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The bus lurched and came to a halt. We were all enjoying ourselves by singing a hymn. We too stopped our rendition. There was a pin drop silence. Ms Kar, the teacher in charge of our field trip to the Gorumara forest asked the conductor what had happened. Instead of replying he got down to check.
We were in the middle of the jungle. It was 7o’clock but the eeriness of the jungle and the weird noises by the insects and birds frightened us. We huddled close because the wind and rain had chilled the atmosphere.
Suddenly, there was a loud burst. The conductor shouted an abuse. Mr Smith, our games teacher got down to inspect the scenario. Someone took out a leftover chocolate bar and passed it on for everyone to share. We were fifteen of us. The sugar in the chocolate calmed our nerves. Mr Smith came to tell the axle had broken and also they had punctured a tyre. He cursed the bus driver for not having a spare tyre. He told us the conductor was not willing to go alone to the village bazaar to get the tyre repaired. He said he was afraid of the wild tuskers who roamed these jungles.
Now we had to wait the night out in the jungle or wait for some other bus to help us. We shouted that we could contact our parents by the mobile phone. Sir told us that their was no signal due to heavy rains and the forests.
Sikha started sobbing. I tried consoling her though I was afraid too.
Mrs Kar said we should sing a medley of songs to keep away the boredom and scary thought away. The bus driver and conductor were trying to repair the axle but to no avail. Once they even asked us to get off the bus some time. We stood together, under umbrellas, praying fervently that the repairs could be done and we reach home safely.
Reena pointed out to the lights of a vehicle coming towards us from the other direction. It was a military truck and it halted next to us. After some consultation we clambered in the back and rode home. Our parents picked us up from school. They were indignant with the bus driver for not checking before starting. Our adventure in the jungle had come to a finish and also ended well.