Animal World
A few days back I decided to go on my second
cycle trip. One of the rides with no destination at all. I thought I would
wander about and explore the area. Ashim (my classmate) wished to join in but
at the right moment he didn’t pick up my call and hence missed his opportunity
to tag along. I left an hour late. My plan was to leave at 6 but, I hit the
road at 7.
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| College to Nandankanan map |
About the sudden inspiration to wander, it was
there in the back of my head to travel somewhere close, but, after watching the
movie ‘Queen’ I just had to be on the road, discovering places and lives and
hoping to find beauty in the outside world. A world beyond classes, exams,
assignments, parties and competition.
I opted for my reliable cycle no. 1 but soon
after starting I realized my mistake. I should have checked the status before
choosing a bicycle. It was in real bad shape. Making the sound ‘I’ll-fall-apart-the-very-minute’
with every turn of peddle.
Although late but riding on foggy road felt
delightful. There were moments when I decided to take an about turn like when a
retard started running parallel to my bike and moments when I could see nothing
further. I wanted to leave but I think it was the beauty of nature and the
desire to explore further that kept me going.
Eventually I reached a Y junction and I upon
reading the address on a few shops, realized I had reached Nandankanan
zoological park. It’s pretty famous here but somehow I could never go there.
A wanted to take some time off from riding and
sit in silence. Park seemed like a perfect place. Little did I know of the disappointment
lying ahead.
I was there exactly at 8 a.m. the time for
opening the park. I took a ticket and went in. Also had to decline a couple
offers for a guide. I didn’t quite get
why I would need a guide in a zoo.
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| It still doesn't seem all that complicated to hire a guide |
I went in, roamed around a little. Went to the
birds section. Saw a black swan and it went straight to my bucket list ‘Own a
black swan’. It was extremely beautiful. I got stuck at peacock’s place. I kept
staring and the peacock was staring back. And soon it just opened up its
feathers, a site I had never seen before. It was remarkable like the peacock
understood the pain I had taken to be there and wanted to cheer me up. I stood
there for some time, watched the total ‘paisa vasool’ performance by the
peacock and then left.
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| The peacock in it's full glory |
I walked a
little and ended up at an Orangutan’s place. It was one of the saddest image
I’ve ever seen. The Orangutan sat there on a cemented seat. One arm on the
bench, one on the leg, lowered eyes like it had nothing in life to look upto.
And really what could she look upto. Her name is Binny which I got to know from
a worker. Right opposite to her little universe was Chimpanzee’s place. And
there was one full-fledged family there. One mother, kid, and two male chimps. From
all the videos I’ve watched while growing up I’ve understood they have feelings
too. And it was all confirmed by the way she sat looking at nothing. Had I been
an extremely rich lady, I would have asked them to set all the animals free.
What If I was to live my life in a small area like that with no way of getting out?
No friends, no family. Nothing much to do either. We’re often asked to make the
best of any situation but what could that animal make best of? I stood there
looking at Binny for much longer than usual. People came and left laughing at
the guide’s remark ‘eto sukhi family (chimps), eto dukhi family (Orangutan)’.
Rightly proved ‘One man’s miseries, another man’s entertainment’. I so wanted
Binny to look at me once, I was hoping she see’s someone does care, may be they
are just helpless to do anything about it. I waited long enough and then left,
when I turned around I saw Binny stretched and from what looked like went to
sleep. Probably she did acknowledge my presence and that’s why she sat while I
was there and slept immediately after I left. May be that was the best she
could do.
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| beautiful sections of the park |
I couldn’t pull up the courage to see any more animals.
I found a free corner and sat there gathering my thoughts. I left soon. The return trip was hectic as the
sun was right over my head. I was sweating
badly. The places that had looked so very beautiful in the morning looked just
plain while going back. May be the effect of time and experience. Amidst all
the clutter a person drove right next to me, pulled up his helmet and said
something in Oriya which I didn’t understand even slightly (thankfully). After
about a km or so I realized that person was actually following me. Going
extremely slow, and stopping frequently so he could follow me again. He kept
looking at his rear view mirror too. I didn’t pay any attention to him like I
had not noticed him at all. But I did memorize his vehicle number to make a
complaint later. I got back to college dialled 100 the first thing. The lady
took down all the details, put me on hold and then gave me number of police
station under whose jurisdiction it fell. I dialled the number and he tested my
patience by taking ages in noting down the vehicle number. He did not even know
military phonetics. I said B as in Bravo and he would still get it all wrong.
It went on for some time, eventually he did get it right. After about 5
minutes, I got a call from the last Police station I had called. He called to
inform me that the case didn’t fall under his jurisdiction either. So he asked
me to call another police station. He didn’t have the number. I requested him
to look up, if he couldn’t find it how would I. He was cooperative enough to do
so. After a few attempts I made between ‘Satyamev Jayate’ I got through the
number. The conversation was nothing but disappointment. From the tone of it, I
knew what would be done with it. I asked ‘would you inform me in case of any
updates?’ the reply was ‘yes’. But I never received a call and honestly after
the call had not even expected them to. I tried to look for owner name through
vehicle number online but couldn’t find any such service.
In the whole stalking experience
I did not feel much different than Binny. Females are like exotic animals
people wish to see, stare, gawk whatever you call it. Like the animals in zoos we
are commented on too. The only difference I see is my territory is a little bigger
and there’s a lot for me to make out of my life.
