Monks Dilemma

Author(s): S M Jain
Publisher: ABD Publisher

Page 8

16
Monks 'Dilemma
Monks' Dilemma
17
to see but she was asleep again after lunch, reclining on the other side of the seat on the pillow she had brought for the purpose.
"Where are we? How far is Bandipur and Madhumalai forest area?
The driver who was enjoying the amorous actions and conversation of the couple (he mistook them as such) took some moments to reflect and answer: "We are shortly approaching Chamrajnagar and shall soon be passing through the sanctuary."
Deepti, "It is already past one o'clock. We should find a suitable place and take our lunch."
Deepak awakened her and asked her to see the hill side as the car was going up negotiating serpentine road and its sharp hair pin bends. The slopes were extensively planted with several types of species of Eucalyptus of Australian origin, replacing the indigenous sholas of the natural climax ecosystem, now left just as a relic of the past in a few crevices. The gentle slopes were all covered with tea plantations.
Deepak, "There is a good restaurant on the road just at the entrance of the sanctuary. It is a comfortable place where we can have our lunch."
The driver stopped in front of the restaurant. Deepak went to the manager and requested him to allow them to take their lunch they had brought with them. The Manager welcomed them and told the waiter to clean a table for them. The driver remained in the car but Deepak asked him to join them, sit and also share the lunch with them. After finishing lunch Deepak ordered coffee from the restaurant. Deepak made the payment and asked the driver to check the car, water in the radiator, and air in tyres etc as the facilities were available there.
It was 6.p.m. when they reached the hotel booked by Deepti. Mistaking them as a couple the receptionist requested, "We shall feel obliged if you can kindly accommodate in one room and spare the other for another couple in the waiting list. I presume that your other friends have not come." Deepti smiled and looked at Deepak as if requesting to agree.
Deepak told the receptionist, "We are not a couple. We are just friends and colleagues."
After settling down in their respective rooms, they came down in the lobby. A Waiter came and asked for orders for anything they would like to have. Deepak said, “Dinner only at 8.p.m. We are pure vegetarian." He then started watching the T.V.
Deepti did not relish his indifference and interrupted, "Please stop watching T.V. We have come here to talk and interact with each other. "Let us go to the other corner from where T.V. is not visible." She caught his hand and virtually dragged him to the other corner seat.
They started on their onward journey to their destination Ooty. The road passed along the boundary of the sanctuary overlooking it from above. It was afternoon and it was hot in October. There was hardly any chance at this hour to see wild life which normally come out of their shady resting places in the evening or early morning. However Deepak could spot a few bison loitering and grazing. He asked Deepti