Debu in Wilderness

By Mohan Velicheti

Exterior/Night

The sound of Beatles. Two dim lights in otherwise dark night, one diffused from inside the tent, another
light flashing on Debu, the hiker sitting at the picnic table beside the tent. Water bottle, coffee mug, fruits,
bread etc. scattered on the table.

He grabs two slices of bread. Applies peanut butter with a table knife. He starts recording in his phone.

“Today I hiked 26 kms. Walked through some amazing landscapes. I saw a brow bear. Luckily it was at a
distance and didn’t bother about me. Tomorrow is my last day of hike, and iam quite excited about what
is in store for me. The night is calm. Iam the only camper here, in the wilderness, far from the places that
mankind has made non-livable”.

Keeps back the table knife besides a big knife.

Debu picks the sandwich, smells and says, “Hmmm… happy life”.

When he is about to take a bite, hears a sound from the leaves in the dark. Alert, eyes widened and bright,
leaves the sandwich on the table and looks around. Picks the big knife and walks around the tent to check
if there is a sign of wildlife or a stranger. Finding none, he returns to the table. He sees two dry leaves
lying on the table beside the bread.

Keeping down the torch and picking the bread,

Debu

“Hmm…I cannot even recognize the sound of two falling leaves. What a pity”

When he settles down again for a bite, hears a hissing sound on the ground. He got up again and looked
around with the torch. Finding none, he returned and put the torch on the table. He notices that there is
no sandwich on the table.

Sensing danger, he hurries and packs up the things on the table, watching around, slowly withdrew himself
into the tent. He places the big knife besides his head to keep it handy for protection.

Debu
“What if there is a big animal? O God, let it not be a bear. Please...let it be a squirrel, a rat, or a racoon.
Iam not ready for a bear? He takes a pause, “What if there is a lunatic lurking in the hills and he runs
towards me with an axe?”

He curls, lying sideward, closing ears tightly. The hissing sound is still audible. Now it is much closer to the
tent.

“Shhh..”

He slaps on the tent”. Suddenly, It is all calm.

Day/Exterior

Birds Chirping. Sun light slanting on the tent.

Still lying down in the morning relaxed sleeping pose, he opens the eyes as the view closes on hm.
Sensing daylight, he quietly peeks from below the tent cover to see what lies outside.

Birds chirping continues…

He opens the zip, looks into sunlight and into the trees and beyond.

Walks out, stretching with a big yawn.

He makes a peanut butter sandwich, takes a bite, sips coffee.

Debu

“Happy life in the wilderness” a deep sigh…

“It takes some time though, to get used to live the way we are originally made to live in nature.”

But, for now, let there be any sound. I have 12 good hours to be strong again”.