Mikki's Birthday

Mikki, don't go too far in the jungle or too near the forest officer's bungalow.

- Amlan Home Chowdhury

Humans may capture you and sell you to the circus. We, the tiger-folk, must keep away from them. Always keep this in your mind."

"Okay, Mumma!" Mikki, now five months old, replied to the warnings of her Mumma tiger, Mookie. But she was ever curious about the forest officer's bungalow where a little seven-year-old girl lived with her forest officer father and mother.

Her name was Chikkie!

Mikki saw her playing from behind the bushes. Though she wished to play with Chikkie, she knew her parents would never allow any friendship with humans.

The jungle rule in the Pench National Park in Seoni of Madhya Pradesh, said that animals must stay away from humans. They should never go near the villages, as in the past, a large number of them were killed during shikaar or trapped to be sold to the circus.

Despite warnings, Mikki slowly moved towards the forest officer's bungalow.

It was evening. She saw lights coming out of the bungalow's window. Some people were singing, “Happy Birthday to you, Chikkie.”

What was happening in the bungalow?