Gowthami maintained a sobbing expression and begged the group to take her along, saying she was growing tired sitting there.
"Rajeev, please, can I come with you? I'm getting fed up here."
Rajeev looked at her, concern etched on his face. "Gowthami, the jungle is dangerous. It's not a place for you. It is hazardous."
"You're on point. If it's harmful for me, how much more so for you guys? ". Gowthami said with a hint of fury in her voice.
"Allow her, Rajeev, and don't be concerned; I'll look out for her."
Gowthami expressed her gratitude to Ram for his full backing ,by making a dog face and requesting permission.
"We're not going on an expedition; we're going to the jungle", Rajeev added, looking at Ram.
Gowthami abruptly cut in and shouted, "Rajeev why are you berating him now, if i'm not going with you guys, then you guys aren't leaving right now."
"Gowthami."
Gowthami was unyielding.
Rajeev sighed, trying to find the right words to make her understand. "It's not about you being fragile. It's about the unknown dangers out there. We can't predict what might happen."
Gowthami crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "Exactly. You can't predict it for yourselves either. If it's that dangerous, you shouldn't go alone."
Rajeev took a deep breath, his frustration evident. "We're experienced in this, Gowthami. We know what to look out for, what precautions to take."
"And I can learn," she countered, her voice firm. "I don't want to be left behind, worrying about you. I want to be by your side, facing whatever comes our way together."
Rajeev stared at her, torn between his protective instincts and his admiration for her courage. "Gowthami, I appreciate your spirit, but..."
"No buts, Rajeev," she interrupted. "We're partners, right? Partners face challenges together."
Ram, who had been quietly observing, cleared his throat. "Rajeev, she has a point. Maybe we could use an extra pair of hands."
Rajeev glanced at Ram, then back at Gowthami. He saw the determination in her eyes and realized that she wouldn't back down.
He finally said, "Okay, then."
Ram was rather taken aback when Rajeev agreed to Gowthami's statements and reflected to himself that everyone would undergo a shift once a woman entered a man's life.
Rajeev's final nod made Gowthami very thrilled.
he conceded, "but you must promise to follow our instructions and stay close at all times."
Gowthami's face lit up with a triumphant smile. "I promise. Thank you, Rajeev."
Ram grinned, clapping Rajeev on the back. "Looks like we're a team now."
"Rajeev, rest assured that I'll do it" , said Gowthami cheerfully.
As they gathered their supplies and prepared to leave, Rajeev couldn't help but feel a mix of worry and pride. He knew the journey ahead would be challenging, but having Gowthami by his side, sharing the adventure, made him feel stronger and more hopeful.
With a final glance at the mansion, the three of them set off towards the jungle, ready to face whatever dangers and discoveries awaited them.
.....
"Hey, have you spotted Rajeev?", said one of the peasants. " Although I visited the clinic, I couldn't locate him there."
Another person said, "I saw him and his friends walking through the jungle."
" I suspect he may have gone to fetch some herbs."
" Yes, he often travels to the bush to collect herbs for his treatments."
The locals began talking among themselves.
As soon as he heard it, the first villager's countenance changed, becoming anxious.
"I overheard the locals in the area talking about a tiger that had lately entered the woods and seemed to be quite deadly. It had already murdered close to five people who had been traveling through the bush."
" What?" , others concerned about Rajeev said, "Hey, he could be in danger, we need to help him."
" He has his pal Ram with him, and I'm sure he won't allow Rajeev get injured by that animal", a commenter further stated.
Yes .
Yes .
"But we can't just sit here and let it ram because what if it attacks ram?"
"Let's get to the forest, I say."
Everyone moved into the forest while holding a few tools in their hands.
The crew commanded by Rajeev moved in the other direction from the locals.
....
"Rajeev, this spot is fairly wonderful" , Gowthami commented as she followed Rajeev and observed his surroundings.
Ram remembered what she had said and uttered, "Despite the fact that you claim to adore this location, my sister-in-law, we must exercise caution because the area is a jungle."
Gowthami remarked, "Ram, no animal would fight for enjoyment; it only attacks other creatures to satiate its need."
Ram remarked, "But I don't want to be that other you mentioned to fully satisfy its hunger."
" You guys keep chatting", Rajeev remarked, " and I'm going to climb the tree to retrieve those tiny leaves" . Rajeev displayed the little leaf that is found at the summit of the tree.
Ram considered providing his buddies and Gowthami with some privacy.
Ram swiftly climbed the tree before Rajeev could respond, "Stay here Rajeev, I'm going to get them for you."
When Rajeev saw his buddy climbing the tree, he advised him to use caution and to only take young leaves.
"Ha, I will."
Gowthami questioned Rajeev, "Are you concerned that wild animals could attack?"
" Yes, I am, and that is why I forbade you from traveling with us, but you disregarded my advice."
Gowthami, ever curious, began to voice her concerns. "Rajeev, what would you do if an animal suddenly attacked you? Have you encountered any wild animals during your past trips here?"
Rajeev chuckled softly, appreciating her inquisitiveness but also recognizing the anxiety behind her questions. "Gowthami, it's all about being prepared and staying calm. We carry necessary precautions and tools. And yes, I've had a few encounters, but nothing too dangerous."
Gowthami's eyes widened. "What kind of animals? How did you handle them?"
Just as she was about to launch into another round of questions, Rajeev reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bar of chocolate. With a gentle smile, he handed it to her. "Here, have this. Gowthami, prior to quiet up."
Gowthami blinked, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected offering. "Chocolate? Really, Rajeev?"
She took the chocolate, unwrapping it slowly, her curiosity momentarily sated by the sweet treat. As she bit into the chocolate, Rajeev watched her with a mix of affection and relief, glad to have diverted her worries for the moment
Ram, perched in the tree above, glanced down and noticed the exchange. He grinned, calling out, "Using chocolate to keep her quiet, Rajeev? Clever move!"
Gowthami laughed, the sound light and melodic amidst the jungle's ambiance. "It's working, for now," she admitted, enjoying the treat.
Rajeev looked up at Ram with a playful smirk. "Just hurry up with those leaves. We've got a lot more to collect."
As Ram resumed his task, Rajeev and Gowthami continued their walk, the brief moment of levity bringing them closer together. Though the jungle was filled with unknowns, Rajeev felt a renewed sense of confidence and peace, knowing that they faced these adventures together, one step at a time.
Rajeev began , "Ram and I have often walked through this forest, and we always have weapons with us to safeguard ourselves from hazardous creatures."
" Have you spotted a lion or a trigger in this woods, Rajeev?"
" People often pass through this ecosystem to reach surrounding settlements, but we never encountered lions or tiger species there, and the only animal we frequently spotted was wolves."
" Wolf? Were you attached?"
" Fortunately, we never got the opportunity to engage in combat with them. "
" In this hamlet, you have apparently never seen a tiger."
" In this woods when I was a teenager, a female rescued me from a tiger."
" Girl? who she is."
" I have no idea who she is, whilst I assumed God was bringing her in order to aid me at that specific moment in time."
Gowthami intended to inquire about the girl, but she was interrupted by a sound emanating from some nearby bushes.
She became aware right away and began surveying her surroundings.
Rajeev saw Gowthami's abrupt behavior shift.
Ram saw the surroundings while he was ascending the tree and sensed a problem.
He grabbed a rifle and sprang from the tree, heading straight for Rajeev.