Encounter

This was a week after my ICSE. At Hollong Bungalow in Jaldapara NP. It was a quiet afternoon, with the afternoon rush of tourists during jeep safari not having arrived yet. Two rhinos appeared unexpectedly, one shortly after another. This was the first.
Now we those who frequent the woods, have seen our fair share of...let's face it..irresponsible tourists. A certain guy got so excited he started prancing around with his camera. An old model, that was, and made a loud whirring sound every time he rolled the film. And each of these times, the rhino would look up, cautious and irritated. Guy didn't seem to notice, and kept moving closer to rhino and away from the stairs in front of bungalow that looks onto the salt lick. The animal soon was on its edge, moving forward with its head high, looking even more intimidating than it usually does. A series of snorting sounds that sounded irritated/a warning, and kicked the dust at its feet. And soon it was at the very edge of the stream looking at the guy with the weird thing in his hand that made sounds(had the beast had a run in with guns before? we wouldn't know) It certainly looked pissed.
By the time I had had enough of politely asking the guy to be more careful, and I kind of strode over to where he was and sharply told him to return for he was disturbing the animal.
Surprisingly, he paid heed(me being a small girl with pigtails and a comically determined face) and returned. And before I returned myself, I took one glance at the majestic beast(and this photo) and he was staring right at me. How do I describe the feel.. Royal? Privileged? Humbled? All of those and more...
A few moments later it seemed to be more at ease and ambled back to licking the salt. And gave me a story to tell and remember.