Lion, Lion Everywhere!

It's not really a travelogue but more a memoir and an experience.

#Travel #Girforest #Lion #Memoir #TravelDiary #ChaitiChats

This is a blog, which I had written couple of years back and, it is not really a travelogue, but just a memoir. In fact, this was the first time that I had taken the kids for a vacation alone, along with my mother. We were embarking on a different journey, and I wanted us to develop that bonding that would stand us to steed, for the rest of our lives.

We had gone to Gir, Gujrat, where in the rugged embrace of the forest, ancient whispers echo through towering trees, while untamed spirits roam freely in the wild expanse.

I kept praying. Praying silently and furiously. The prayer almost bordering on desperation. I kept praying to God. Please don't let me down. Please don't let US down. It was almost a question of HIS existence. Our beliefs and our faith in HIM depend on this now. If he let us down... then 40 plus 4 and a half years of faith will collapse. Life will never be the same... cause one needs to have a superpower or some kind of Omnipotent power to believe in.

I saw his lips moving in silent prayers. I hugged him and said... it's ok if we don't.

He staunchly looked ahead and reiterated... no it isn't. If it didn't happen, he would lose faith in HIM. I prayed to HIM, too... please don't let him down. He has a lifetime ahead to believe and to have an anchor.

We were on a jungle safari at Gir. Boogie desperately prayed to God that HE let him see some lions. I was praying on his behalf, actually.

It may seem trivial and funny that a nearly 8-year-old boy who wants to see lions should take on such gargantuan proportions. But actually, it does, and it did.

We grow up being taught and teaching our children to believe in a greater God. My mother, an old-school Catholic nun, taught believes in telling tales of epic proportions from the Bible and nearer home from Mahabharata and the Ramayana. These mostly tell us that good conquers evil, and if you so pray with all your might... your prayers will be heard.

In my 43rd year, I have resigned myself to the fact that life doesn't work that way. It's not always good over relatively bad, or that karma moves in its own way. But how do I tell my nearly-eight son that God may not really listen to him despite his ardent prayers? I tried breaching the topic, saying that if you don't see lions this time, maybe God doesn't want you to see them. Pat came the answer... why? Why doesn't he? I have been praying to him. And then when? Kano?

I distinctly and gradually was feeling helpless. I couldn't import lions. I could only try to reason with him to avoid feeling dejected and let down by God.

As a mother, I don't mindlessly give in to my children's whims. This has caused a lot of arguments, counterarguments, and non-cooperation at home. I have mellowed in some cases and held my own ground. But what is the delicate balance?

We were almost at the last lap of our safari, having seen loads of deer and eagles but without any sign of the elusive royal lions. Our driver Bharat and guide Jayesh stopped the car and went out. They are also, by now, tuned to this desperate struggle to keep the faith. Having relieved themselves and whiling away some time... we resume our journey. Boogie, with each passing minute, decidedly looked gaunt and heartbroken. Still trying to be brave, that after Sundarbans, he won't even see lions this time.

Suddenly, Jayesh raised his hand and asked us to be alert. We look at where he was pointing his finger. And there the Lioness was! Sitting under a tree and and enjoying the mellow sun. As if transfixed, we look at the opposite direction in motion. Two young lionesses were coming out of the bushes. The lone Lioness runs towards them and snuggles against them! It's a family reunion! They play with each other while we stand mesmerised. They then walk past our jeep, where Kriti gapes at them, and Ma looks elated. Boogie has a beautiful smile and is plainly delighted and thrilled. As the three lions move away, he softly says... pride. Loosely translated, the collective noun for lion is pride. I literally (and no, I am not making this up) look up towards the sky, heave a sigh and silently thank God or Almighty for having kept the faith of my nearly 8-year-old son intact.

I didn't want him to grow up in a faithless world. A world where there isn't anything to look forward to. I wanted him to live in a world where it would be "another day for you and me in paradise".

Enjoy our safari pics. And please do write to us. I am sure there have been moments of this to-be or not-to-be in your lives, too. We would really like to know about them. It always gives me... the courage and the impetus to live and try to make this a better world in whatever small way we can.

Till then..

Love and light

Sudarshana