'The Risky Mango'

The clouds burst into an ear splitting thunderclap as we walked past the old bus stop which evidently looked well past its prime. The leaking asbestos roof and chipped baked brickwalls were a testimony to its age and abandonment. Our movement along its side was quick but not effortless. The sticky mud and the lashing rains made our walk tougher than it actually was. A goods truck zoomed past us with the driver battling heavy condensation on the windshield. The tires hissed with the reduced friction due to the wet roads as the truck took a right turn at the junction. My eyes instantly made contact with the man towards my left for a split second, as he nodded before breaking off the pack, into the thick foliage near the big old banyan tree. His positioning had to be perfect. He was the vital cog of our extraction plan. The distraction he was to cause was the only possibility of a safe return. Now, the team of three was reduced to a couple and we dashed forward trying to make as much ground as possible. The untimely rain had already played spoilt sport with the efforts required to successfully accomplish the mission multiplied manifold, forcing us to adapt. 

The sun was hardly visible from behind the dark clouds with the rains blurring our visibility to a large extent. But, it was clearly that time of the day when the elephants loved to take a dip in the nearby lake and enjoyed an extended mud bath session. They spent a good one hour by the lake and our plan was in sync with the routine of the elephants. Most importantly, the evacuation was in tandom with the time and path of the return of the elephants. The chances of getting caught in the act at that time of the day was the slightest, as people refrained from wandering out during these hours.

The eucalyptus trees were lined along the left side of the road as far as our eyes could see. The trees appeared to be in a perfect line as if someone had placed a ruler from the previous one before planting the next one. The fence behind these trees was our biggest hurdle. The fence had eight feet iron anglers placed at an approximate ten feet from each other and interconnected with thin barbed wires that were inturn connected to a turbine. The turbine was place at a strategic point below the waterfalls, about 300 metres from the bus stop. The whole setup efficiently generated hydroelectricity for the protection of the valuable produce that was within the barrier. The electricity thus produced, then passed through a series of small, black coloured, box shaped devices, reducing its intensity, thereby acting strictly as a barrier against wild and stray animals along with intruders.

Our first assignment was to sneak past this formidable barrier. Cutting the wires carried a high risk of being noticed and above all electrocution. Therefore, my primary task was to squeeze past the lower rungs of the connecting joint that seemed like the only weak spot of this sophisticated setup. As we neared the entry point, my heartbeat doubled with anxiety. The adrenaline rush was at an all time high as we were moments away from achieving our primary objective or being electrocuted like the hanging bats on a electric line, a common sight in these parts of the country. 

The person to my right slowed his walk as his eyes started scanning the area for any onlookers. He was good at his job of a sentry. Sharp eyes, quick feet and automatic reflexes were a part of his training to evade the multiple threats of the forest and by the looks of it, the evidence of him being a good student was amply clear. A few seconds later, he gave me a nod of approval that also included a hint of best wishes considering that it was time for my part in the operation. 

The operation was termed 'Risky Party' as the risks involved in this endeavour was wavering far upwards in the red zone right from the planning stage. The operation stemmed from my addiction to adrenaline rush and also a deeper desire to relish the juicy pulp of ripe mangoes along with the raw ones making a great side dish for our evening party. A quick sprinkle of salt and a generous rub of chilli powder on the raw mangoes paired with delicious deep fried freshly caught Catla fish was on our menu for tonight. Along with the sides was a rich supply of rice beer and freshly brewed toddy that was to brighten the evening for us. With these glistening prospects heavily outweighting the risks involved, the possiblilty of failure disappeared at breakneck speed through the darkening sky. While the fish was abundantly available in the nearby

Bhadra river, it was acquiring the mangoes that posed the biggest challenge.

 A mango groove named 'Mavina Gudi' was spread over 70 acres of land on the picturesque banks of the river but was equally well guarded by a team of six watchguards and four ferocious looking German Shepherd dogs. The year's produce was also on the brighter side for the owners, who had tightened the security with electric fences along with a single, guarded gate to go with the already existing almost waterproof arrangements. It was this setup that I was to break into, pluck as many mangoes as possible and sneak back unhurt by the time the elephants returned from their usual bath to create a distraction that would provide us a safe passage to our hideout. 

