CH - 3

One male student fell ill on the eve of the programme, hence he couldn't take part, so,11 students in all started for the picnic, which included 6 boys and 5 girls.

They left in the morning.Their journey was very enjoyable. They were cracking jokes, having fun, singing, often drinking beverages and eating ice creams by stopping the van at many places on the way.

When they entered the forest area thay enjoyed the loneliness and quietness of the place.

The tall green leafy trees on both sides of the road also made them very happy and excited.

Finally, they reached the spot at about 10.30am.The students found that the place was absolutely calm. There was no sound of any kind from any side. They surveyed that the building is located in the midst of a vast forest with hundred of tall, big trees all over. Even there are enough tall bushes.

They also found that there are quite a large number of wild animals, therefore, it made the forest impenetrable. It is not safe to loiter in the forest, they felt. They found that it is a large forest covering an area of not less than 60 to 70 kms, It , however, was just their guessing.

The girls surveyed the building. They found that the rooms were complete with doors and windows, they were undamaged and strong. So, it was safe for them.

The students had a plan to spend one night there. The girls took the responsibilities of cooking. So, they first prepared coffee, and then started the preparations for cooking.

Only two boys remained with the girls to help them and others went to the back side of the building to collect whatever fruits were available.They collected a good number of ripe guavas and sweet berries. Every body enjoyed the fruits.

Finally, the cooking was over at about 2:30pm. They had a hearty lunch. The girls went to a room and took rest. The boys went to a room and gossiped and had lots of fun.

In the evening at about 4:30pm every body went to the garden and moved all over the garden unafraid, plucked lots of guavas and ate them.

They felt that they had never been so much at leisure in the city life. They remain always busy with some work or engagements there, So, here is, once in a life time chance, for them to be free and unoccupied, so they wanted to make the best use of their free time.

As it was getting dark the girls, particularly , became a bit afraid. Gradually, it became pitch dark. There prevailed an eerie silence all around. They could only hear the sound of the wild animals and they could hear the buzzing sounds of insects and cry of cicadas. The boys, however, told them not to worry about any thing, and tried to comfort them.