Chapter 20

Beyond the north, further down through the jungle trees where you'll meet the green edge, a barrier of tall, strong trees in lines, for one side is the great, entire jungle with all the creatures living as normal day by day, on the other is only Town of Khanhiwara. Passing the tree barriers laid a pound circling around the town neatly, and all the grass around grow wide and long as branches grew on trees. The first sound you will hear was the busy voices echoing out of the town, the walls of the building were rusty but clean white as the clouds in the sky, few of their roof tops were rounded and most of them were flat. There a few jungle trees standing next to the buildings. The town was filled with busy people, all were selling a lot of things; colour fabrics, pots and bows in all shape and sizes, jewellery in order of colour and sizes. One part of the market was selling lots of different food in huge bowls on the floor for people to see and buy; rice, fruits, small jewellery boxes. There was huge well in the centre when two streets meet, a few people were pouring in some fresh water into their jugs.

The food market had the most customers looking and buying the food, and one of them is a young lady in a light purple dress, Meshua as she picks up a few of different fruits. After buying the fruits, Meshua walks back through the crowded streets as she hears the shoppers yelling for their sales. At the end of the crowd, Meshua enters a small house by the end of the town where the family are staying for a while, there sitting by the window of the house was little Shanti was her small, white bows attached above to her two spilt ponytails. Reading a book of the English dictionary, but Shanti's face looked blue as she misses Mowgli. Outside was Sanjay was outside talking to the landlord of the house, as Meshua entered the house and walked over Shanti to see how she's doing. Kissing on Shanti's forehead made the young girl grew a small smile.

Upstairs, quiet and peaceful by the side of the window, Kitty was sitting by the window in her dark blue vest with pale green shorts down to her knees. Gazing at the edge of the jungle, watching the branches swift quickly from side to side by the wind, like her brown hair laying on her shoulders as she feels the wind blowing softly through her hair. Kitty keeps remembering the night when she left, and Mowgli stayed in the jungle, sometimes she imagens if he followed her. Then, Kitty remembers when she first met Mowgli and the feeling; scared and confused at first, then realising he was the same. Understanding where Mowgli came from and who he was, Kitty found a new point in her life that she'll never forget. Helping him to read and learn of man, while she was understanding how he lived in the jungle, missing the adventures already, but mainly she's missing him.

Meshua walks up the stairs checking on Kitty, but she knew exactly what Kitty was doing, Meshua watch silently and walk over to the other side of the window. Meshua ask, "I got some fruit, if you're hungry?"

"No, thank you" Kitty held up a weak smile.

Meshua reached over and rob her hand on Kitty's hand, Meshua looks at Kitty and said, "Kitty, I know losing someone close is difficult in life, I know from losing Sahana those days ago. But, Mowgli is a clear, brave boy. We'll miss him, but the jungle is his home and that he wants to stay. Respecting people's decisions can be hard sometimes, but it is the kindness job for the soul."

Kitty's eyes meet Meshua's eyes, her smile shows her understanding but behind was still a sorrow look in her eyes. Kitty knew how much she misses Mowgli, but only makes her feel worse as she thought to making him decide to leave for her than with his family. Meshua walks over and kissed on the side of Kitty's forehead, then gently rub on the back of her hair.

Meanwhile, traveling passing the north side of the jungle as Mowgli followed Rikki-Tikki-Tavi's directions for a small town they could stay by, and maybe could see Kitty and the others. Tireless from walking on both ground and on the high branches, his feet were all cover in soil and dirt from the Earth, and soil and small parts of leaves flew into his messy hair. Suddenly, Mowgli caught a loud rumble in his stomach.

"Sorry, old rumble, there's isn't much a chital around here" Rikki said.

"No, but there are mangos" Mowgli suggested as he spotted them above.

He started climbing up the closest tree to the fruits, and swing on a vein to get even closer. Until he reached to the top and began picking off one but suddenly a few came off and fall on them and to the ground. After catching one, Mowgli caught a glimpse of bright from below, kneeing down on a branch he could see a huge green field reflecting the sun's light. Then he saw something else, man buildings, and a few men themselves walking in and out.

"Rikki, what's that?" Mowgli asked.

Rikki took a good stare at it and quickly answered, "The Town of Khanhiwara. To me, it's the town that never sleeps."

"Why?"

"Because day and night, man comes out to sell this and sell that. It's like they want you to get everything by the end of the day."

