It was the month of December a decade back, the 28th day of the month. We set out on yet another visual hunt for the elusive jungle cat. The chilly winds striking the parts of my body which weren't covered in 3 layers of warm clothing, slapping me across my face. It made me feel weak inside, submissive and vulnerable to the strength of Mother Nature. The jeep reached the forest barrier and we waited as the driver went to get the tourist permit signed.
The engine roared as we crossed the boundary and entered the Kanha National Park. Scores of Bison stood on each side of the kacchha rasta, which was otherwise difficult to notice in the fog. The temperature dipped further, biting into my feet and digging into my cheeks. The vehicle paused at the fork, deciding which path to take, when suddenly there was a faint, rustling sound in the bamboo thicket behind us. The chill from my face got diverted and ran down my spine. Were we being watched?
A passing group told us about the tigress of the 9 number area and her cubs. The driver put the jeep in the first gear and roared onto the left lane. A few uneven bumps and a dozen chital sightings later, we found ourselves in the Mother's territory. The typical cries of the langurs assured us that we weren't very far from the ambush. Our expert guide looked for signs in all directions and just when, on his word, we turned to our lefts to sight the cubs, we saw a tiny striped tail vanish into the dark green camouflage.
We were joined by another couple of forest jeeps, who couldn't make it on time for the sighting either. Two out of the three disappointed lots put their carriers in reverse and were leaving when there was a mention of a young male pair of tigers in Laal Ghaati. Our hopes grew, and as we drove towards the valley, the excitement grew as well. The jungle experts once again got to work, scanning the area for tiger trails. The screaming monkeys and the chirping birds signaled the presence of the twins somewhere nearby. The bamboo shooting behind us whispered once again. We turned around, only to see the pair cat walking down the hill, disappearing into the Red valley.
The jungle cat had won yet another round. The driver started the jeep, stepped on the pedal and drove, leaving behind the empress of the 9 number ilaaka with her kids, leaving behind the two young princes of the laal ghaati and bidding farewell to every other inhabitant of this lush green kingdom. And as I looked behind, I promised myself that I'll return. This time, to defeat the predator in his own backyard.
