Rhehan stood motionless, looking at Rose who gaped in horror. She had heard the growl too! Suddenly the thunderous growl came again and they both panicked.
Not far away from Rhehan, stood a giant lion, walking slowly towards the car.
Rose shreiked in panic. "Rhehan quick come inside. It"s a lion!!! Unlock the doors!!! Let me come out!!!"
Rhehan turned to look at the lion, who was now speedily coming towards him. He wanted to run inside the car, but something stopped him and he started moving towards the lion.
"Rhehan!!! d.a.m.n it!!! Come back!!! Unlock the car!!!! Rose banged the window furiously but the gla.s.s was just too solid.
Rhehan walked slowly towards the lion, his mind completely blank. The lion halted abruptly close to Rhehan and looked in his eyes. He growled again direct on his face, bringing back Rhehan from the trance.
Why did I come towards him? Am I fool? The giant beast was standing just next to him, looking ferociously at him.
Rhehan took a step backwards, while lion took a step towards him, constantly looking in his eyes. Rhehan closed his eyes in fear and walked backwards.
Suddenly, a flash of little himself playing with the same lion occured in his mind, as if it was an old memory!
He opened his eyes in surprise and saw the lion lying down on the floor, on his back. His arms and legs hung loosely in the air, as if it was a little kid.
"Huh? You want a belly rub?" Rhehan gaped at the lion in horror amd amazement.
Why does this feel like a deja vu? Have I done this before?
Rhehan kneeled down and chuckled looking at the mouth of the lion. It"s tongue was hanging out loosely, while it was wagging its tail.
Rose gaped at the man in surprise! He can tame a lion too?
Rhehan rubbed the lion"s belly lovingly, while the lion closed its eyes in satisfaction. "Have we met before?" Rhehan mumbled the words, more to himself. But the lion roared again and wagged its tail again.
"I guess its a yes!" Rhehan pondered looking in the lion"s eyes. His eyes! Why do they look so familier. Shouldn"t I be running away from him? Here I am rubbing his belly!
"Rhehaaaaan are you ok?" Suddenly Rose came rus.h.i.+ng towards Rhehan in panic. She had finally managed to break open the car door.
"Why did you come out? Did not I tell you to sit inside."
The lion looked at Rose and stood up alert, looking in her eyes.
"She is my girlfriend! You like her?" Rhehan had no idea what he was doing! But he was scared that the lion might hurt her. But the lion wagged it"s tail again in excitement, and growled again in Rose"s face, directly.
"Oh!! My G.o.d! He likes me! I have been trained by my master to control the animals but never in my life have I seen a lion this big and friendly! Even the trained ones are not this friendly! Have you met him before?"
"I don"t know. But I feel I have." Rhehan shrugged his shoulders. Rhehan patted the Lion"s face and the warmth he recieved, felt familier too. "How do I know you?"
The lion roared again and Rhehan smiled. "Wish I could understand your language."
Suddenly Rose shreiked as a small chimpanzee landed on Rhehan"s shoulders, taking them by surprise. Rhehan turned up his head in surprise and the chimpanzee kissed him on his cheeks again and again.
Rose could not help but giggle at the scene. Rhehan was stunned at being kissed fondly by a chimpanzee! "What"s happening here? "Do you also know me?"
Rhehan looked up and the chimpanzee gave a wide smile, kissing him again.
"This means a yes again! How do you know me?" Rhehan t.i.tled his head in confusion.
Chimpanzee got off from his shoulder and jumped on the road, standing close to Rose. He looked intently at Rose and sniffed her in confusion. "She is my girlfriend. I will marry her soon."
Rose looked at Rhehan in surprise! Marry her??!! Wow!!! Marraige??! Is he going to propose me?? Just when she was looking at Rhehan, the chimpanzee ran off hurriedly. The two looked at the animal in confusion. What scared him off?!!
Rhehan then turned to look at the Lion.
"Why do I not want to leave you?" Rhehan was overwhelmed for a certain reason. Rose looked at Rhehan in surprise! Is he crying?
The lion, lowered its head and Rhehan patted his head again. The lion looked at Rose and then suddenly clutched her arm in between its teeth. Rhehan gaped in horror but then suddenly realised that it had kept her hand on its head, signalling her to pat!
"Ohh! He wants me to pat its head too!"
Suddenly, the chimpanzee came back running towards them. He came close to them and handed over certain things to Rhehan. A large bunch of bananas, red grapes, few flowers, blue berries, green grapes and few more things were now being held by Rhehan.
"This is for me?" Rhehan"s eyes twinkled looking at the precious gifts. The chimpanzee gave a shy smile and kissed his cheeks again. Rhehan noticed a large metallic bracelet amongst the fruits. He picked it up and asked, " What is this?"
The chimpanzee took the giant bracelet and inserted it carefully in Rhehan"s arms, keeping his hands on it lovingly.
"Thank you! I love it!"
He hugged the chimpanzee and then the lion, standing there for a very long time!
After another few minutes, the two sat back in the car with a heavy heart and drove off!
Rhehan was silent for a very long time. He knew his love for animals had always been a little extra, but this was something very different. As if, meeting an old family. He looked again at the bracelet and smiled!
The long drive, which he wanted to be a romantic one, turned out to be full of quietness. Both the people were still wondering about the recent events!