Quiet and still back at the house, Meshua walks over to the other rooms, as Kitty moved her sight back gazing at the edge of the jungle. The sun's light was blinding parts of Kitty's vison and the heat was tiring her head as her eyelids were starting fall. Suddenly, she spotted a quick movement in the trees on the edge of the jungle, lifting her head to get a clear sight from a distance. Firstly, thought to be a monkey but she swears she saw the colour of red along with it, after Kitty couldn't think of any red colour creature like that.

Kitty rush down the stairs while Shanti continued reading her book, before Kitty reached to the door Shanti turned around and asked, "Hey, Kitty? Why does heart need an 'e' in it? Because, art rhymes with it why doesn't it have an 'e' in it?"

Kitty rolled her eyes up to thinking for a simple answer, but her answer was straight honest from the top of her head, "I don't Shanti. They make up for God knows reason."

Kitty walked out of the house and Shanti ignored leaving Kitty to wherever she's rushing too, as Kitty walks out with her camera for an excuse for why she's out and she might get a better view. Around at the back of the house Kitty scans the first few trees from the edge she could see from her distance, but nothing came to her sight, even with her camera. Kitty decides to go back feeling it's nothing and would be a waste of her time, until she heard something dropping at the edge. Now her curiosity increases Kitty wondered to the edge and carefully looked around in case of any creature could attack. Down on the ground were a few mangos dropped from the high trees.

Mowgli pulled off a strong vein to swing it over a branch over, so he pulled down so mangos for him to get. After, he sat down on the branch with his legs hanging off while eating his big, yellow mango, he stares at the town and all he could think was how much he could mangers this and thinking about if Kitty was there right now.

Lost in his view, a familiar, gentle voice suddenly appeared, "Mowgli?"

Mowgli looked around side to side, he looked down and saw the owner of that same gentle voice, "Kitty?"

Nonetheless, Mowgli lost his balance on the branch and slipped off, he quickly took a grip on a vein, but he was still falling but luckily more veins caught him in a tangle.

"You alright?!" Kitty worriedly rush over.

Rikki however, was still hanging on the top as he watched the whole fall and whispered to himself with a laugh, "Oh he's vein alright."

Mowgli used his blade to slice through the veins, he mangers to get out and landed on the ground with two legs bend down along with his left hand and his right arm out to balance himself while holding his bade. He looks up slowly at Kitty as she looks down on him, this was like when they first meet, then Mowgli slowly rises as he kept his eyes looking at Kitty's eyes.

Kitty had her hands together like a prayer touching the tip of her noise, she couldn't believe that he's here, in front of her. "You're here. I can't believe you're here. Wait, why are you here?" Kitty walked over to Mowgli with a puzzled look, "I thought you wanted to stay in the jungle."

Mowgli looked down in silent because he thought to himself about that before, knowing it was hard to do but it was the right decision. Mowgli look back at Kitty and gave a small, simple answer, "If I did, I'll be the only one."

Kitty didn't quit understood his answer at first but quickly gets it when he said the "only one." Because if Mowgli did stay in the jungle for his entire life, he will be the only man living there, no like him, he'll be alone. Kitty could image being lonely from remembering how much her father always leaves as child being on her own. Kitty wrapped her arms around Mowgli till the tip of her fingers touch behind his back, thinking back of how she missed him. Mowgli was unprepared, but he slowly hugged her back as he was thinking the same of how he missed her too.

"Come on. Let's see Shanti and the rother" Kitty suggested, and Mowgli nodded as his response.

They both walked together side by side out through the edge of the jungle towards the Town of Khanhiwara. Mowgli could see Kitty had her sweet smile for she was so blissed and delighted to see him once again, then he tried to cover his blushing checks. Mowgli forgotten about Rikki as the mongoose was still hanging up on the tree, but Rikki easily climbed down passing the branches on the rough side of the tree, Rikki finally mange to reach back down and raced to catch up with Mowgli and Kitty.

Shanti walked outside of the house as her curiosity makes her wonder where Kitty rush up to, she walked around the house scanning around the edge of the town but couldn't see Kitty anywhere. She turned around facing the edge of the jungle and spotted Kitty walking back from there, but Shanti somehow spotted someone else with her. Confused and unsure whether her mind is playing tricks on her, Shanti could see Mowgli walking back.

