Chapter 2: The Name, the Leader, and the Tree

  The storm was completely gone, and all the animals and birds were getting back to normal. Purnima and her family come back to their herd. All the deer were happy to see Purnima and her family come back safely.

  “Thanks to Mother Forest that you all are safe, Purnima,” said Purnima’s friend, seeing Purnima safe back home.

  The newborn fawn was walking very close to her mother, seeing too many deer watching it. He was still wobbling a little. He was scared watching the crowd of deer. All were staring at him; they were all the new faces to him.

  “Mother,” he said in fear and got closer to her mother.

  When they were all surrounded by the herd, the herd leader came. All the other deer were moved away from the way for their leader.

  “Thanks to the Mother Forest, you and your family are safe, Shashi,” said the herd leader.

  His name was Shabar. He was big, and his body had spots like all deer, but his antlers were bigger and more beautiful than any other deer in the herd.

  “You had a son?” asked the Leader.

  “Yes,” said Shashi, bowing his head to his leader, showing respect.

  “Great, that’s a good thing. The storm was now gone, and our head got a new member,” said the Shabar. “What did you name him?”

  “Name? Uhm, Mm, we didn’t give him a name yet, we were so happy to see Purnima and my son that we didn’t think about the name at that time,” said Shashi, a little shy, thinking that he forgot to give him a name.

  “Have you thought about the name? What do we call him?” said Shabar, with a smile.

  “When I got separated from the herd, I went to the dense bushes to hide from the storm. There, I started to feel the pain in my stomach. When I was about to get faint, I asked Mother Forest for help, and then I saw a calm blue aura of Mother Nature, which came to me and put her gentle and warm hand on my head, and I felt calm and relieved,” said Purnima, remembering the auspicious moment with Mother Forest.

  “I remember her calming blue aura, which gave me peace and relief. And she saved my child and me from that catastrophic storm. So, in the memory of Mother Forest, I call my son, Neel (Blue),” said Purnima.

  “Neel, that’s a really beautiful name,” said Shashi with a smile on his face.

  “Neel, Neel, my brother’s name is Neel,” Prakruti said, while running and jumping around her mother and brother, shouting Neel’s name.

  “Good, everything is good now. The storm is gone now. We have lost many loved ones in our herd because of the storm. We should pray for them that they rest with the soul of the forest. All the suffering and pain are gone for them. They are with Mother Forest and will be happy there,” said Shabar, the herd leader, remembering the herd members they have lost.

  The herd went to the big old Banyan Tree, which was considered hundreds of years old. This tree was big; its branches spread across a big distance from the trunk. Many of its roots were above the soil, wound up like a snake, and very deep inside the ground. The trunk of this tree was very thick and big compared to the other trees of the forest. It has many aerial roots that support the tree as supportive trunks. Many birds and animals used to live on the branches of the big tree. The herd consider this tree sacred, and whenever anything bad or good happens, they come here to pray.

  The herd gathered in the sacred tree again, this time to pray for their loved ones who had died because of the storm and to show their gratitude that they themselves had survived. The deer who have lost their member were mourning for their members. Some lost their father, some lost their mother, some lost their fawn, some lost their husband, and some lost their wife, because of the storm. Some were crying for their loss, some were glad that they themselves had survived. That’s how life is, some live while some die. You either mourn for the dead or be grateful that you survived and make your life worth living, so that you won’t regret it when you die.

  Shabar, the herd leader, climbed the rock from where all the herd members can see him.

  “Today, we have lost many of the herd members, our father, our mother, our brothers and sisters, our partners, and our friends. We pray that their souls will always be happy with the soul of the forest. They have become one with the forest now, and we pray that they’ll always protect us,” said Shabar, the herd leader, with a strong and influential voice, remembering the ones they have lost and for their good fortune.

  A true leader is the one who respects all and always wishes good for every member of the herd. The one who doesn’t get biased, or do what he pleases. A true leader always has to put their herd and their good fortune before their own. Shabar was that kind of leader. He has always taken care of his herd before himself. Herd gone through many difficulties, in Summer the herd suffered from heat and lack of water resources, in Winter they herd has to bear the cold, and in Monsoon the herd has to find a place where they could save their selves from the rains and storms, and in all season, they always have to look out for the predators who are the danger for all the seasons.

