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There is always an assumption, if we ever intend to memoir a certain detail of our journey it has to be some place nice. Sometimes search for unexpected appears in most expected turns. My tale of travel is not of any faraway land but of my very own backyard. An offbeat lookout, a quick getaway and a long road drive were the choices of my friends who also decided for me to be part of the plan. I stuck my stuff in the back and took my seat at the window of a suv. It was never about the company or the plan that I was unhappy about, I was at an emotional place in my life. A two and half a day journey started on a Friday afternoon, like in any busy city this Indian southern metropolitan city of Bangalore was no less chaotic. Idea was to drive all the way down south of Bangalore to a national park which spreads all along three major southern states of India, camp for a day and half and to return. But little did I know that it will turn into an experience of lifetime. Sometimes in the name of development the fun of travelling into unknown loses its charm, at least that’s how I felt that day. Drive from Bangalore to Mysore seemed like an extension of daily city hustle and less of country side, until we entered second stretch of journey. Amber sky descending over a green canopy on either side of concrete road, it was like pathway to another world and the board read –“Bandipur tiger reserve”. Slowly the windows started rolling down noises in and out disappeared. As per the forest rules, vehicles can only be stopped at the designated points, at this stretch it was two bends away. Not even in my weirdest dreams would have imagined witnessing a pit stop this scenic. A small make shift café standing over a pile on the side of a water fall. With a beginning like this, I was no more that person who was stuck to her side of window in the car. After dark, roads are not safe since the wild wander. On being escorted we are asked to keep the lights dim, windows closed and to follow the escort vehicle with minimum speed and noise. Minutes later the escort vehicle pulled over abruptly in no stopping zone and my friend on the other end who on an eager watch out turns towards us with eyes wide open. To our shock a wild tusker was right next to us, though he was not of any harm and just meant to cross the road, we held our breath till he made his way to other side. Over breakfast we meet a ranger also a photographer who is licenced to enter core areas, takes us with him to temporary quarters in the core jungle, where most of the wild life photographer and biologists stayed. Instructions for the exploration were simple, free hands and hiking shoes. I never knew what a four wheel drive was until our jeep went from road into trees. “I think routes were cleared by elephants recently”- Ranger. I couldn’t have agreed more since yesterday’s incident. After a long hilly ride we stop close to a clearing deep in the jungle, he insists on taking a walk till we spot a small wooden chalet with hay top and surrounded by bamboo fence. Suddenly ranger pulls me into the fence and closes the gate,” look - he says!!”Not far is raising dust cloud and in no time I see herd of wild bison running towards us. I don’t know whether I’m scared or ecstatic at the sight. Ranger takes the lead and a few steps away is me following him and little further from me are my two friends, for a short stretch all by myself crossing a small stream ,silence around the area is so deep that one can hear their heart beats. Breaking of twig sounds like thunder, I promptly stay in my course little scared to look elsewhere and suddenly hear a loud thud and I run for my life.