Part 22

The team from India was waiting for the vehicle to arrive.  Dhatri had reached first in her enthusiasm. Her father had accompanied her to see her off. The Vehicle came and the team members hopped out.  A fresh round of greeting each other took place except Dhatri, who was again hiding behind.

“Where is the youngest kid?” asked Prof Koite and Prof Ghosh pulled her from behind.  She again said Good morning! In a bare whisper and tried to move back to be blocked by Prof Ghosh.  “Stay here!” he looked at her sternly.  She nodded and kept looking down nervously.  

“Hi... Am I Late?” Soumya came hurriedly looking at the boys. 

“Yes..!” Dhatri muttered from behind and “Oh No!” was Jim to respond!

Dr. Salil was introduced by Indroneel.  

“Ravindra Pratap? Indian?” Dr. Salil asked.  “No!” Came a curt answer. 

“I am Ray!” he said and Dr. Salil nodded refraining from probing further.

“Ray?” Dhaa was puzzled and then she shrugged. 

“Dhaa....! Be a good girl.  And please don’t do anything on your own..!” Dr. Salil was worried.  Indroneel came forwad.  “Salil, don’t worry! I am with her!” he said confidently.  Salil gaped at his friend’s over confidence.

“You don’t know her...!” he thought gravely.  “I know, Salil! I will take care!” said Indroneel reading his mind.  Dr. Salil smiled faintly.  The team was ready to move. 

Dhaa pulled her stroller bag and adjusted her back pack.  Ray... Ravi glanced at her to find her gazing at him.  He loathed her appearance.  Her brownish, curly, waist length hair were braided tightly; curls still dangling on her forehead.  She was playing with her tomboy green cap wearing a windcheater black jacket, denim jeans, a long loose T Shirt, her trekking shoes were on looking bigger than her figure.  He flashed malice at her skinny appearance.  She returned the same glare.

His tall lean figure towered over.  He was ready with his jeans, jacket, back pack and shoes. His other luggage, tripod, huge camera, laptop, communication equipment, headphones etc. was stacked in the boot space of the vehicle. 

Jim was all excited with all the gadgets.  He wore a cap, jacket, jeans, shoes, and his camera dangling under his neck.  He started off taking a picture of the group with Soumya at the centre smiling broadly and waving and Dhatri hidden behind not to be seen except her green cap.  

They again had a debriefing session shouldering various responsibilities.

Ravi.. Ray will handle photographs, communication... Jim will handle reporting, recording, notes and documentations... Soumya will assist Jim in documentation and Dhatri... Sweet Name!  Will assist everyone without any responsibility.. “ Dr. Maria said smiling at everyone. 

“Limbu Timbu!” came a scornful murmur from behind and Dhatri looked back angrily. 

“Don’t underestimate our youngest member...! She knows the jungle...!” Indroneel encouraged looking at Dhatri’s disappointed face.  Dhatri looked away shyly.  “She will lead us...!” Dr. Maria too was all set to ease out Dhatri’s disappointment.  Dhatri looked down.

“Lead or mislead, Ms. Dhut Teri?” Ravi winked at Jim making fun.  Soumya giggled and Dhatri exited herself from the scene.  

“Dhatri, come! We haven’t finished yet!” Indroneel went behind her to bring her back.  She came back reluctantly.  

Dr. Koite had spread a contour map of satpura spread across the middle of India.  “We are starting from here and will be ending in Nelnar, after having gone through Chhattisghar...!” he drew a line across and Dhatri looked at the dark green patches on the map. 

“We are going through the natural jungles of this area.  We have to be prepared for any eventuality.  We will be accompanied by two Forest Officers through out to help us!” Indroneel took over.

“Please remember... this is not a tourists’ jungle trip.  We may be exposed to the hardships and dangers of jungle.  The composition of the forests here is a tricky issue.  We have to be careful.  Please do not wander alone.... stick together!” Indroneel warned glancing at Dhatri and she nodded obediently.  

“We will be moving through evergreen and semi green foliage and dense forest lands to collect botanical samples.  Our DFO (Deputy Forest Officer ) will brief us about the composition of soil, forest, and the echo system through our entire route.  We may have to change the route if need be.  Our communication systems may not work.  Be careful and don’t try anything different without consultation with the experts...~” Koite warned everyone.  They were given a copy of the route map each with elaborate notes on the expedition and the objectives.  Dhatri stuffed it in her back pack and got up to go.

“No, wait...~” Indroneel professor pulled her down beside him and whispered, “Dhatri.... this is study tour, not your jungle trek! Understand?” he raised his finger and she nodded sheepishly.  

“Study tour... which requires intelligence...!” murmured Ravi disdainfully to Dhatri’s annoyance and Soumya giggled stupidly. Jim winked at her.  Dhatri sitting next to her Sir hung her head in frustration.  She was eager to move and was not interested in this research talk.  

Tata Winger was ready laden with luggage.  Indroneel occupied the passenger seat next to the driver, Soumya was happy to squeeze herself between Jim and Ravi.. umm... Ray at the back and Dhatri stole the window seat next to Dr. Maria sitting in the middle. 

The five hour journey was thoroughly boring for her.  Others busied themselves in talks about the type of the rock, the soil, the composition of forests, the tropical biodiversity, which Dhaa had no interest in.  She soon dozed off plopping her head on Dr, Maria’s shoulder.  Soumya engaged herself in talking to Jim animatedly when Ravi showed no interest in her talks.  Dr. Koite took out a big fat book and busied himself.  Dr. Indroneel Ghosh settled comfortably in the front seat and started chatting with the driver.  Dr. Maria patted on Dhaa’s head fondly and adjusted her head to make her comfortable.

“Dhatri...sweet name!” she murmured looking at sleeping Dhatri.  Dhaa had already reached Satpura National Park and the jungle in her dreams enjoying the trek....!

Dr. Salil came back home.  Nilima was waiting for him.  “Humm... Hope she will be alright!” Dr. Salil said sighing.  Nilima held his hand assuring him that everything would be alright.  

“Of course, Indroneel is with her!” he consoled himself sipping tea.  Dharini had gone for her practical examination.  

“Good that she has gone alone...!” Nilima said.  Salil nodded.  “Hope she learns something and won’t land in trouble!” he still was apprehensive. 

“Don’t worry!” Nilima said optimistically but she too was little worried about her youngest daughter Dhaa.  

*********   ********

“Finally...!” Everyone hopped out when the vehicle stopped at the Forest Rnage Guest House!  Another round of debriefing was done where Dhatri was sitting at the back pretending to be listening with attention.  She was keen in looking at the way the foreign professors were speaking.  She was fascinated by their accent and style.  Every word uttered by the professors were repeated silently keeping her mouth shut tightly and the accent with the style was picked up.  Slowly she started taking interest in what they were talking about.  The everygreen trees, the semi green foliage, the flora, the habitat,  the tribals... She knew many of the things but had never thought about it.  She had taken them for granted.  

The two forest officers soon joined them and Dhaa was enlightened with the local names of the foliage.  She knew almost all of them...! She was eager to enter the forest land...!!