Screeeech……the driver of the crowded bus pushed on to his brakes after hearing a couple of rounds of Anglo-Kannada yelling, “Stop madi! stop madi!” Amidst much flying dust caused by the sudden brake, two youths fought their way out of the rural Tamil populated, over used bus, and thought their whole 230 km journey from Bangalore changing three buses was worth, as the dusty air thinned, and signboards flashed, displaying the name ‘Bandipur’.
Under the scorching mid day Sun, Sayantan and Dibyendu left the hot tar road, and entered the vast fields of Bandipur, dotted with huge trees, and distantly placed forest department cottages. They had planned two weeks before to spend the full Moon night of 3rd March in some place where they can enjoy it. And what can be a better place than a jungle to enjoy the Moonlit flora and fauna, they thought. Though it was not the right season for a visit to Bandipur, yet they hoped that Nature will not be so miserly to send them back empty handed, especially on an occasion as colorful as Holi. Accordingly, the week leading to 3rd March was spent in gathering information about Bandipur, getting an accommodation with the forest department cottages, and getting mentally prepared for a Moon basked jungle experience. Finally, when the D-Saturday arrived, they were at Majestic very early in the morning, ran after a departing Mysore bus, got another bus to Gundlupeta from Mysore, and strived to get some place in a local Tamil Nadu bus going to Ooty.
“Sayantaaaaan, COME HERE…..”, shouted Dibyendu after seeing an unusual object at the other side of a hillock, even before they could go up to the reception to get their cottage.
When Sayantan was about to run towards him, thinking he might lose a rare opportunity, Dibyendu gestured at him to come slowly. It was a spotted deer, grazing o
n greener parts of the huge field leading to forests. It was not really a rare sight like a full solar eclipse. But for people like them, who are used to work the whole day in front of computers, under strict deadlines, and appreciate animals, trees and sky only in photoshoped pictures sent to them as forwarded mails, it was really something different at the very beginning of a promising trip.The place was too appealing to spend time indoors. So Sayantan and Dibyendu decided to take a walk around the forest edge with their cameras, until it was time for the jungle safari at 5 ‘o’ clock. They saw that more deer had joined the earlier loner, and were happily munching on the grass. Most of the greenery had been replaced by an enveloping golden yellow spread, as the Sun, in its journey from perihelion to the spring equinox, has been very rude to these tender beings of the Earth. Still, some protestor green weeds and grasses caught their eyes, fighting the almighty Sun, with the support of the gentle breeze caressing them, and the grasses nodding in gratitude in return. Both Sayantan and Dibyendu have always cherished this rivalry between the Sun and the Wind, whenever they have been in the Nature’s lap.
When they were lost in the aroma of dry grass mixed with that of freshly uprooted ones by the deer and that of the deer themselves, two foreigners came near them chatting in their native language. Dibyendu started talking with them regarding their plans in Bandipur. They came to know that the foreigners had come for the evening jeep safari, and would return to Mysore that night. Sayantan proposed them with the idea of a joint safari, as that would enable both the parties to share the expenses. As expected, they had no problems with the fair deal, which left Sayantan and Dibyendu overjoyed, as they had presumed that they had to be content with the shorter van-safari, because of the high cost involved in a jeep-safari.
With quarter of an hour left before the safari, they started to know about each other, their native places, their experiences. The foreigners turned out to be Danish with the same name - Nick (may be their nick names!), on a work assignment in Bangalore. They narrated their work experience, details about Copenhagen, Bangalore traffic, and their means of relaxation after a hard day’s work. They also asked detailed questions when our duo were bringing out their experiences with today’s technology, visiting places around Bangalore, royal Bengal tiger, religions in India, and about Kolkata. Dibyendu and Sayantan, never out of the country, immediately felt connected to a greater global community.
The one and half hours jeep safari was one of the attractions of the entire trip. But when Sayantan and Dibyendu saw the 6-seater jeep, they were left with awe, as it did not have a single layer of protective shield. It was open from all the sides, readily inv
iting the inhabitants of the jungle to introduce themselves to the adventurers. But less protection meant the jungle authorities were sure, there was little or no chance for them to encounter the man-eaters, which made the travelers depressed. But on the other hand, the fact that it would allow them to mix with the jungle more, to take in the forest environment and give them a chance to touch the jungle mood more closely, made Sayantan and Dibyendu look forward to it eagerly.The safari started with suspended monkeys and black faced langurs welcoming them into the denser jungle. As the end of the day was near, the animals and birds were in a hurry to end their day’s search for food and return to their shelters. Their silent jeep made way through the winding road of the woods, amidst typical wild but refreshing smell of the trees and bushes coupled with continuous and asynchronous chirping of the unknown flock of birds, against a mauve sky protecting and covering them like a mother. Sayantan could no longer sit inside the jeep. He stood up, with his head outside the jeep, trying to breathe the whole jungle inside, as Dibyendu sat with his eye in the camera.
