— by Suresh Iyer
— Reading Time – 7 min approx
He was lying in her arms. She was caressing him. Their eyes were filled with love. He met her just a few days back in a chance encounter. He was in distress and was saved by her. He found her to be his perfect life partner and they were deeply attached with each other in no time. They felt alone in this cruel world which offered them no private moments. No place seemed safe for them.
It was Valentine’s Day. But love seemed to be in danger of getting ruthlessly destroyed by this cruel world which does not understand the meaning of true love. The couple wandered unaware of the dangers lying ahead. They were lucky enough to find food and had taken sufficient rest.
“Look, I know a place deep inside the forest where no one would be able to spot us.” She told him.
He happily followed her. He was strong, muscular but found a sense of tranquility in her presence. He was deeply in love with her.
As they went deep inside the forest, and spotted a cave, they were surprised to find no privacy. Many young boys and girls were in each other’s arms in tight lip-lock and making love.
As they slowly moved their way out to further up the forest, someone spotted them and shrieked. They started running, while people around them ran helter-skelter.
He lost sight of her in the melee, and cursed himself as he found himself alone.
“Tigers spoil V-Day party” was the Headlines in a Daily English Newspaper next day.
The residents of the societies nearby felt threatened by the tigers. The Poachers got to the town and were willing to help them out by killing the tigers. It was a win-win situation for both of them.
In a few days, a tigress was found killed. Before the poachers could lay hands on it, the Police came to the scene. The NGOs and the wildlife activists raised a hue and cry over the killing of the tigress. The residents of the buildings nearby the forest clashed with them. Everything was forgotten soon.
Meanwhile, the tiger was walking alone deep inside the forest, searching for the tigress, not knowing what fate befell on her.
Humans are the only species in this planet who kill fellow humans, animals, birds, insects, fishes for reasons other than hunger. Our lust, ego, greed, vices, selfish mentality, false pride, superiority complex is blinding us of love for fellow humans and other living beings. We cut trees, encroach upon vacant lands and forests and are destroying ourselves without our knowledge. Our advanced research and technologies are indirectly overwhelming us rather than put to good use.
We call the Tigers as Man-eaters when they enter our space. In reality, we are the tiger-eaters as we have left no space for them. There are only 2967 tigers in India left today as per 2018 estimates. Tigers are becoming scarce in the rest of the world too. Save tigers.
As we are feeling isolated by this growing COVID-19 pandemic, the entitled middle class is watching pictures of peacocks dancing in the City roads and dolphins visiting the seashores. Next time we visit a Zoo and clap our hands seeing the wild animals and exotic birds, let’s not forget that another virus will hit us soon and put us inside homes forever if we do not respect Nature again.
As we brace this Lockdown and we will overcome this Virus soon, lets reboot our life with a pledge that we care for tigers because we care for our nature. Let’s not get greedy and eat exotic wildlife and take sadistic pleasure. That will be the biggest gift we would be giving to Nature for nurturing us.
— by Suresh Iyer
