The Flying Bed- Reviving the Rhino.

The Flying Bed: Episode 2-Reviving the Rhino

The apple of my eye, rather the apples of my eye-my two sons. Spending time with them is the only thing I want to do all the time. Living their imagination, imagining life beyond the immediate boundaries. That’s what we do at bedtime!

All bedtime stories have been exhausted. So, I have started embarking on the adventures of the flying bed, our latest fantasy airship to travel wherever we want to under cover of the night.

So, here we go again on another adventure. The adventure of the flying bed. Captain Columbus (that’s me), Captain Optimus, Captain Maximus (my sons) and Genie (of the lamp) are quite ready for another important mission. No lieutenants except for errand boy Genie! Columbus, Maximus and Optimus have to constantly think on their feet to face the numerous challenges that usually come in the way of the flying bed.

So, boys, let’s head west towards the Thar desert. On the slightest touch of the start button, the flying bed zooms upward. Our ceiling opens on cue and the sky is our playground now. Within minutes, we are over the desert. A rather unfriendly sandstorm greets us. But we are quite prepared for this. Our bed is equipped with all sorts of sensors and we adjust the wind pressure around us and the storm is immediately tamed.

Genie is very happy to be going over the desert. Reminds him of Arabia, of home. So, using his special powers, he rounds up all the camels in the vicinity and a parade of hunchbacks is waiting for us in grand reception. We dock our ship and alight. The camels bend their knees and offer their backs for us to board.

On camelbacks, we explore the interior of the desert. The temperature is quite cool being night time. Captain Columbus is fully energized on this nocturnal mission. The Pole star appears very bright and clear. Optimus and Maximus are very excited too.

Suddenly, we see a group of men pulling something heavy. On closer inspection, they seem to be pulling a dead rhinoceros. Of all the things, a dead rhino in the middle of the desert. What could be going on? Our intimidating approach terrifies them and they run away leaving the rhino in the sand. As expected, the horn of the rhino is missing. So, it’s a case of poaching and smuggling of rhino horn. Poor animal had to die to satisfy man’s greed. We have all sorts of capabilities which we will reveal gradually. So, we bag the rhino and put it on top of two camels and bring it along with us. We adjust the wind pressure and start up a mini sandstorm that chases the running men and they are overpowered in no time and beg for forgiveness and promise never to be involved in such illegal activities again. Seeing the expression of great fear in their eyes, we believe they would never hurt even a fly again and so we let them go.

Seeing only sand all around us was becoming quite monotonous. So, our team decided to start a little bit of afforestation in the emptiness around us. We summon the flying bed which had been resting for some time now and it immediately reaches our side. We activate the botanical compartment and the ready to sprout seeds pour out, these are specially modified to survive in the most disagreeable environment and within seconds, their internally modified genetic structure takes to the desert like a fish to water and we are surrounded by beautiful greenery all around. The barren desert is changed to a beautiful desert within minutes and our team members are grinning from ear to ear with happiness.

Optimus and Maximus want to continue with the mission but Captain Columbus is tired after a long day and there is also the inescapable routine of starting the next day at 5 a.m. So, we turn back on our way home.

Leaving the camels behind, we fly back home in our flying bed which is now on invisible mode in view of the approaching daylight. The heretofore immobile rhino is revived with a special mix of oxygen and Genie’s special elixir and we drop him off at Kaziranga.  The boys’ eyes are quite droopy now and I know from daily experience that that they are ready for sleep and so I fold up my tale of the night and release a huge yawn and we all fall softly into the arms of deep slumber. Have to think up another mission tomorrow night again.

Sleep tight, my boys!

 

 

--Memchoubi Phanjoubam. 

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