - and patted myself clean of all the mud and flowers that had got stuck on me. A lot of the twigs had gotten inside my dress – and I started pulling out the twigs. I could feel one of the tree twigs on my chest - so I put my hand inside the front collar of my frock and tried pulling it out – the twig stay put! Finally after a lot of trying - I gave up on this twig. After all, it was not so uncomfortable. I thought I would remove it once I changed my dress at home.

I went back and played for another hour with my friends. As we were returning, I could no longer bear the discomfort of the twig inside my dress. So I went to secluded corner of the park, put my hand inside the dress again, caught hold of the twig tightly and pulled it with all my might .

It came out.. ! Finally !

Feeling accomplished, I looked at my 'prized accomplishment' - to my astonishment - I was holding a full grown lizard with its tail ! Wow !

Cant say who was more shocked – Me or the lizard !

Because, once the initial round of recognition wore off, the next moment, both the lizard as well as me were shrieking and jumping around out of sheer fright! The lizard shaking itself thoroughly through the grip my hand had on its tail – shouting – ‘let go of my tail!’.

Still in a shock, I quickly dropped the lizard from my hand - who was, I guess, more than glad to rush back to its familiar territories. I guess it had had enough adventure for an hour !

Can you believe it, I had spent around 1 hour on the lawn with a lizard resting peacefully on my chest ! :)

Or shall I say, that I sheltered a frightened lizard on myself for about an hour :)