Deer Friends

“Papa, are we there yet?” Riya asked the dreaded question again. Papa smiled and kept driving.

- Shikha Gola Prajapati

“Repeatedly asking the same question won't get us there any earlier, Riya,” said her twin Ritik who was sitting next to her in the back seat of the car. “Don’t stress Ma and Papa out.”

The siblings were done with their exams, and the family had set off on a road trip from Delhi to Jim Corbett National Park. They had booked rooms at a resort adjoining the forest, and were excited to reach there.

“It’s going to get dark soon, Papa. Are we there yet?” Riya asked again.

“We are nearly there, Riya,” replied Papa, finally breaking his silence.

“Cooool!” Riya and Ritik shouted together.

Just then Papa slammed the brakes, and the car screeched to a halt. Riya lost her balance and tumbled over Ritik.

“Oww!” Ritik yelled and pushed her away.

“Look,” said Papa, pointing a little further down the road. In the car’s dim headlights and through the evening mist, they could see a fawn standing in the middle of the road, blocking their way.

‘Beep-beep-beep!’ Papa honked the car horn, which startled the fawn. Before Papa could steer the car around it, it moved two steps ahead, blocking the car.

Papa said, “It might be injured and could need help. Let me check.”

He got out of the car and approached the fawn, who took a few steps towards the jungle, as if it was leading Papa somewhere. Papa followed it and both of them disappeared from view, while Ma, Ritik and Riya waited in the car. After a few minutes, Papa emerged, running towards the car.

Without a word, he opened the boot and grabbed the tool kit and tire-jack.

“What happened?” Ma asked, and Papa said, “The fawn needs help. Come with me, all of you.”