Thread by @SriMspeaks

Many years ago, I lived in a tiny little cottage on the edge of the forest near Rishikesh. I hadn't seen one, but a sadhu told me there were leopards.

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#SriMspeaks
#Compassion
#AnimalLove
#AnimalCare

One morning, as I was treading along the narrow tract that linked the pilgrim town to the forest, to get my roti and daal from the Nepali dharamshala, I heard repeated whimpers from the forest on my right.

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Cautiously, for, I didn’t want to become a leopard’s breakfast,I moved into the forest in the direction,from which the sound seemed to be coming.
There on the ground beside an old teak tree, I saw a black-faced baby langur lying helplessly,shivering with fear and whimpering.

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Carefully, I picked him up and on examining; I found that his right thigh was wounded and bleeding. Part of his tail seemed severed too.

None of his relatives seemed to be around, nor could I see any predator. I picked him up and took him to Rishikesh.

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The veterinary doctor at the ashram goshala was a good friend.

He said some predator seemed to have attacked him. He bandaged the wounds, gave him an injection and said he would be fine in a few days.

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I looked after him, fed him fruits I could procure somehow, even rotis, till he seemed fit and chirpy.

The mother appeared one day at my cottage with a small langur gang.

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My little boy, I had named Dhruv, was at first reluctant to go. I persuaded him. He spent a long time kissing my face and licking my tears before jumping on to his mother's shoulders. Till they disappeared into the forest, his eyes were on me.

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I was sad but also happy he was fine now. The mother and son made a last visit after a week, left a bunch of wild Jamuns for me and went away.

Do animals have more love than humans? Don't know. Perhaps.

The last time he saw me, Dhruv’s eyes were full of tears.

Sri.M

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