The leopard crouched on the tree. His beautiful, tawny coat glistened as it caught the rays of the sun. The sleek cat lay on the branch, its sleek body stretched taut on the upper most branch of the sturdy neem. It's ears bristled, the stance became watchful, wary as it heard the faint voices in the distance. Patiently it waited.
" Bhaiya, lets not go further inside the forest. Baba warned us not to. I'll not look i promise. You go near that tree. No one is looking. " The scared ten year old, pulled at his elder brothers' hand. " Arrey, you are one big scaredy cat. The only one around. Don't you want to be big and strong and bold like me ?" said the elder brother, all of sixteen himself, as he tugged at the little ones' hand. The bully of the mohalla, the elder was strongly built. A street fighter, he was not easily frightened. He was used to getting into scraps, often rescuing the younger from many a fight. But today, truth to say, he was just a little scared himself. There had been sighting of a leopard, the bane of the slum dwellers, who lived on the periphery of the National Park. However he couldn't risk the pretty Kajal, from next door, seeing him as he squatted with the earthen 'lota' in his hand. Which was why he was pulling a reluctant Ramu, his brother with him. Even though he was the biggest coward of the slum. For who knew what lurked inside the forest. Their had been two instances of children being dragged away by leopards and he certainly didn't want to leave his back unprotected. Specially since it was getting on to sunset. "Chal Chhotu, " he cajoled. "I'll buy you one kurkure if you come just a little further in. "Kurkure !" The little fellow licked his lips. His all time favorite treat. But... He just wasn't sure, What if a leopard was hiding somewhere near ? He looked around him. Then picked up a thick branch that was lying nearby. "There. That's better. Let's go now."
The two brothers ventured deeper into the undergrowth. Both wary, yet as is the human wont, quite convinced of their invincibility. "Bus. This is enough." said the elder, after they had pushed their way in a bit further. I'm doing my work, you turn around. " So saying the boy went in a little more and squatted with relief beneath a big neem tree.
Thoughts of the promised snack swirling around in his head, Ramu whirled the branch around. "Hah. Haaah" he yelled, pretending he was the ninja warrior, he had seen on the neighbours' television. "Shut up ! Can't you be quiet " Hissed Shyamu. "You want the leopard, to attack us ?" That quietened him for a while. Suddenly, instinctively, Shyamu looked up. Their eyes met. Even as his blood ran cold, he was up in a thrice. Leaping to grab his brother, he whirled. Too late. The big cat pounced. It would have landed on Chhotu, but savagely Shyamu pushed Ramu aside, and was thrown to the ground, as the cat went for his throat...
The two brothers' staggered into their hut, followed by a crowd of people. They surrounded the boys, everyone talking at once. "Hato ! Hato !" screamed the father. " Kya Hua ? Koi doctor sahab ko bulao." The frantic father rushed to help his elder son to the bed. " Usko dekho pehle. Chhotu ko. Usne aaj meri jaan bachai hai. "
Later when both were bandaged and resting, the story was told. How the leopard had caught Shyamu by the throat. How the little ten year old, in a rush of adrenaline had been galvanised enough to scream his mightiest scream, and pound the leopard with his branch, catching it in the eye. With a roar, the leopard had let go of Shyamu, and streaked back up the tree. Like a flash of lightening. Like it had never been there. Half dragging each other, half running they had made it back somehow to the boundary wall.
Who was the bigger hero, who had saved whose life, were moot questions. For the two brothers, it was one for all, all for one.. It always had been.
" Bhaiya, lets not go further inside the forest. Baba warned us not to. I'll not look i promise. You go near that tree. No one is looking. " The scared ten year old, pulled at his elder brothers' hand. " Arrey, you are one big scaredy cat. The only one around. Don't you want to be big and strong and bold like me ?" said the elder brother, all of sixteen himself, as he tugged at the little ones' hand. The bully of the mohalla, the elder was strongly built. A street fighter, he was not easily frightened. He was used to getting into scraps, often rescuing the younger from many a fight. But today, truth to say, he was just a little scared himself. There had been sighting of a leopard, the bane of the slum dwellers, who lived on the periphery of the National Park. However he couldn't risk the pretty Kajal, from next door, seeing him as he squatted with the earthen 'lota' in his hand. Which was why he was pulling a reluctant Ramu, his brother with him. Even though he was the biggest coward of the slum. For who knew what lurked inside the forest. Their had been two instances of children being dragged away by leopards and he certainly didn't want to leave his back unprotected. Specially since it was getting on to sunset. "Chal Chhotu, " he cajoled. "I'll buy you one kurkure if you come just a little further in. "Kurkure !" The little fellow licked his lips. His all time favorite treat. But... He just wasn't sure, What if a leopard was hiding somewhere near ? He looked around him. Then picked up a thick branch that was lying nearby. "There. That's better. Let's go now."
The two brothers ventured deeper into the undergrowth. Both wary, yet as is the human wont, quite convinced of their invincibility. "Bus. This is enough." said the elder, after they had pushed their way in a bit further. I'm doing my work, you turn around. " So saying the boy went in a little more and squatted with relief beneath a big neem tree.
Thoughts of the promised snack swirling around in his head, Ramu whirled the branch around. "Hah. Haaah" he yelled, pretending he was the ninja warrior, he had seen on the neighbours' television. "Shut up ! Can't you be quiet " Hissed Shyamu. "You want the leopard, to attack us ?" That quietened him for a while. Suddenly, instinctively, Shyamu looked up. Their eyes met. Even as his blood ran cold, he was up in a thrice. Leaping to grab his brother, he whirled. Too late. The big cat pounced. It would have landed on Chhotu, but savagely Shyamu pushed Ramu aside, and was thrown to the ground, as the cat went for his throat...
The two brothers' staggered into their hut, followed by a crowd of people. They surrounded the boys, everyone talking at once. "Hato ! Hato !" screamed the father. " Kya Hua ? Koi doctor sahab ko bulao." The frantic father rushed to help his elder son to the bed. " Usko dekho pehle. Chhotu ko. Usne aaj meri jaan bachai hai. "
Later when both were bandaged and resting, the story was told. How the leopard had caught Shyamu by the throat. How the little ten year old, in a rush of adrenaline had been galvanised enough to scream his mightiest scream, and pound the leopard with his branch, catching it in the eye. With a roar, the leopard had let go of Shyamu, and streaked back up the tree. Like a flash of lightening. Like it had never been there. Half dragging each other, half running they had made it back somehow to the boundary wall.
Who was the bigger hero, who had saved whose life, were moot questions. For the two brothers, it was one for all, all for one.. It always had been.
Like the Kurkure bit..
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