Friday the 13th - 2002
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The start of the day was like a horror story with cold war declared between the newly weds. The tigress occupied one end of the bed while poor me grappled with the deathly silence, anger at the other end of the bed. Tossing and turning we awaited the alarm to call out loudly at 3 a.m. Finally the moment arrived , the couple dressed up and were up and about with the bags and of course 10 bottles of smirnoff to raise spirits.
The motley group consisted of the not married , newly married to the married long time ago kinds. Four cars" nana prakar ki caren as princ said" were there in the convoy which started of for Ranthambore to see the majestic Rajah sahib of the Jungle. The departure was as scheduled at 5.30 a.m, merely a hour and half later than the scheduled time but that was okay...IST. The pace was set we touched the pink city at around 8 a.m . The weather Gods had decided to be kind to us. Sun God played hide and seek in the clouds and there was a hint of shower which made the journey pleasant.
Landed at Ranthambore Regency and settled in to some nice chil(le)d beer, It was soon time to go for a Canter Safari at 3 in the afternoon when everyone was desparately putting fight to sleep and relax.
The reluctant group of 14 odd people climbed onto to the canter and the adventure started. Teh driver ensured that no one dozed off, the suspension of the canter was tested and turns negotiated like a movie chase sequence ensured alert passengers.
Entered the Forest and started seeing Langurs/ Peahens/ Nilgai/ Stork/ Partridge/ Sambhar/ Cheetal/ Spotted deer and lush green fields. We took the various dirt tracks whihc line teh 400 sq km forest. By 5.30 p.m the enthusiasm was ebbing when there was a sighting. All the gypsies and the Canter rushed to the spot. There was a Tiger recliing on the wall about 30 yards away and there was a thick scrub obstructing our view. Junta arched their necks, stood on their toes trying to get a glimpse of the royal animal while his majesty played around with everyone's emotions- pretending to get up and then just turn around to go back to his nap. The distant view seemed like a striped carpet on a wall left for drying.
This process was being observed with baited breath , great hope and hazaar anticipation. With every rustle of a leaf, slightest noise everyone use to crowd towards the source of the noise..tempers were beginning to rise and irritation wrinkles crossed a few faces...When Suddenly another lazy bugger was spotted rising out of deep slumber. Everyone rushed towards the old tigress. 60 people in some 15 vehicles had the time of their day with this spotting. Her Highness ambled across the track lazily, preened herself . Cameras were clicking away at furious pace abd the excitement could not be contained..it was so infectious that everyone was jolted out of their reverie.
Friday the 13th was proving to be eventful as always for everyone, banter started amongst the group with exaggeration on the sightings on the way back to their respective hotels.
The start of the day was like a horror story with cold war declared between the newly weds. The tigress occupied one end of the bed while poor me grappled with the deathly silence, anger at the other end of the bed. Tossing and turning we awaited the alarm to call out loudly at 3 a.m. Finally the moment arrived , the couple dressed up and were up and about with the bags and of course 10 bottles of smirnoff to raise spirits.
The motley group consisted of the not married , newly married to the married long time ago kinds. Four cars" nana prakar ki caren as princ said" were there in the convoy which started of for Ranthambore to see the majestic Rajah sahib of the Jungle. The departure was as scheduled at 5.30 a.m, merely a hour and half later than the scheduled time but that was okay...IST. The pace was set we touched the pink city at around 8 a.m . The weather Gods had decided to be kind to us. Sun God played hide and seek in the clouds and there was a hint of shower which made the journey pleasant.
Landed at Ranthambore Regency and settled in to some nice chil(le)d beer, It was soon time to go for a Canter Safari at 3 in the afternoon when everyone was desparately putting fight to sleep and relax.
The reluctant group of 14 odd people climbed onto to the canter and the adventure started. Teh driver ensured that no one dozed off, the suspension of the canter was tested and turns negotiated like a movie chase sequence ensured alert passengers.
Entered the Forest and started seeing Langurs/ Peahens/ Nilgai/ Stork/ Partridge/ Sambhar/ Cheetal/ Spotted deer and lush green fields. We took the various dirt tracks whihc line teh 400 sq km forest. By 5.30 p.m the enthusiasm was ebbing when there was a sighting. All the gypsies and the Canter rushed to the spot. There was a Tiger recliing on the wall about 30 yards away and there was a thick scrub obstructing our view. Junta arched their necks, stood on their toes trying to get a glimpse of the royal animal while his majesty played around with everyone's emotions- pretending to get up and then just turn around to go back to his nap. The distant view seemed like a striped carpet on a wall left for drying.
This process was being observed with baited breath , great hope and hazaar anticipation. With every rustle of a leaf, slightest noise everyone use to crowd towards the source of the noise..tempers were beginning to rise and irritation wrinkles crossed a few faces...When Suddenly another lazy bugger was spotted rising out of deep slumber. Everyone rushed towards the old tigress. 60 people in some 15 vehicles had the time of their day with this spotting. Her Highness ambled across the track lazily, preened herself . Cameras were clicking away at furious pace abd the excitement could not be contained..it was so infectious that everyone was jolted out of their reverie.
Friday the 13th was proving to be eventful as always for everyone, banter started amongst the group with exaggeration on the sightings on the way back to their respective hotels.
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