The Chandra Forest Story Part 3

 

"...This snake is a cobra which can spit venom but this one is 7 feet long which is quite rare...". The Chandra Story continues. Some snakes are disturbing us in our project in the Chandra Forest.

See Part 2 if you have not yet seen it : https://open.substack.com/pub/itell/p/my-tryst-with-nature-the-chandra-da5?r=c8bxy&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Part 3 : The villagers were astonished to know that nothing had happened last night.

“None of the three animals greeted us last night.”…I replied.

“Look there is no relationship between our discussions about them and they being observant about us. They are animals. They do not know about your beliefs or whether we were discussing them or not. Even if we could have seen them last night then also your belief does not become a reality. It would have been a coincidence that we have seen them. “It’s OK”..the villagers with disbelief and discontent start to work again. They have to do their duty. So they start to prepare our food for breakfast. We got busy with our work. After a while, we were called for the breakfast.

The breakfast comprised four roti, potato fry, and paneer. The taste of the food was ultimate and we were merrily grasping the food along with a sip from the cup of tea provided to us. The tea cup was made of clay which is a very common way of having tea in rural Bengal.

After breakfast two of us start to roam the forest along with one of the villagers. The villager was extremely knowledgeable about the life of the jungles and their inhabitants.

“If you see a team of elephants then there is no need to panic but if you see a single elephant with sprouted incisors then immediately move away from that place as they are unpredictable. The frequency of their visits increases in the winter due to their affinity towards the Mahua juice.

This juice is a wine-like liquor that is popular in these areas."

“Where did the elephants stay during the other season?”

“They stay in the Dalma region of Jharkhand”..replied my friend.

The Chairman who lectured me yesterday gave us another visit. I promptly take my revenge by telling him that none of the three so-called dangers has till now visited us. In reply, he said, “Then you are very fortunate it seems.”. I took this banter sportingly and continued my chit-chats about the Wild Animals.

Suddenly along with the growling of the clouds, rain started to fall and we all had to run inside the tent for shelter. After 10 to 15 minutes of torrential rainfall, the sun comes out.

After the rainfall stopped our adda restarted. Two to three dogs were circling us from the day we started living in the tents. When we're all busy talking, one of the dogs starts barking nonstop. At first, no one cared as dogs could bark due to any silly reason. But when another strange sound was heard from the same direction in which the dog was constantly barking we became conscious.“It can not be another dog as I know how the dogs bark here”..explained the Chairman.

“Then what it is? I have heard the same sound on our first night.” Hearing this the Chairman gets agitated.

"Why have you not reported this before? Do you know who is making this sound? It's the Spitting Cobra, and from the sound of its grumbling, I'm guessing it's at least 7 feet long and is very angry with us for some reason.

"How can you be so sure?".

"My experience"

Subscribe to receive such posts: https://itell.substack.com/

This video is made by: https://ai.invideo.io/watch/XDz5VLBDBex

"When you are in the Jungle don't think about its dangers or it will become a reality."

 

Part 1 : https://open.substack.com/pub/itell/p/my-tryst-with-nature-the-chandra?r=c8bxy&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Summary of Part 2

As the rain finally receded and the floodwaters drained away, the villagers cautiously made their way to the jungle camp. Their faces bore the weight of worry—concerned by the relentless downpour and the rapidly rising water levels that had threatened their homes and livelihoods. Yet, despite the chaos, they had endured. Their resilience was evident in the quiet strength with which they moved, having survived nature’s fury.

A Visit from the Village Chairman

Later that afternoon, the village chairman arrived at the camp. His presence brought a sense of authority and calm. He spoke at length about the socio-economic potential of the ongoing project, emphasizing how it could uplift the community. His tone shifted as he addressed the wildlife in the surrounding jungle. Leopards, he said, once roamed freely here, their presence a common sight. But now, they had become rare—victims of excessive hunting and habitat loss. Of the famed "Big Five," only elephants remained, their majestic forms still seen wandering through the dense forest.

Warnings from the Wild

The villagers issued stern warnings about the dangers lurking in the jungle. Elephants, though revered, could be deadly if provoked—especially when agitated. Snakes and jackals, too, posed serious threats. The villagers spoke with particular caution about Kraits and Cobras, venomous snakes known for their unpredictable aggression. Even the slightest disturbance could trigger a fatal strike. These lessons were shared with urgency, not just as folklore, but as survival wisdom passed down through generations.

A Hearty Meal and Lingering Fear

After a hearty lunch of steaming rice and rich chicken kosha, the villagers gathered the group and urged them to leave before dusk. Their insistence was laced with fear—an almost superstitious belief that lingering too long could invite death. The group was taken aback by the intensity of their concern, but respected their wishes.

Dinner was simple yet satisfying, and the night passed peacefully. The comforting meal and the absence of jungle sounds allowed for uninterrupted sleep—a rare luxury in such a setting.

Morning Tension and Unspoken Worries

At dawn, the villagers returned, their expressions tense and eyes wide with concern. “Is everything all right?” they asked, almost breathless. Their anxiety was palpable. When reassured that the night had been quiet, they seemed both relieved and bewildered. “We didn’t disturb you, did we?” one asked, as if fearing they had unknowingly triggered some unseen danger.

Echoes of the Jungle

The experience was more than just a night in the wilderness—it was a glimpse into the delicate balance between human life and nature’s untamed spirit. The villagers’ stories, their fears, and their wisdom painted a vivid picture of coexistence, caution, and reverence for the wild.

Subscribe to read more such experiences: https://itell.substack.com/

This video is made with https://ai.invideo.io/watch/MDf_uYXB0WS