When the pain fully registered in her brain, Dani fetched her first-aid-kit and started her examination. The source of the pain where some pretty deep scratches right on the left cheek of her backside. She started to clean the cuts with some antiseptics and yelped with the sting of it. She would have to see a doctor in the morning to make sure she didn't get an infection.
She still couldn't get a grip on what happened only a few minutes ago. Realising that her window was still open, she hurriedly limbed to it, to shut it, scanning the darkness outside for possible dangers. She felt watched and a shiver ran down her spine, but it was impossible to see through the dark shadows of the woods. Looking sadly at the shreds of her mosquito net, she switched off the lights and went to bed.
She winced with pain when she sat on the edge. She would have to sleep on her stomach this night. With a sigh she settled down, postponing the analysis of the events to next morning and just enjoying the cooling breeze of the fan on her clammy skin.
******************************
"A doctor? You would have to drive to the next city to the hospital. What is the problem?"
Dani had decided it was best to talk to Deepa and ask for help. " I had some late night visit of a panther."
"You had what? Are you alright? I cannot believe it, what happened?"
Dani tried to sum up the events of the last evening, while Deepa ushered her into an empty class room and demanded to see the scratches.
" Well, you know, ehm, they are at some very private place." Dani tried to wiggle out of it, but Deepa would have nothing of it, so finally she relented.
" Oh dear, you sure had some run in with a big cat. I still don't believe it, usually they are very shy creatures and won't come near civilisation."
Dani snorted. "Civilisation? You don't even have a doctor around to tend to the heavily wounded!"
" Stop whining, it is not that bad and we do have some kind of doctor, even though you wouldn't call him that in Europe, because he doesn't have a degree. Just go and see Narayan after school. Ramesh can take you home with him, he is his son. Narayan is living some way into the woods. He can help you. Don't worry, he won't amputate your leg and if you still need a "real" doctor Venkatesh can drive you to the city tomorrow."
"Fine. I only hope I won't meet the big nasty cat a second time. Because if I do, I might take a chunk out of its backside, only to see it limping."
Ramesh was a quiet six year old boy. He was in his first class, but he seemed to be very intelligent. Dani liked him, because he always thought thoroughly, before he gave an answer. On the way to his father she tried to find out as much about the 'doctor' as she could, but she didn't like most of it.
The way seemed endless to her and she wasn't sure, how she would manage to walk back without any painkillers. When they finally arrived at the small house in the woods she was glad to sit down. But when Ramesh offered her a chair she jumped up again, because it was too painful for her to sit on both cheeks. Ramesh went in search for his father, who was nowhere to be seen.
Narayan was down at the small stream fishing for his and Ramesh's dinner. While waiting for the fish to bite, his thoughts drifted to the female from last night. He couldn't forget her smell and her taste was still on his tongue. He knew. After searching for a long time and making a lot of mistakes he had brushed it off as a myth, but now he had tasted her and he knew the myth was still alive. After all, he should be the one to believe in myths, because his own existance was one.
He had to find a way to approach the woman. He still didn't even know her name, but his reaction to her was strong after smelling her scent. He just had to find a way for her to smell him too and she would be all over him, because she wouldn't be able to resist the magic call of his scent. He smiled over his plan, because it simply couldn't fail. Nobody was able to resit nature's call.
"Pa, Pa, you have to come. I brought my teacher with me. She is hurt and you have to help her."
Narayan let out a low groan. Great, now he would meet the annoying teacher, who told his son some stupid stuff that he eagerly believed. Ramesh kept talking about her, like she was the new moviestar.
"Hang on, I am coming."
He walked out of the water, took his towel and made his way towards his home. Taking a deep breath he suddenly stopped. His mind was playing tricks on him. He could smell her. Here. But that would mean. She was the teacher.
Ramesh had a firm grip on his hand and kept pulling him towards the woman, who was looking uncomfortable standing beside his home.
"Pa, this is my teacher, you know, I told you about her."
Well, maybe my plan will work out much faster than I thought. "Hi, my name is Narayan, it is a pleasure to meet you."
"Dani, and I am not sure I can say the same for my part."
Narayan looked puzzled because of her cranky answer. "Why don't you sit down and tell me about your probem?"
"Thank you, but I prefer to keep standing."
"As you like. But would you mind if I got a shirt for myself before we talk about what brings you to me?"
"Do what you like. That's what you always do, isn't it?"
"What do you mean with that? Wait a second." He grabbed his shirt and wrenched it angrily over his head. "What exactly is your problem?"
"My problem? What is your prolem? Why do you leave a six year old boy alone in the woods, without someone to look after him? You should know best about the dangers lurking in this woods. Don't you have any sense of responsibility?"
"Wait a second, you come here without knowing me, judging me for whatever you heard about me. What gives you the right to do so?" Now he was really pissed. "You think you are the superior white woman who comes to India to tell the underdeveloped uneducated jungleman what is right and wrong. Sorry to tell you, but you are seventy years too late to do so"
"So you think it alright to leave Ramesh alone here, in the dark, when you are amusing yourself somewhere else?"
