Page 10 - Feb 2018 PDF_Neat

The Blue Moon

An adventrous drive to The Baagh through forest

TIGER, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
These were the lines that came to my
mind of the famous poet William Blake
as I drove through the dark forest road
to reach my destination “Corbett The
Baagh. ” I had crossed the barrage and
was at the “Dhela” forest check post.
The barrier was down as I approached
the check post. I stopped for a while and
then blew the horn of the car. A forest
guard peeped out of a barrack window,
then came out and asked me where I
was heading at this time of the night. I
replied that I have booking at “The
Baagh” and he lifted the barrier.
I descended on to a path into the forest.
It had no lights being a forest path.
Pitch dark all around. The headlights of
the car were the only sign of a living
being. Often the lights flashed on to a
signboard warning that animals had
the right of the way and “no horn. ” As I
drove slowly on the bumpy track, the
silhouette of the tall trees made scary
shadows; at times it appeared that
there was an animal hidden around the
bushes along the road, but it was sheer
fear. A tiger guards the Reception
The car left a trail of darkness behind as nearing. I could breathe easily, after all
it moved on till it came to a 'T' junction I had reached my destination. I reached
on the one side of which was a closed a large iron grill gate. The guard
iron gate and the other side showed inquired about my booking and opened
darkness and no more. I did not know
where to go so I stopped, looked around the large gate to let the car inside.
As I entered the gate I felt like the
in fear that an elephant might appear return of the native back to humans.
from nowhere and trample me and
smash the car. I had often heard that A few yards ahead was the reception, a
large hall with sofas and a television, all
elephants run faster than a car and can signs of humans.
be easily infuriated by the sight of On one side of the hall was the
humans riding in a car. reception counter. A waiter appeared
My love for adventure in the jungle from a door with the usual “welcome
seemed to have led to fear of the jungle. drink.” I let my parched throat get wet
Lost in the jungle at night with no and a smile spread across my lips as I
humans around to help me out. saw men at the reception. The usual
Undecidedly, I turned towards the dark exercise of filling up forms was carried
track, opposite the iron gate, and out. A help took my luggage and led me
moved slowly praying to God that no into a garden outside. Walking across
elephant came by. the garden I saw the clusters of lights
As I moved a few metres, I saw a horde
of shining eyes. The first thought that continued on page 11 A cosy bed after the day’s tiring drive
came to my mind was that it was a
horde of elephants, but in the second
stance I realised that the height of the
animal was much lower than an
elephant. Coming back to my senses, I
slowed the car and looked deep to the
shining eyeballs. It turned out to be a
horde of antelopes dispersing into the
thick forest. I thanked God that the
animal was not a group angered
elephants or tigers hunting for their
prey. Out of fear, I took out my mobile
and dialled the resort's reception.
Unfortunately, there was no response,
there was no mobile signal in the forest.
The resort was almost 21 kilometres
from the Dhela check post. A chill ran
down my spine on the thought that I
was alone in the forest. The loneliness
had become unbearable. I picked up
pace to reach my destination at the
earliest. Behind the fast pace, fear was
the key. Then I saw the glimpse of light
further down the path. Human
habitation after all, I felt rejuvenated at
the thought, but it was a villager's home
in the jungle.
I kept driving till I came to a cluster of l
lights on one side at a distance. I
increased my speed expecting to reach
the resort. A few 'U'turns and then I saw
sign indicating that the resort was The Reception Lounge

10 The Blue Moon 16 Feb - 15 Mar 2018