  Shabar has always saved his herd from this kind of situation. In Summer, he wandered through the forest for water for his herd. In winter, when the grass and fresh greens dry up, he searched for the places which have plenty of Shrubs, twigs, leaves, and dried vegetation for their food. Shabar also look for places which protect his herd from the wind, like bushes and areas surrounded by trees, etc. In Monsoon, he searched for places which are safe, like big trees and caves, where they can save themselves from the rain and storms. Shabar always looks out for the predator. Whenever a predator attacked his herd, he informed all the herd to run. There are many situations where the Shabar have saved his herd from difficulties.

  “Now, it’s time to show our gratitude for saving our lives from the storm. We always remember the one we have lost, and this time, when we were all together to fight against the difficulties to survive. Let’s help those who were hurt because of the storm and show the unity among us. That’s how we have survived, and that’s how we will survive in the future,” said Shaber, the herd leader, showing his herd the importance of unity and helping each other for survival.

  Purnima and her family went to the big Banya tree to show their gratitude for saving their lives. Whenever a new fawn was born, the family went to the Sacred tree to pay their respect to the Mother Forest. Purnima and her family bowed down to the Sacred tree and thanked it for saving them. Purnima thanked it for saving her and her son’s lives.

  If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  “Thank you so much, Mother Forest, for saving my son and me from that storm,” said Purnima, bowing down to the sacred tree.

  “Thank you, Mother Forest, for saving my family. I pray that you always keep your grace and blessing on my family,” said Shashi.

  “Let’s go to the river and wash off your wounds and drink. You must be really tired and hungry,” said Shashi, looking at Purnima.

  “Yes, let’s go,” said Purnima.

  All the members of the herd started to help the members who were hurt and showed unity. It’s already afternoon now, and they went to search for the food. There was a river nearby where the herd went to drink water from the river and wash off their wounds. It was the rainy season, so the forest was full of greenery, and the herd didn’t have to travel much for food.

  Purnima and her family came to the river, drank the sweet water of the river and felt content. Fawns and young deer are playing in the water of the river. Other deer were drinking the water and washing off their wounds. There were many other animals and birds at the river too, who came there to drink and wash off their wounds. Different birds were chirping and filled the river area with sounds of their chirping and twittering. There were other animals and birds like Peacocks, Sparrows, Woodpecker, flycatchers, Four-Horned Antelope, Blue Bull, Indian Gazelle, Wild Boar, Elephants, and far from the river where these animals were drinking, there were also carnivorous animals like Lion, Leopard, Golden Jackal, Jungle Cat, etc. All the animals and birds were affected by the storm.

  The newborn fawn Neel was a little stunned and scared cause this was all new for him. This is the first time he sees a different kind of animal and bird. His eyes were wide open, and he was keeping looking at his surroundings, which was filled with different animals. He again came close to his mother.

  “Don’t worry, Neel. They won’t harm you,” said Purnima to his scared son.

  “Mother, I'm hungry,” said Neel with his cute and childish language.

  “You must be really hungry. Sorry, in all this hurry and difficulties, I forgot to give you milk,” said Purnima with her motherly affection.

  Neel started to drink milk from her mother. He was drinking the milk very fast. He was really hungry. Milk was really sweet, and he enjoyed the first meal after he was born. Neel felt content. He drinks milk so fast that he started coughing.

  “Slowly, Neel. Don’t rush,” told Purnima with a little chuckle.

  “Come here, Neel, let’s play in the river,” said Prakruti, calling her brother.

  Neel was scared to go into the river, but he slowly approached the steps to the river. He put his right leg to touch the river, then withdrew it quickly. He was scared of the new things, but he put his leg again in the river then he felt the cold water of the river in his legs. He felt cold but good. He slowly put all his legs in water and went to Prakruti. Prakruti splashed water on Neel with her head. Neel felt cold and started to shiver a little, but he liked it. He then does the same to Prakruti; he splashes water on Prakruti with his head. Neel was laughing when he showed his sister shivering. Other fawns and young deer started to play with Prakruti and Neel. They were all laughing and enjoying playing in the water. On the riverbank, Purnima and Shashi saw their children playing and enjoying themselves. They both were happy watching them happy.

  “Thanks to the mother forest, our family is happy now,” Shashi said, with gratitude.

  “Yes, we are really grateful for Mother Forest’s blessing that we all are here and happy,” said Purnima, looking at Shashi, with a smile of gratitude.

  “It’s already afternoon, let’s go and eat, you must be really hungry. You need to eat something,” said Shashi, while looking at Purnima.

  “Yes. Prakruti, Neel, come here, let’s go,” shouted Purnima.

  “We want to play mother, please,” said Prakruti. She was sad when her mother called her cause she was enjoying playing in the river.

  “No, Prakruti, play later, let’s go eat,” said her mother sternly.