While the plan looked flawless on paper, it was the unfamiliarity of the terrain that posed the biggest challenge. I had joined a team of researchers working on elephants in the beautiful Bhadra National park only a couple of days ago and it was time for my arrival party. Looking at the gloomy sky, one of the senior researchers had gleefully exclaimed in the afternoon, "Aaj party karlethe hai Biddu bhai... Aaj toh mausam bhi hai, mauka bhi hai aur dastoor bhi..." and hence the plan was hatched. 

As soon as I received the nod from my sentry, I lay flat on the ground with the intension to roll under the lower rung of the junction point. The heavy rain made it difficult to open my eyes, the sticky ground soiled my clothes and the gravels rubbed against my skin, cutting me in a few places. The pain was nowhere compared to the fear of getting electrocuted. But, the job had to be done. I heard a soundhorn of a vehicle making it evident that someone was approaching. My sentry made dramatic hand signals for me to make the move at the earliest. The plan was under the risk of being blown if I didn't roll in the next couple of seconds and my body felt numb with fear. With my eyes closed, I gathered the final ounces of courage left in me and rolled under the fence missing the last barbed wire by millimetres. It was a task well executed I thought, managing a smile at my sentry, who looked pleased with my skillset.

Once in, I looked at the nearest mango tree. A short and stout one with branches well spread and above all, full of mangoes from every angle - a perfect victim. Now the task was to gather as many mangoes as possible, fill it in the gunny bag I had tied to my waist and throw the bag across the fence to the sentry who would then take care of it. All of it had to be accomplished before the watchdogs could sense my presence in the groove. There was a saying in the area that the dogs were trained to rip any unauthorised entry into the groove to shreds before an explaination of any kind was sought from the perpetrators. It was 'Do or die' situation now.

Climbing a slippery mango tree, as the  raindrops hit my eyes with the precision of a trained marksman everytime I looked up was a task in itself, let alone plucking the mangoes. Suddenly, it stopped raining. There was someone sitting above who was pleased with my efforts, I thought. With a wide smile as a thanking gesture to my heavenly ancestors, I managed to grab as many mangoes as possible before sighting our distraction running towards us with his hands high up in the air that was the backup signal for the return of the elephants. The crackers he had to light to create a distraction had been soaked wet by the rains. Amidst all this, we also risked being seen by people who loved a stroll in the rain marred roads assessing the damage. The code turned to a darker shade of red with every passing second as the sentry too signalled for evacuation. 

The herd of elephants, that were to act as our shield, was approaching our location at a steady pace. One the other side, I could see a couple of guards making preparations for their evening rounds around the groove as they moved out of their checkposts. A shiver ran down my spine as I jumped off the mango tree twisting my ankle in the process. Ignoring the pain, I limped towards the tightly woven electric strings dragging the gunny bags all the way. As soon as I reached the fence, I threw the bag towards the other side with the confidence of throwing a bomb across the Indo-Pak border. Though the bomb did not hit the intended spot, it performed well enough to reach the other side without much hassle. To my surprise, the sentry picked it up and walked along the road with such confidence that, for a second, even I was forced to believe that he had bought the mangoes from the market twenty kilometres away.

Now it was time for my exit. The elephants were very close and time was running out. I repeated the same ordeal I had performed while sneaking in. Only this time, my shirt got hooked to the fence, tearing and burning in the process. A minor sacrifice for an operation so big and successful. 

The magnificent pachyderms walked right past us as I was being helped up to my feet by the distraction guy. Their majestic walk paired with their huge and strong bodies never failed to awe me right from my childhood. 

That night's party was the best by far in the camp for the unlimited fun, finger licking appetizers, the ever flowing liquor and extremely funny jibes, with several stories to tell and an ailing ankle to nurse...