Tiger Boy: Chapters 1–3

“Race you!” called Ajay.
Neel swam behind his lanky friend, feeling as sleek and fast as a river dolphin, even though he was sure to lose.

How good it felt to drop his heavy satchel, unbutton the starched white shirt, tear off those stiff school shorts, and jump into the refreshing water!

How good it felt to drop his heavy satchel, unbutton the starched white shirt, tear off those stiff school shorts, and jump into the refreshing water!

Neel didn’t mind—he loved the tang of salt on his tongue and the squish of mud between his toes.

Home for him was the hiss of his father’s boat as it slipped through the deltas, golpata branches swaying in the monsoon rains, and the evening smell of jasmine flowers near his house mingling with green chilies and fresh ilish fish simmering in mustard-seed oil.

Home for him was the hiss of his father’s boat as it slipped through the deltas, golpata branches swaying in the monsoon rains, and the evening smell of jasmine flowers near his house mingling with green chilies and fresh ilish fish simmering in mustard-seed oil.

Neel had climbed all the tall palm trees, waded in the creeks, and foraged for wild guavas in every corner of the mangrove forest.

Ajay was already stretched out on the muddy bank at the far side of the pond, pretending to be asleep. He lifted his head and smirked at Neel.

Ajay had always been fast and agile in ponds and on the cricket field, but that didn’t seem to matter much in their village.

Ajay’s father taught Class Two, despairing that his own son was one of the slowest to learn inside a classroom.

Neel sighed—fishing all day sounded like bliss compared to wearing a hot, scratchy uniform and struggling with math problems.

“I think he is,” Neel said. “There’s not enough fish left anywhere else, that’s for sure. Not since the cyclone hit. When Baba takes his boat into the reserve, he comes back with plenty. And honey, too.”

Villagers like Baba ventured behind the nylon-mesh fence into the reserve at their own risk.

After the cyclone hit, many of the men and older boys, and even some of the girls, had left to find work in faraway cities. Viju’s father had come back, but others had never returned. Sometimes their families didn’t hear from them again and were forced to sell parcels of land to Gupta.

He pushed away the thought of the math assignments in his satchel, floated on his back, and watched wispy white clouds chase each other across the wide blue sky.

Suddenly a familiar shout came from the golpata trees. Lickety-split, a boy hurtled to the pond, stripped to his underwear, and leaped into the water. It was Viju!

Immediately Neel and Ajay pounced and pushed him under. After a minute or two, Viju pulled away from the scuffle. “Let’s dry off. I’ve got some big news.”

Neel felt a twinge of jealousy. “I bet you saw a tiger!”

“OK,” Neel said reluctantly. “But if I find the cub first, I’m taking it straight to the rangers.”

Neel’s stomach was churning. Gupta's taken over our island, and now he wants our tigers, too? Someone has to stop him! If only Neel could tell Baba about this...but Viju seemed so desperate.

Neel’s stomach was churning. Gupta's taken over our island, and now he wants our tigers, too? Someone has to stop him! If only Neel could tell Baba about this...but Viju seemed so desperate.

And Headmaster would probably heap the blame for any of Ajay’s misdeeds on Ajay’s father’s head.

Headmaster gave Neel a shake. “Playing? Wait until your father hears about this. I was on my way to tell him about your disgusting lack of effort, and this escapade of yours will prove my case. I assume he’s at home?”
“N—no, sir,” stammered Neel.

Headmaster gave Neel a shake. “Playing? Wait until your father hears about this. I was on my way to tell him about your disgusting lack of effort, and this escapade of yours will prove my case. I assume he’s at home?”
“N—no, sir,” stammered Neel.

The head ranger shook his head vehemently. “It will never happen again, sir. But we have to get back and make sure there aren’t more tears in the fence. It’s been a pleasure to see you. I’ll never forget all you did—”

Neel had seen the delight and pride on his parents’ faces when he’d read them the letter:
I have selected your son to compete against students from all the other schools in the region for the prestigious Sunderbans Scholarship.

Our school has not had a winner of this competition in recent years, but your son, Neel, is the brightest student I have seen in my tenure here.

Neel’s voice had dwindled almost to a mumble as he’d read the letter aloud. He had no desire to study in the big city of Kolkata.

He could never leave Ma and her delicious cooking; his sister, Rupa, who coddled and teased him; and Baba, who protected and provided for all of them.

The raised dirt path that wound around the island was bolstered by bags of sand to prevent any more of the shore from disappearing into the water.

Dinghies, fishing boats, and other nauka passed in the water, and shrimp fishermen trawled blue nets along the shore.

Dinghies, fishing boats, and other nauka passed in the water, and shrimp fishermen trawled blue nets along the shore.

Theirs was the only property for kilometers where a grove of tall sundari trees provided shade for the house and most of the yard. The trees were aptly named after beauty—their wood wasn’t just supple and strong, it was a lovely, glowing red.

Theirs was the only property for kilometers where a grove of tall sundari trees provided shade for the house and most of the yard. The trees were aptly named after beauty—their wood wasn’t just supple and strong, it was a lovely, glowing red.

Baba had planted the grove when Neel was a baby, and he guarded the family trees fiercely from woodcutters. As if in thanks, the sturdy trees had protected their house and fields from the brunt of the cyclone.