Episode 59 : Holier than thou

Armed with a bag that contained some essentials and a camera, I set out to capture the wild. I found a guide who was willing to help me.

The guide and I travelled some distance into the forest before I was taken to a log cabin.

'Stay here. I will be back soon' the guide told me.

I always carry a book to kill time. As I pored over the pages of the tome, something made me uneasy.

The forest was very quiet. The wind ceased blowing. The leaves hardly rustled. And there was no call of the wild. Like the cliche, a lull before the storm.

And then it began!

I sat there in that wooden cabin, alone and frightened. I could hear the laughing of the hyenas, the howling of the wolves and the stampede of the elephants as they rushed past the cabin.

I could hear the predators prowling. And, with sickening horror, I realised they found me.

Once in a while, something would paw the door. Or ram against it.

I clutched my bag tightly. Not that it could do anything to save me. What can a person do with a camera?

The door would not last long. I knew that. I had surrendered myself to the circumstances. Twenty-eight years of living had brought many a close shave with it. The finale was going to happen today.

Anytime now.

Suddenly the door gave way and I jumped in my seat. I stared in horror at two hideous forms that slowly moved towards me.

There was only one thing I could do. I was not sure if that could do anything to save me. But it was worth a try.

'Meeting, I am going to attend a meeting' I pleaded.

She ignored me.

'Happy Holi' she said instead as she smeared a little green powder across my forehead. Her colleague followed suit. The rest of my face was left intact.

'Thank you' I breathed in relief.

Afterthought: A few hours later, the guide reappeared. She smiled helplessly at me. Her face was smeared with a lot of green and some red powder.

'They didn't spare you too?'