We visited Thailand in 1998. We were at Pattaya visiting a huge national park where animal shows were going on. There was a bird show, Dolphin show, Elephant show and so on. After the bird show we were to proceed to the Elephant show. My husband was holding my hand and we were moving together, but there was a swarm of people and in that mad rush he moved on and I was left behind by few yards.
While moving on I happened to come across a care taker hitting the Tiger Cub with a stick and refusing to feed the poor animal. The reason was there were so many tourists/ visitors queing up to click their photographs standing near with the cub by paying money of course. The cub was hungry and was refusing to pose and was angrily roaring loudly.
I was very much disturbed and tried to tell the care taker, to feed the baby and not to hit, and that those who want snaps will wait, he got so annoyed and shouted back “You call baby! This fella is big fella, troubling me....not drinking milk....look how he roaring .... if you feel so much love, take the bottle and feed him!"
I took it as a challenge....quickly snatched the bottle from his hand, and sat on a small table where the cub was sitting, he came on my lap, I stroked him as if he was my domesticated pet, he drank the whole bottle and I was so comfortable, I did not get scared at all.
Once the bottle got empty I came back to my senses! Then suddenly I got up and looked at the crowd around who looked astounded....so many people clicked photographs. In fact the picture inserted here was mailed by a Japanese gentleman who was so very much impressed with the entire episode!
I did not dare to mention this to my husband lest he should take me to task. I requested my friend who was watching this, to keep this to himself and not to mention it to my hubby.
We came back to Mumbai, I forgot about it. After a fortnight I got the photograph through e-mail, then I showed it to my husband and son. Both of them were so angry and shocked, especially my son
" Amma, do you know what you have done? Anything could have happened to you, it would have bitten off a pound of flesh from your thigh! It would not have waited like Shylock to ask for it in the court of law!” He went on and on in his own style. Sometimes I wonder whether he is my son or I am his daughter!!
But I am very proud of that moment. I may not venture it again, when I look at my own self in the snap, I wonder how serene...how calm I am when feeding him. I strongly believe that there was some soul connect.....something to do with the ferocious cub in my past life...
This is not only my favourite picture but all my kith and kin and friends fall in love with it at the first sight!!!!
