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By the author of International best selling books, Dara by suresh kundal and Dara 2 - story behind scars. You are listening to the extract from Dara 3 - Inseparable even in death. Zunheboto - a remote village in the North-eastern state of India, was as located on top of the rolling hills of Nagaland. A paradise, where the air remains saturated in vegetal aroma, a heaven that is soaked in a green expanse, a place where mornings and evenings remain misty, the abode of God where the wooden houses are built in such a way that they look almost suspended on the hills. The platform of these wooden houses is constructed on wooden logs laden with a high risk. Nagaland is enriched with flora and fauna, and their settlements are often encroached by wild animals. Especially the banana trees and young bamboo, are the favorite feast of elephants, whose visit them too often. The tribal were an integral part of the nature, and happily accept whatever situation the nature offers them. They hold nature as supreme. Floating clouds around their dwellings is a common sight. This floating cotton would cross through their windows onto the other side. Squirrels and insects would often drop into their bamboo houses to find some cozy corner during winters. To fetch the water is a challenging task for the ladies, as the stream flows too deep into the valley. Bamboo and cane crafts adopts a major part of their colorful tradition. Everything is in a complete synchronism complying to the nature. Blessed with exceptionally attractive flowering shrubs called Zunhebo, the Naga tribe has baptized their village as ‘God’s own land’. This is how it got its name as Zunheboto. This rare shrub blooms rich and bright flowers, containing sweet juice for the hummingbirds, butterflies and bees to sip-up delicious energy-rich nectar. It was Thursday, the time for tribal to commute uphill and reach Sumi Baptist church to attend Friday mass the next morning. This massive church (founded in 1942) is located at an elevation of 6500 feet on a steep hilltop, overlooking undulating mountains and tribal villages below. Almost over 10,000 attendees scaled this serpentine pathway every Thursday. An interesting tale of an Ape was exceedingly popular here. It was believed that this Ape was a wandering grandpa and despite aging, he had stayed alive in wait for his grandson - Mark. Many tribal had seen this Ape, sometimes walking along the muddy trail and at other times howling in the deep jungles. He used to run away into jungle at the sight of humans. But he was friendly to children and had even interacted with a few on their way to weekly church. It was already dark and cold. Tribal had started commuting uphill in small groups. Everyone carried a bundle of special inflammable sticks, to keep the wild animals away. The floating clouds was turning the visibility even worse. Two boys deliberately slowed down and deliberately separated from the group. They took a halt on the way and put out their burning sticks. The thin and lean boy took out a packet of cookies from his pocket and said, “My mom is not aware of it”. The other boy was excited. Having a few cookies each, they started walking again. “Come on give me your matchbox”, said the former one. “I don’t have”, replied the latter. “O my god, neither do I. Now how will we put the sticks on fire?”, said the lean boy. Chatting on various topics, they almost came halfway. It was dark by now. At an altitude of 4000feet, the force of the wind was unusually strong. The pathway was not visible. They had to use their rough judgement. They were continuously scaling the height, though at a slow pace. A single wrong step could end up their existence forever. Intoxication had made it worse. Fireflies that were stuck to the grass along the borders of the trail, was guiding them to move forward. The boys were careless of the outcome. Rather waiting for some group to arrive, they decided to carry on. Passion of adolescence made them fearless. “Hey, do you see that fire behind?”, said one of them. The other boy raised the bottle, and having a quick sip he replied, “Maybe we should slow down and let that person arrive”. It was pitch dark, and they could not even see one another. Noise of the nocturnal insects and the scorching cold wind sent trembles up their spine. The colony of fireflies was left behind. Due to tiredness, they began losing their balance. Catching each other’s hands, they settled down on the trail itself and began waiting for the person to arrive. Having nothing else to do, one of them opened a dialogue and said,” My father says that the skull of an Ape is comparatively smaller and oblong in shape”. “You are right. That is what I heard too”, said the other. Adding to the discussion he said, “When my father saw the Ape, he said that it had a broad nose and large nostrils. Its jaws are more robust than ours, and its face is protruded onto the front”. Several conversations were over. It was now becoming difficult to pass the time. Suddenly, they heard some sniffing and growls nearby. Most probably some nocturnal animal was too close to them. The other boy was terrified. He started looking down for that approaching fire. The first boy was fearless. He continued to tell him what his father had talked about the Ape. “When he stands or walks, his posture is archaic. He has a lot of wrinkles on his face, and he is covered by hair all over his body. His eyes are sunken and deep”, said Seto. “Aaaahh!!!”, Nesao was shaken and shouted his lungs out. Sharp object had pierced into his shoe and had grabbed his foot. Seto sprang from his place, picked up a boulder and banged it at his foot. “Ouch! you have punctured my toe, you fool”, shouted Nesao. “Help me, Seto. Something is pulling me into the valley”. “Hold me Nesao! Hold me tight”, said Seto. Seto could now see the shinning eyes of the animal reflecting to the moonlight. It was some wild animal. He was horrified. He quickly picked up few sticks and poked them into those staring eyes. This time he got it right and with a loud growl, “Grrrrr”, the animal moved furtively back into the valley. Nesao was writhing in agonizing pain. “My leg is shivering. I can feel that my toe is swollen and its bleeding”, said Nesao. “Is it paining very badly?”, asked Seto “Oh! I cannot bear it”, replied Nesao angrily. Widening his cornea in darkness, Seto tried to examine the condition of his swollen toe. The animal had ripped off his shoe and punctured his nails. “Get off me, you fool”, yelled Nesao. Suddenly, the fire illuminated the area, and when they looked up, it became dark again. The sticks had burnt out and were finished. A short statured man stood there, looking at them. It was difficult to see each other in such a darkness. Nesao’s was in a state of discomfort. He tried to get up but fell. Without saying a word, the man kept looking at them. Undulating hills, bearing lush green grass, honest-to-goodness, beyond surpass. Majestic lofty mountains, Flourishing in wilderness. Vibrant butterflies, and fat buzzing bees. Whizzing black beetles, flying with ease. Pink-Blue Dragonflies, soothing organs of sight. Somersaulting insects, and charming Ladybugs. Hopping grasshoppers, and gummy Spittlebugs. Stick-insects hovering, low on the ground. Populating the grass, that looked so profound. The day broke ‘n dew drops glittered, On these rolling hills of Zunheboto. Dara - a contemporary fiction, is a heartwarming soldier story which was published in London. Novels have varried Camaraderie, Faith, Love and Hope to the libraries of 14 educational institutes in India. A copy of it is kept in the libraries of Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburg, Aberystwyth, Dublin and Yuma library – Arizona, USA. Dara book is spreading its wings globally. Book titles Dara by suresh kundal and Dara 2 - story behind scars are available on amazon India, amazon UK and amazon.com Read it & Live it!