Suddenly there was a fully grown elephant, looking somewhat more bluish in the hue of the setting Sun. She was stretching herself to reach a green bush through a den of thorny and dried weeds. They instructed the driver to put off the engine as they took her snap, first in their mind then in the camera. The tusker, after completing her task, and perhaps feeling an intrusion in her privacy, slowly moved into the interiors of the jungle. So the jeep restarted, and glided slowly, full of expectations. Then there was a peacock, working hard to pull out the worms out of their earthy homes. The Danish duo requested him to spread his tail, as Dibyendu adjusted his camera zoom, but guess peacocks have a different language. So he continued to survey the ground more closely, paying little heed to his awestruck spectators. As the jeep moved on, bright colored birds like yellow tailed drongo and the kingfisher continued to be feasts for the travelers’ eyes. There were small water bodies along the track, where the birds and monkeys where quenching their thirst after a long, hot day. All the passengers in the jeep were curious to know whether tigers also visit those places, as the statistics board in the lodge reception proudly heralded that Bandipur contains 82 tigers among other animals. The driver of their jeep answered, “Sometimes, saar”. And just after saying so, he stopped his vehicle, looked down on the ground curiously. Then with a different tone, he said something in broken English, pointing his finger towards the ground. Everyone bent from their seats. It was a tiger pugmark. 
Indeed it was. Dibyendu and one of the Nicks took a picture as close as they could. But for Sayantan, it reminded of their jeep with no protection at all. According to the experienced driver, it was at most a couple of hours old. For the next few minutes, nobody uttered a word. As the jeep moved on, slowly herds of deer, single sambar showed their faces. A wild cock seemed to be very shy as he ran fast on seeing the undesired humans. As the frequent monkeys and langurs kept the adventurers’ eyes busy, the Sun was ready to set. It gave a wonderful view of its setting among the trees and bushes, which made Dibyendu leap out of the jeep and click a couple of snaps, much to the driver’s dislike.Back from the safari and after bidding good bye to their Danish friends,
Dibyendu and Sayantan looked up on the sky in search of the evening’s host, the Moon. Though it was not there, the sky looked awesome in violet and orange and pink reflections of the light. It reminded them, it was the day of Holi.Meanwhile they met a Bengali family, staying in their next room, touring South India, all the way from Kolkata. They could not even finish their tea together, when the absent elder daughter of the family of four shouted calling them outside.
It was not the same Bandipur Sayantan and Dibyendu had left outside. There was no emptiness in the Nature, no dryness; everything was so full, vibrating and shining in the Moon light flood, contrasting the darkness of the evening. The full Moon was just above the horizon, with a plan to traverse the whole sky throughout the night. Dibyendu, as usual, tried to measure the beauty through his camera. Everyone roamed around in the vast area full of trees, looking upward. In a little distance, there were deer grazing in flocks, looking like some heavenly silver creatures as seen playing around in dreams. There were small wild pigs too, playing mis
chief on one another. Gentle and cool breeze comforted them, as the entire environment was buzzing in chirping of crickets. Sayantan, Dibyendu and the Bengali family remained silent for a few moments. The just listened to and felt the Nature. Sitting on the field in broad Moon light, they realized, at times how important it was to remain disconnected from the whole world, and only then one realizes their connection with and dependency on Nature.When the whole atmosphere was sufficiently inside all of them, drenching their mind and soul, they started talking. Talking gave way to singing. All of them sang ‘ Aaj jyotsna rate sobai gechhe bone, basonter ei matal somirone….’ (All have gone to the forests in this Moonlit night, amidst this intoxicating Spring breeze). Other songs suitable to the environment followed. Then suddenly the aged aunty of the Bengali family took one famous Tagore poem in her voice. It was titled ‘Africa’, praising the wild flora and fauna of Africa, as a representative of the world of forests, and man’s connection with the Nature, from his very early existence. The recitation, again, left all of them spellbound.
After having a quick dinner, they again returned to the serenity brimming with melted silver. They sat on a high hillock, giving them the impression they were on the deck of a ship! They talked about themselves, books they have read, exchanged views ranging from contemporary authors to mindset of young Indians. They sang too. When it was 12.30 in the night, they wished if there was some way to freeze time forever.
Next morning, they witnessed the Sun rising where the Moon ruled the la
st night. They took a van-safari in the morning, without any mentionable animal luck, but getting a chance to capture the jungles early in the morning. They took some photographs of the Sun basked campus after coming back from the safari.It was time to get all their connections re-established. Bidding goodbye to the caretaker Nagaraj, and putting their cell phones in the switch on mode, Dibyendu and Sayantan came near the tar road to catch a running bus. No buses were there. So they stopped an inter-state truck, and took a lift up to Nanjangud. Well, that’s a different story altogether.
They attempted to capture the lifetime experience they had in the Moon lit Bandipur in their cameras. And they are proud, the attempt was unsuccessful. The pictures are only indicative. They are looking forward to the next encounter with Nature, a chance to be disconnected from the whole world.
Screeeech……the driver of the crowded bus pushed on to his brakes after hearing a couple of rounds of yelling, “ …” …………….
