Go down, Corbet!

The inner reaches of Rudraprayag woods were soft and unruffled, but it could not cool down master's rage. He was steeped in such a fit of rage. He spat out the worst words in his lifetime.

Master is an animal lover, so he did not accept hunting. Worst still he did not like the Whites roaming in Indian jungles. They have hardly done anything good to the locals. But the issue was none of this.

Master was barking up the wrong tree.

He didn't think it's undiplomatic to behave that rude before a complete stranger. And worst still, he wasn't listening to disciple. At least until someone poured her charm on the old man.

"Master..." She is disciple's future wife. Master turned back to Dulshani, and seemed eager to listen.

"We think you are mistaken. Mr. Corbet is here on a different mission. Why don't you listen to his story too?"

The Englishman in ragged clothes came forward and shook hands with the master.

"Hi I'm Jim Corbet. My business is writing about man-eating tigers."

"Oh shit. I'm really, really sorry Mr. Corbet. Hunters are the only sight in these parts, you know. So..."

"Quite understandable, and you are Mr.?"

"Call me master. That's enough."

"Okay master I take it you all are on a vacation and well..."

"Yeah, and we were supposed to have a guide too, but the man has tricked us, it seems." Disciple chimed in.

"Oh I see... By the way the tiger I was looking for howled strangely. It's nothing much you see, and these villagers don't usually step in here. What's your route?"

"No specific route, Mr. Corbet." Dulshani said.

"That's good. You can follow me then. Okay let's see what I've got for lunch first!" Said Jim reaching out for his backpack.

"My countrymen are so strange at times."

"They are?" asked disciple this time.

"Yeah, they think I hunt tigers just to write stories. But I do it really to save poor Indians from tigers."

"I've read some of your books." Excitement streaked in disciple's face, having almost got a chance to trek a man-eating tiger. "They are really interesting, and very much adventurous, I must say."

"Ah! Thank you young man!" Jim said while gulping down a banana. "I only write them down when I'm fully out of tasks."

"Do you think that tiger has taken another human prey?" Master inquired.

"It sounded more like a cry of desperation." Jim gave an answer after some pondering. "So it's possible that the man has climbed a tree. But you never know..."

"Yes, yes!" Master said, cutting into conversation not wanting Jim to make unpleasant reference to death. "Do you think the tiger will be roaming around till we get there?"

"Most probably. He will lurk close to the tree."

"The government should take more responsibility to protect these people." Disciple intervened. "I'm an animal lover. And all the more, how cruel a tiger should be killed to rescue a man."

"Fully agreed!" Jim whistled. "But we are made to do this. These tigers and leopards are so wild now..."

They stood on their feet to move on. They must have been walking for at least four hours, but thankfully still there was no sign of a tiger growling, Dulshani was relieved. But it only made Jim worried. He unclasped his rifle and shot the air. The gunshot almost zeroed in on Dulshani's ears.

"This is a signal for whoever in need of help to shout. Now we are almost where I've heard the sound of the tiger. We should hear a shout any moment." Jim said, his eyes still focused on the density of the thicket.

Seconds ticked into minutes, and as minutes ticked further up, Jim grew reckless.

"No shout means serious trouble. We all should now be on lookout for any blood trace." He trailed off reluctantly, wiping sweat off his forehead.

Several minutes wore out with no trace. Dusk gathered in gradually. Exhausted, the three hunters lit up a fire. Disciple took the first shift to stay up the night while others crept into their sleeping bags. He could manage the first few hours, dozing on and off dreaming quite heroic. The first watch of the night drew to close, quite peacefully. Disciple fell into sleep at length.

And then everyone had the shock of their life. The growl of that wild beast, a tiger indeed, was so fierce. Quite fierce to make disciple zonk out right away.

What came to pass next - did we say that changed their destinies? - is now history.

Sachitra and Samodh

..................................

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