"Ma! Papa! He's back!" Shanti yelled out loud before rushing fast towards Mowgli, she finally got up to him and gave Mowgli a huge and tight hug.

Meanwhile, Rikki was jumping about down on Mowgli's dirty toe covered with soil, then Mowgli gets the idea, he said to Shanti "Hey, I got someone who was missing you."

Shanti lets go and Mowgli pointed down to Rikki who was jumping with excitement, Shanti quickly kneed down, picked up Rikki and hugged him gently. Rikki laid his head on Shanti's shoulder and grew a small smile.

Sanjay and Meshua rushed to the edge of town to see what Shanti was yelling about, when they reached there they froze like statues with shock look on their faces. Meshua began walking up to them as her eyes gazed upon Mowgli, when she reached up close to them Meshua stopped and kneed down while staring face to face with Mowgli. Placing her hand upon the side of Mowgli's face as she believes this is all a dream at first, but in a second Meshua hugged Mowgli and closed her eyes knowing this warm feeling feels real. Meshua could just imagen this for her first-born child, Nathoo would have come back from the jungle and into her arms. Mowgli hugged back reflecting the feeling of what he would do to Sahana.

After, Meshua joined in with Shanti and Kitty as they were petting Rikki as a happy welcome, while Sanjay walked up from behind Meshua and looked down upon Mowgli. Mowgli stare up at Sanjay, but he didn't have a happy smile when he whispered, "I'm sorry."

Sanjay transformed a confused look on his face as he kneed down infront of Mowgli, after asking Mowgli why he was apologising, Mowgli answered, "Because I ran."

Remembering back days ago when Sahana was killed by Buldeo then Kitty was taken hostage, Mowgli ran trying to save Kitty but couldn't keep it. Now, Mowgli feels guilty for running away like he was running from all his problems he had in his life, he first remembered the death for Akela. Sanjay had compassion gaze for Mowgli as he hugged him, Sanjay felt the same way as Meshua did before like their first-born child reuniting as he whispers, "It's okay, it's fine. You're here now." A much closer feeling grew for Mowgli with Sanjay as he was like a human-father to Mowgli, someone who guided him through the life of the Man-Village.

After Mowgli's reunion with the family, Mowgli rested in the house and told Shanti along with Kitty to listen to his last adventure in the jungle. He started off with the train fallen off the bridge by the earthquake, defeating Buldeo where the lost treasure was hidden, the final fall of the Ancient Ruins, and his goodbyes to the wolf pack and his close friends. Sanjay bought a white jacket, greyish-green troubles and some comfortable shoes for Mowgli to wear when he goes out to the village with them. Meshua was checking a map in a transport centre station on the side of town, scanning different coloured lines travelled around the centre of India. Shanti was with Meshua sitting by a small table, but she was mainly focus on her book with an odd look on her face.

When Meshua came along sitting Shanti started commenting, "I don't understand. The word 'cow,' shouldn't it have an 'a' in it, instead of o?"

"That's the way it is, Shanti" Meshua smiley answered.

"But, the first part of Mowgli's name rhymes with cow, so shouldn't it be pronounced 'Mowgli'" Shanti said his name with the first part rhymes with the word 'cow.'

Meshua spotted Sanjay on the side of the station so she quickly got off and walks off to see him, Shanti slowly stood up and followed her mother. Unaware of one of her white bows had been untied and fell off from the top of her ponytail, until a shout called her back. Shanti turned around and spotted her white bow was hold by a British white man who was seating behind where Shanti was sitting. The stranger was in a very smart, brown suit, neat black troublers, he had flat, light brown hair covered over the top to the back of his head, and a moustache from the bottom sides of his mouth to the top sides of his nose.

"I believe this is yours" the kind stranger said. Shanti thanks the stranger and tighten her bow back at the top of one of her ponytails. Before Shanti walks off the stranger continued, "Forgive me, but my ears picked up of name you recalled, 'Mowgli'? Where was it original from?" The stranger pronounced the name from how he heard it from Shanti.

"Oh, well, it's actually pronounce Mowgli from how he said it himself" Shanti explained, "And it's not really regional-able, he's from jungle." The stranger had a surprising look on his face, as Shanti continued, "He was raised by wolves, befriends with a bear and a panther. Kidnapped by monkeys, fight a tiger."

"Why he is here than in the jungle?" the stranger asked.

