Musings....

Remembering nicknames, mannerisms, accents and just having fun...

In the process of growing up, we learn so much from each other that we don't even realise how much they have affected us... consciously and subconsciously.... 

Years later when we meet again, we smile, we laugh, we share and compliment freely.... on the same things we had been a snob about earlier...

We move away in different directions, each finding a path of his own.... yet somewhere connected with that common bond we had with each other.... of those school punishments.... teachers with weird accents... injuries and victories.... shared lunch boxes and petty fights...

Long after when we have realised that those trophies and medals that we fought for are nothing in the cruel grown up world.... we yearn for those cherished moments of mass bunks, rain dances, chits and notes passed during lectures.... 

Those inconsequential moments that bonded us with each other for life.... those innocent little moments of life..... when all you had to do was rise and shine.... and take each glowing day in your stride... not thinking about what lay ahead....

Well growing up is difficult.... but the new technologies of virtual world are reducing distances between people.... and these small little happy musings are a result of that.... bringing me closer to my friends back again.... and showing that the grown up world is not so difficult after all.... only if you have your dear ones nearby.... if not physically then virtually....

Dedicated to all my dear friends...............

Bandhavgarh... tiger glory...

To view a tiger in all its glory and abandon is truly a great and amazing experience....
And I was the fortunate one to have that in probably the last bastions of the majestic beast in Bandhavgarh India.

The tiger however was no so easy to find... and like all good things in life you have to have patience and perseverance to witness something so beautiful...

Sunrises, dusty roads, an eerie stillness to the forest trails and an occasional calls from various animals were all that greeted us and an equally enthusiastic couple all the way from UK during our rides on a 4 x 4.

Each time a call would ring, anticipation would rise to its zenith and we would wait for a glimpse of the great one.

Eventually, at one of the spots, a sighting was noticed, and once again we waited, praying to delay the sunset just so we could observe the three cubs and their latest kill.... we did... but the zooming lens from   our cameras proved unnerving to the young cubs and our short elephant literally scrambled for its life... In that fleeting moment, w really understood what it must feel like to be the food of that animal....

Next day, it was turning out to be a disappointment when to spice things up, our tour guide suggested a little detour.... and soon as we saw another jeep waiting patiently, we knew we had hit jackpot...

Within moments, we heard rustling behind the tall bamboo trees and seconds later a tigress appeared....

Gracefully she came out of the woods, saw us, and decided to reward us with her gracious presence...

Like a movie star obliging her fans on the red carpet, she turned and posed, looked around for her competitors and marked her territory.... gave us another fleeting pose and proceeded to climb on the mountain on the other side....

The whole scenario lasted for about a minute but is clearly etched in my memory.... Never will I forget this wonderful moment ....literally... "She came, she saw and she conquered"....