36. Return to Paradise

This is the dystopia we will end in; Saanvi spoke up after what had been the quietist walk ever. Walking almost invisibly, we could hear the forest breathe, softly as if in waves that struck each other and softly changed the direction.

I was following her words and her direction as we ourselves were now the perfect ants. Following immaculate discipline in the dark. Her torch was our only salvation.

As the lights came into view, only one thought struck me. This beautiful village is completely at the mercy of an alien human being who has yet not decided to turn its attention this way. Once it does, all we will see are deep endless holes, sink pits of human ideology. We have just handed over the responsibility of managing this nation;s future in the hands of those whose very existence is increasingly at risk and expect them to sacrifice themselves for the greater good, yours and mine but not his.

As I plotted my response to Saanvi’s remark, I could not help making out the faint streak of orange in the sky. Well, that is the mine that we saw and yes, this is it, a version of the dystopia.

The silence returned again and as our team marched ahead in a single file, one could see the ripe harvest sway in the moonlight, casting shadows over the entire land. Tiny versions of giant clouds that cover the whole sky floated over the fields, very thin water less clouds. The forests on one side floated above the thin layer of clouds and seemed to create a crown to the clouds.

Nearing the village, our lead ant Saanvi, turned abruptly and waved to none in particular. See you tomorrow, we will walk 72 kilometres in a day.

72 kilometres in a day, apparently an indigenous legend, the story of the Baiga Chal.