Wanderoo

Even though the monsoons were supposed to have ended, there was a light drizzle and everything around looked green, newly washed, and dripping. For the four of them—Yuhina, her dear friend Kadambo, and Yuhina’s parents, Mr. Kiran and Mrs. Chanda— it was adventure time once again. The girls and Yuhina’s parents took every opportunity to leave the city and go off into the wild areas of the country. They always returned with a new, exciting story to tell and a better understanding of the world.

- Katie Bagli

This time, they had decided to explore the southern part of the Western Ghats in Kerala. It was afternoon by the time they reached the forest guesthouse, and Shiva, the guesthouse keeper, had cooked a delicious meal for them. While they sat at the table eating the vegetable stew and piping hot chapattis, the forest was alive outside. Various bird calls and the shrill sighing of cicadas wafted through the guest house's windows.

“The sounds of the forest are like music to my ears,” said Yuhina, her mouth full of stew.

After lunch, the girls decided to walk around the forest outside the guesthouse. “Don’t wander off too far,” Mrs. Chanda cautioned.

They had hardly gone a short distance when they heard someone calling, “Coyeh? Coyeh?” The girls listened intently.

“That sounds like a human but I don’t see anyone around,” whispered Kadambo. “Is someone trying to say ‘Koi hai’ (Is anyone there)?”

“Maybe someone has lost their way,” Yuhina whispered. “Look!” She pointed excitedly. “The leaves on that tree are shaking. Someone may be there!”