An Appointment With a Tigress

BYE-BYE JASHIPUR:

The Premier Padmini was approaching Jashipur as the sun was on its way behind the hills of Simlipal, the place where the famous tigress Khaire once inhibited. She was treated like a Queen by her master Mr.Soroj Kanta Choudhury and Tiger Project Authority of India. Khaire was her owners pride but villagers envy.

There was no prior appointment with Khaire or with Mr.Choudhury by doctor Debabrata about his desire to meet the Queen of the jungle. Doctor was accompanied by his sister Binna, wife Kalyani and brother in law Bibhuti.The time was around 1730 hours but darkness had crept in stealthily in the foot hills of Simlipal on that early winter month of November. The new moon had cast a spell of darkness in the forest. Doctor a lover of animals and birds had a desire in life to caress a tiger and this was the golden opportunity he was waiting for. The car stopped in front of the iron gate of Khaire’s enclosure whether by reflex or by desire no one knew, as it was not in their programme of meeting the wild Queen in captivity. Doctor’s sister Binna, is one of the most nervous lady one could find as regards her reaction to animals or any creatures be it a mouse or a cockroach, so she said ‘nothing doing, she is not going to get down to watch Khaire’.

After long persuasions all the members agreed, so doctor Debabrata went forward as an emissary to met Mr.Choudhury. He introduced himself, handed over the visiting card and requested him for a favor of meeting Khaire.

“It’s already dark and she has finished her night meal and has gone inside the forest. Don’t know if you still dare to meet her which has some amount of risk involved. We usually do not entertain guest at this hour but you have come all the way from Rourkela and you are a doctor from Steel Authority of India. Yes-no children please. Let’s see if you are lucky to spot her.”Choudhury babu spoke in one breath.

“We would be grateful if you would allow us this opportunity. If any of us fall a victim to her then it’s worth it.” Doctor said excitedly.

“What about those two ladies?” Choudhury babu asked.

‘Don’t worry they are all brave ladies’. Debabrata commented with a wry smile.

They had a glimpse of the destructive imprints of Khaire on the walls, screens and the jumbled up pillows and mattress of Mr.Choudhury babu’s bed room, a reminiscence of her wild habits.

So Choudhury babu with another drunken forest guard with a huge wooden lathi and a torch accompanied these four strangers.  There was deafening silence intermingled with different notes of grass hoppers and howling of a jackal in the distance as the group proceeded inside the Sal forest of Simlipal. The sound of a falling dry leaf hitting the ground appeared like a cracker to Binna’s ears. There were instructions not to make any sudden noise or sudden movements as it may prove to be dangerous, after all a tigress inside a forest is unpredictable even if kept as a pet.

Doctor’s sister Binna was equally unpredictable of the four like the tigress but there was no going back and the doctor was very much excited, as it was once in life time experience of meeting a tigress in its natural environment. The radium watch of Debabrata was glowing in the darkness-time was 1925hours.

“Slow down, slow down she is nearby.” The six celled torch light was as powerful as that of a train engine was flashed by Mr.Choudhury babu from time to time as they progressed towards Khaire, a full grown huge Royal Bengal tigress inside the forest.

As the torch flashed all could see two reflections of bright lights with slight tint of blueness in it. Those are the eyes of Khaire.

“Khaire”. “Khaire”. “Come”- Mr.Choudhury called very affectionately as if she was a child; she stood up from her lying down posture and greeted them with a yawn.

“Stand still, she is coming towards us, no noise no movements.” warned Mr.Choudhury.

Debabrata who was next to Mr.Choudhury in the line watched with awe Khaire rubbing her body on the legs of her master. Doctor felt his own pulse, there were few dropped beats. First time in his life he was watching death in front. His sister & wife with all their lady courage were keeping still like statues. Then Khaire moved towards Debabrata. Should he or should not he was the million dollar dilemma in his mind but ran out of patience and slowly caressed Khaire as she rubbed her body on his right leg. Sweat was flowing profusely from his forehead but the life time desire was fulfilled. No one knew that the Doctor has done it. She made an about turn as if to pay respect to the ladies and roared in her disapproval for the disturbance in her den and vanished inside the jungle. After a cup of tea the group of four thanked Mr.Choudhury profusely and said good bye to Khaire and Jashipur.

Years have passed by, Khaire and her Master are no more, the place have a deserted look but the memories of that evening at Jashipur hunts Debabrata very often in his twilight years of life.

Sanjoy Kumar Satpathy