  “Ok, Mother,” said Prakruti, a little sad.

  They all went to the quiet and safe place under the trees where all the other deer and their fawns and young deer were staying.

  “Mother, I feel sleepy,” said Neel, while yawning.

  “Ok, Neel, you must be really tired now. Sleep here, Mother, Father and Sister are going to eat. We will come soon ok. Don’t be scared, Mother Forest always protects you,” said Purnima, licking her fawn.

  “Ok, mother,” said Neel.

  Neel fell asleep, and his family went to eat. It was the rainy season, so they didn’t have to wander more for food. The grass was available everywhere, and the forest was full of food for them. They all went to eat.

  Purnima, Shashi, and Prakruti, with many other deer, went to the nearby field, which was full of grass. The place was covered by a herd of deer.

  “You were telling something about the mother forest earlier. That you see her when you were about to faint,” one of the deer asked Purnima.

  “Yes, I have seen Mother Forest when I was about to faint during the storm”, said Purnima, “I saw a bluish shadow, an aura, which was brightening the surroundings with its light. Wherever the light spreads, that place becomes abundant with peace, calm, and greenery. I have never seen anything like this in my entire life,” said Purnima.

  “That’s definitely the Mother Forest,” said the elder female deer after hearing the auspicious experience of Purnima, “when I was a fawn, I had heard many stories about this, all the animals who have seen Mother Forest describe her the same way,” continued the elder deer.

  “What stories have you heard, Grandma? Please tell us,” Prakruti and other fawns and deer requested the elder deer to tell them more about the Mother Forest.

  “Many met the Mother Forest in their most difficult situations, where they were really near the end of life. But then suddenly they see a light which comes to them and rescues them from their difficult situation,” said the elder deer, “Many of the animals of this forest have experienced this. Mother Forest doesn’t just save individuals but also their herd. Many times, Mother Forest comes to someone’s dream and tells them about the future disaster so that they can save their lives and their herd life.” Continued elder deer.

  “Many years ago, when I was a fawn, my grandmother told me a story, even before I was born, mother forest came to the dream of a monkey, wild boar, Deer, and many other animals and birds at the same time. They all show the most disastrous storm coming to the forest, which was more dangerous than the one we experienced last night. All the animals and birds got prepared for that storm and survived because of the early preparation,” said the elder deer.

  All the deer who were listening to the elder deer were stunned after listening to the stories of Mother Forest and how she saved the animals and birds of the forest from the storm. Their eyes were wide open with awe. Many elder deer closed their eyes and prayed in their heart. Not all the deer believed what the elder deer said. Many thoughts, that’s all nonsense; there is nothing like that that exists in their forest.

  “There is nothing like Mother Forest; it’s all just a lie told by your elder deer who can’t even see clearly. And someone who lost their consciousness in the time of danger. You definitely imagined that,” said one of the deer rudely and carelessly.

  “I don’t care what you think, but I am sure of what I have seen at that time. It was Mother Forest who came to save me,” said Purnima, denying that what she saw was a delusion.

  “I believe you, Purnima,” said Shashi, looking at Purnima.

  “Whatever,” said the one who said it was some kind of delusion, and left with his friends.

  “I believe you, mother,” said Prakruti, touching her head and neck to her mother’s, to hug her.

  “Let’s go, it’s late now, we should get back to our place,” said one of the deer to return to their place.

  Everyone said yes, and many started to return. Some stayed and wandered the forest.

  When Purnima and her family return to the place where Neel was sleeping, they find that Neel is still sleeping. He was looking very cute. His soft skin, his little fur, he huddled, pulling his legs to his body and put his head on his legs.

  “He looks so cute,” said Purnima, looking at her fawn.

  “Yes, he is,” said Shashi.

  They both looked at Neel with love and affection, a calming and serene smile on their faces.

  “You also must be really tired now, Purnima. You should take some rest too,” said Shashi, looking at Purnima.

  “Yes, you must be tired too. We all had a really rough night last night. We all need rest,” said Purnima.

  “Yes,” replied Shashi.

  They all sleep near Neel. Purnima sits close to Neel to provide him warmth. Purnima looked at Neel with love and affection. She licked Neel’s face and his body to clean him and showed her love.

  “Sleep well, my son,” said Purnima with love in her eyes.

  They're all asleep. They all had a really tough night because of the storm. They separated from each other; they worried for each other when the storm was so strong. But now they are all together. It’s already dusk. Forest was quiet now. All the animals and birds went to sleep; they were all tired, and some were injured too. They all needed some rest. The storm was now gone, and the moon shone bright.