Sun rays illuminated the small hut where a boy was sleeping on top of a pile of hay.
Vaish entered the hut and tip toed across the room like a cat and moved nearer to the pile of hay. He did not want to wake up Hutansh, his friend. Vaish’s feet were small which helped him to lessen the sound he made. Their ears were as sharp as a fox’s and were trained to be like that. These boys belonged to tribal families called Werop which was small and lesser known to this world.
The tribal families lived on the edge of the Irg forest and were nearer to the Tiraamabas river. Several civilized people who had lost their way across the forest met them and had taught them the local language and several practices of the modern world. They were self sufficient but were happy to learn more which allowed the several lost visitors to help the tribal people and give whatever they had on them. The tribe respected all people and became very friendly with the travelers and provided them with food and assisted them in finding the way back. Apart from that they were not disturbed by anyone else. The government allowed them to stay on since they were a peaceful lot and did not upset the ecological balance even though the government started a wildlife sanctuary on the other side of the forest.
Vaish took the small knife lying beside Hutansh and slid out of hut ensuring he closed the door without making any sound. Vaish had lost his fourth knife last time they ventured into the forest a few days ago. His father was angry over it and did not bother to make him a new one. Vaish had wanted the knife now to cut wild fruits from the tree beside Hutansh’s hut to appease his hunger. He had intended to restore the knife to its original place the same way he had taken it. The people of the Werop tribe were an honest lot and never did develop a likeness for others things.
Each member of these families had a knife with them at all times and did not part with it at any cost. They were of a strong belief that the knife protected them and gave them food and were enraged if they lost it. It was the best discovery made by these people and it was as sharp as a diamond.
Now the sun rays fell directly on Hutansh’s face and he couldn’t bear it any longer. He got up and glance across the floor for his knife. He was sad but started his search hopeful that he would find it. But he was quite sure he placed it beside the pile of hay before he slept because that’s were he kept it every night. He moved towards the window and peered outside. He saw Vaish at some distance on top of a tree and something was glistening in his hand. He knew immediately it was his knife. He furiously ran out of his home and towards Vaish. As soon as Vaish saw Hutansh’s face, he understood what was wrong and fear crept over him. He immediately slid down the tree and ran into the forest with the knife in his hand. This angered Hutansh even more and went inside the trees beside him planning to catch Vaish using a shortcut. He was hoping to discover an alternate route which would lead him directly to Vaish. He stopped running. He saw a hyena speeding towards him. He had a steel scale with him which he remembered to take before he left his home. This scale was gifted to him by a ranger’s daughter who visited the place before a few months.
He had once killed a wild dog with one swift move of his knife when he was 6 years old when his father had taken him into the forest for the first time. And when his father saw this, he was proud of his son and knew that his son would be famous one day.
He used the same moves with his steel scale and managed to hurt the hyena which ran away whimpering. He was surprised to see a hyena near the edge of the forest and was curious on what went wrong. He was fearless and went into the forest taking several detours so as to catch up with his friend. After jumping over a fence, he reached an asphalt road.
Sometime later, walking on the road, he met up with several kids. He counted them to be 10 in all and beside them was a tall man. Their faces showed fear but the tall man tried to put up a bold stance. They were surprised to see a boy clad with very less clothes. When Hutansh started speaking in the local language, they felt a little relieved. He enquired on what they were doing at this place. The tall man replied telling that they were on a safari trip in the wildlife sanctuary and that he got information in his walkie-talkie before a few minutes that some of the tigers had broken the fences and had come out of the forest. Hearing this news, Hutansh knew the reason behind the Hyena’s attack and also the kids’ scared faces. He offered help and the man decided to seek his support as he had very less choice. He was informed from the officials that the rangers would come soon to protect them. Hutansh took them into the forest and into a wooden building which appeared to be an old warehouse. Its doors were strong and once everyone was in, he bolted it. Hutansh did not know that the warehouse windows were completely destroyed in last month’s cyclone. They went inside a room and stayed there while the tall man communicated to the officials the directions of the old warehouse. Hutansh could hear some noises at a distance and he knew that the tigers had smelt their trail and were following it. He asked everyone to huddle at a corner and asked them to maintain silence including the man who was surprised at the boy’s braveness and dared not to stop obeying him. The time seemed to pass very slowly and minutes seemed like hours. Everyone broke into a cold sweat and started shivering. Hutansh was not afraid but he too seemed to sweat. There were growling noises outside.
Within a few seconds a tiger was through the window into the warehouse. And two more tigers followed it.
The tigers looked fierce, menacing and hungrily at the kids. The boy was blocking the entry into the room and he showed no signs of fear. The leader of the pack came towards Hutansh and seemed to be talking. It said “If you fight and win me, then we will leave everyone alive else we would devour everyone.” Hutansh was shocked to hear that but he was not the least perturbed by it. He decided to fight even if it meant death for him. This was the opportunity to prove the power of his tribesmen. He knew if he could fight the leader first, then the other tigers would hesitate to attack him.
Hutansh brandished the steel scale which he held in his right hand like a sword. The tigers were taken aback a little. The leader pounced on him. He moved a little towards the right side and hit the tiger’s head with his left hand. The blow was so hard that it flew towards the window and landed with a deep thud. The tigers which were at the back of the leader now came towards Hutansh. He was now waving the steel scale wildly hoping to hit at least one tiger. BINGO. He pierced both the tigers’ eyes with the scale and the tigers were left in a momentary confusion. All the tigers regained their balance. Now the leader of the pack came back and bowed a little in front of the boy. It spoke “You are truly a brave person and we do not further intend to attack you. We will leave you all now and will protect you when you need.” The boy felt relieved that this was over so soon.
Everyone could now hear a series of bullets being fired into the air. The tigers jumped through the window as swiftly as they came in and ran inside the forest. The rangers came in and found everyone huddled in a group guarded by a boy who appeared to be only around 15 years of age.
Hutansh could hear the tall man narrating the events exactly as he witnessed it. The only part that was missing in his narration was the tigers speaking to Hutansh. Instead those instances of speaking were replaced by a loud growl from the tigers in his narration. Hutansh understood that he did indeed have a miraculous encounter with the tigers which no one could decipher.
Everyone thanked him a lot and the rangers decided to give a lift to the boy to his house. It was night and the tribesmen were searching for Hutansh and were quite worried. The only person to see him since morning was Vaish and he had seen him enter the forest. As soon as Hutansh alighted from the ranger’s jeep he ran towards his father and mother. The rangers thanked all the tribesmen and appreciated them for having such a wonderful and fearless boy among them. After they left, Hutansh entered his home and found his knife exactly where he had placed it the previous night. He found Vaish standing in a corner. Hutansh was now composed, he took the knife from the floor and handed it over to Vaish and asked him to keep it for himself. Hutansh now knew that his real strength lay in the steel scale which he was holding in his right hand. Both Vaish and Hutansh renewed their friendship with greater zeal and decided never to part.
Hutansh and Vaish became famous for their friendship which lasted till they lived. Vaish never did lose another knife again. Hutansh became widely known and an esteemed man among his tribesmen, using his sharpened steel scale to defend his tribesmen from danger and to get food.
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