Story so far:Ma and Priya were determined not allow me to do anything. They preferred to have me locked up and out of the way. They would have succeeded, but Pa came up with an idea...and then forgot what it was!
I tiptoed to the door and opened it a little. Priya and Ma were busy and had forgotten about me too. I was free again!
Sammy had had his nap and was ready to go once more. We went to the park. I played on the swing and parallel bars while eavesdropping on Sammy’s conversation with his friends. I could hear what he said to them but like last night, it didn’t make much sense to me. It was like listening to one side of someone’s phone conversation. Afterwards Sammy warned me not to pluck guavas and mulberries from other people’s gardens. “One of these days they are going to report you…”
“There are hardly any other kids of my age here to play with — it’s just my way of having fun,” I protested. “It’s not like I’m taking so many — I bet the birds get more!”
“But they don’t see the birds — they see you!”
Hoping to join in
So, I was careful all week. It rained several times and I hoped that Ma and Priya’s event would be cancelled but trust their luck, it was bright and sunny on Saturday, when suddenly there was a lot of rushing about the house. Papa had something called a seminar at another university, so he was out of town.
Right up until they left, I thought Priya or Ma would tell me they were only joking and allow me to join in at the last moment. My backpack was packed and ready — gum, chikki, cap, binoculars, extra socks, rope…
But they just left me with Kavita Didi and went off.
While Ma and Priya had been chalking out the nature trail, I had been listening. They were going to have so much fun. I wished I could go too! Some of the names on Ma’s list were familiar. Two were my classmates. If they were going, why couldn’t I?
It was all Priya’s doing. I said somewhere that Priya Dids is nice and all. I take it back! She’s not! I banged the door of my room shut so Kavita Didi would think I meant to stay there sulking. Then quickly, I locked it, ran to the window and squeezed out. Sammy was already outside, waiting for me. I hugged him and said, “Dogs are so much better than people…and talking dogs are the best!”
We set out, using the short cuts and overgrown paths. The place Ma had chosen was just beyond the university campus, near the old broken down fort. There was a new-looking rest house near it and there were cars parked there.
The fun stuff for families was going to be about an hour’s walk from the rest house — in the deep valleys or ravines. There is a narrow stream there that we have been to before for picnics. Everyone would cross the stream in one ravine and then walk up the side of another ravine towards a wooded area. Some would go rock-climbing, some would be bird-watching, some would go fishing in that little stream…
From where I stood now, I could see Priya giving instructions and making her group get into pairs. At last they set out. We ran from tree to tree, following them. Suddenly, Sammy stopped and raised his head in the air again. “I can hear cries…there’s trouble…I have to go!” he said and he streaked off, rushing ahead of the group into the ravine where the stream bubbled along.
“Come back, Sammy!” I called, forgetting that I was not supposed to raise my voice.
Priya saw Sammy running past and heard me shout. She stepped out of the group and looked back — straight at me!
