Part 24

The rooms were smaller in size with a single bed, a table two folding chairs, a night lamp and small cupboard.

Everyone had settled.  “We have to get up early in the morning...” Maria said. 

“Haan?” Dhatri wore a question mark on her face.  Maria repeated slowly and clearly.

 “What time?” Dhatri asked taking out her wrist watch.  She set the alarm and took out her sleeping bag.  “You can sleep here!” Maria pointed at the tiny cot.

“No! I have my bed!” Dhatri said and changed into her night dress.  Dinner time was short and simple.  Maria and Dhatri preferred to remain in the room.   The plates with rice, curd and dal arrived and Dhatri devoured it in record time.  She took out her water bottle. 

“Dhatri? Do you know the meaning of Dhatri?” Maria asked fondly and Dhatri nodded.  Humm... I have a Sanskrit – English dictionary.” Dr. Maria scrolled her Laptop screen.  Dhatri peeped in.  Maria busied herself in the work and Dhatri sat behind yawning  and playing with the chousinga Horn, her first find.  

“Feeling sleepy?” Maria asked looking back at Dhatri from her chair and Dhatri nodded.  “Go to sleep...” Maria permitted and Dhatri disappeared in her sleeping bag on the floor.  Dr. Maria smiled inwardly.  “Dhatri.... Sweet name and a sweet girl...” she too closed her laptop and applied insect repellent cream.  She looked around for the other girl.  Soumya was nowhere to be seen.  

“Where is Ms Soorie?” Maria asked puzzled.  “Dinner with others outside...!” came a muffled voice from sleeping bag and Maria sighed.  Soumya came late in the night and slept on the cot beside Maria.  

It was still dark outside and Maria got up with noise in the bathroom.  She sat up and saw the time.  “Time to get up!” she said coming out of her bed and looked at the flattened sleeping bag.  Dhatri was already up and was in the bathroom.  Maria had a faint smile.  “Good!” she blurted.  

Dhatri came out ready! “Good morning..!” Maria greeted pleasantly.

“Goo...Good Morning..!” Dhatri reciprocated shyly.  “Ready?” Maria asked and she nodded, hanging her binoculars around her neck.  

“Where?” Maria asked.  “Outside..!” she answered moving out of the room.  “Wait!” Maria dashed to the bathroom to get ready.  Dhatri had taken a cold water bath.  Maria got ready and came out to find Dhatri sitting on the stairs looking up at a Bamboo island.  Dr. Maria sat beside her.  

“Look!” Dhatri pointed out in the darkness.  Maria couldn’t see anything.  “Where?” she asked straining her eyes.  Dhatri looked at her and holding her hand tiptoed nearer.  A flock of birds flew up in the air fluttering loudly.  Maria gaped.

“Storks..!” Dhatri smiled at her.  “There must be water nearby...!” she pulled Maria’s hand and dragged her.  Maria ensued.  Dhatri had taken out her small torch to see the path below.  They walked down the slope and stopped turning into a statue.  Maria was stunned at the beauty.  A stream gurguling down the stony slops was draining into a small pond and the ducks were swimming peacefully.  

“Shuu....!” Dhatri hushed before Maria could utter a word.  “Nesting season...!” Dhatri whispered.  They both made their way up the pond and the birds again flew in panic.  “Huf huh hu.. !” Dhatri giggled jerking her head and closing her eyes.  Maria gaped her and the flying birds.  

“You see all sorts of animals and birds at dawn..!” Dhatri informed and Maria nodded knowingly.  “Universaly..!” she said looking through her binoculars. 

“We can see peacocks also...!” Dhatri said.  “You mean Peafowl...” Maria corrected.  Dhatri ignored.  They had already slid the slope and had reached the now empty pond.  All the birds were flown away.  Dhatri ran forward to see if she could lay her hands on some lagging bird.  Maria stood behind and watched.  

“Tiii.. tii..twitt..twittt...” She heard a frantic screech and a bird with bright yellow eyes flew over Dhatri’s head.  Dhatri looked down searching for something.

“M’am... “ she called out in a hushed voice.  “Come here...!” she waved at Maria.  Maria reached.  “Look ... eggs... Lapwing...!” Dhatri was excited with the perfectly camouflaged eggs on the ground with pebbles.  Dr. Maria sat down to examine under the frantic and angry calls “tii..twitt..twittt.. tii..twitt..twittt..”  

“Come on...Lets go!” They turned to go back.  The chirping of the birds had become louder and louder and Dhatri was running ahead of Maria like one of them giggling and jumping forgetting all her inhibitions.  She stopped abruptly and came back to Maria.  Maria looked in the direction to find Jim and Ravi descending the slopes.

“You are late... the birds are vanished...!” Maria greeted teasingly. 

“Shit...!” Jim couldn’t stop himself.  Ravi looked at Dhatri as if it was her fault.  She didn’t bothered and continued her walk.  Dr. Marai had stopped by to talk to the boys and Dhatri made her way back alone.  

*****   ******

“Tea?” Chinu the ranger offered.  Dhatri took the cup and sat on the stairs gazing into the trees.  She saw the boys and M’am approaching.  Soumya had come out wearing a bright florescent yellow Top and black jeans.

“Umm... Ms.. wearing bright colours on a trek is not advisable..” DFO suggested.

“But I will wear jacket over it..!” Soumya retorted arrogantly.  Dhatri looked back at the argument clutching the tea cup.  Maria and the boys had reached.  Soumya went inside.  Maria sat beside Dhatri.  She too was given a cup of tea.  

“We will have breakfast.  We may have to the cross the valley, through cattle route...” said DFO and Dhatri stood up at once.  The real expedition would start now. 

“Chinu wil accompany you and I will meet you after a couple of days.  There are a few tribal settlements.  Chinu knows the area...” He added and Chinu nodded.  Dhatri looked excited.  

Dr. Koite spread the contour map and marked the two points.  “We have to cover around 11 miles..!” he said.  Everyone nodded ready with their equipments. 

“Here... the treatise on the composition of the forest and the flora...!” DFO handed over a folder to Dr. Koite.  He scanned the pages taking out the map of the region and handing it over to Chinu.  He took it, folded it and pocketed it.  He knew the region very well.  Dhatri stood by his side to lead the way.  DFO took their leave and they all devoured slices of bread with another cup of tea.  

“Chalo Dhatri....!” he said and Dhatri giggled excitedly adjusting her back pack and hanging her binoculars.  Jim again lost himself in her dimples... “Man...!” he sighed and found Soumya beside. Ravi Frowned. Descending the stairs  “Jay bolo Mahadev ji ki...!” Chinu and Dhatri roared and the walk through the dense forest through the valley started.