First Light
Riddhi · Ranthambhore · 10 April 2026 · 6:29 to 6:34 am
The gates had been open for barely half an hour when Riddhi came out of the trees in Zone 3. The first frame of her is at 6:29, walking under a line of jeeps with every lens in them pointed down at her. She did not look up once.
She turned and came towards us instead. For the next five minutes she walked the track as if we were not on it — through the dry grass, past the bonnet, close enough that the last frame before she went by is only her face. Then she was on the road behind us with her tail up, and the morning went quiet again.
6:29 am — Riddhi walks beneath the waiting jeeps
6:30 am — the first sight of her coming our way, still out of focus through the branches
6:31 am — on the track, heading straight for us
6:31 am — a few steps closer
6:32 am — passing through the dry grass beside the jeep
6:32 am — between the trunks
6:32 am — the last frame before she went past
6:34 am — on the long track behind us
6:34 am — tail raised, walking on
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