Shanti didn't want to say something personal, so she give a clear answered, "Oh, he's not leaving he's just wants to explore more."

"What an interesting story" the stranger commented.

"He is an interesting boy, who had an interesting life" Shanti added. The front of the station was getting crowded and it was getting harder for Shanti to see her parents, "I need to go. Goodbye."

The stranger smiled nodded his head as a goodbye to Shanti before she walks off to her parents. Nearing by the other side of the station, Mowgli and Kitty arrived after Kitty was showing Mowgli around town and some new man tricks Mowgli has never seen back at the village, while Mowgli was talking to her about his last day in the jungle saying goodbye to his friends and family. They spotted Shanti and her parents but the crowd at the front of the station were splitting Mowgli and Kitty a step apart however they were heading towards the same direction. "This way, Mowgli!" Kitty yelled to warn Mowgli of her present and the direction they were walking to.

"Excuse me! Young lad!" Mowgli stopped as the same stranger called out to him, the stranger smiled and raised an eyebrow as he asked, "Might I ask, how did you get your hair so messy?"

Mowgli was quiet at first for he didn't know the stranger and Mowgli was unprepared for a random question, but Mowgli simply answered, "Running."

"Where?" the stranger asked, and Mowgli pointed through a window to the edge of the jungle. Then the stranger leaned a bit forward as he was balancing out his curiosity on his questions for the boy. "Tell me. Could you see it as a book?"

"Book of the jungle?" Mowgli asked with his eyebrows low.

"Yes. If you like to put it."

"If" Mowgli rolled his shoulders, he didn't quit have the idea of what the stranger was suggesting but he kindly respected the thought of it.

Mowgli decided to meet the others, so he doesn't lose them out of sight in the crowd, he smiled at the stranger as a goodbye before turning around. The stranger seen no threat to Mowgli, but he had a small look of confusion on his face about that stranger. The stranger kept his eyes on Mowgli as much as his interest for the jungle boy.

"Mr Kipling?" An Indian man in a light blue dress with a white turban wrapped around his head, he shouted out the name again from wooden clipboard, "Mr Kipling?!"

"That's me" the stranger response as he raised his hand and walked over to the Indian man telling the stranger that his cab is ready. The stranger made a one look back at the jungle boy before walking with the Indian man outside to his cab.

Mowgli walk up from behind and joined in with the family when Meshua asked Mowgli to come with her, so they can speak alone. Mowgli felt clouded but calm as Meshua leads him outside around the corner on the side of the station. Meshua took a breathe before wanting to start talking, "Mowgli, Sanjay and I have been talking about moving. I could rent a place here, but we can't buy. We were thinking of moving close to a city called Mumbai, it's a safe place, for you and Shanti. No one will hurt you."

Mowgli understood Meshua's clear words by nodding, but then his face looked blue, "What about Kitty?"

Meshua took another breathe before she answered, "Kitty will need to go back to her home. Sanjay and I were discussing of going there, but we didn't know if you want to go. If you feel uncomfortable if you stayed too far from the jungle. We completely understand Mowgli."

Mowgli was entirely silent as much as his whole body was entirely still, he didn't what to say he only thought back of the jungle his true home. However, he tried to look forward and thought of what other things about the life of man he could learn more. He looked down to think then looked back at Meshua and replied slowly word by word, "City, then back to the jungle."

"Yes, of course. Anytime, anywhere" Meshua laid one hand on top of her shoulders and one on the side of his check, "Mowgli, when you feel happy I'll be happy. But, I more proud of someone like you taking a huge, new in your life." Mowgli glared at her caring smile just the way Raksha and Sahana smiled at him, they were all like mothers to him in both lives of the jungle and of man.

Evening came with the brightest colour of orange mixed with blue adding with white and pink clouds below, Mowgli and the family went back to house having a small meal of a chicken curry aside with white rice. After, Meshua and Sanjay explained to the children of their plans for leaving tomorrow to Mumbai, soon travelled to England.

Soon once they finished their dinner, they went upstairs to their bedroom for some sleep; Meshua and Sanjay had their own bedrooms, Shanti and Kitty shared a room as they needed a spare hammock for Mowgli to sleep on. However, all were fast asleep except Mowgli was wide awake, laying on the side of the window as he gazed at the edge of the jungle. He could still feel where the wide blew through the tree branches and hear the echoing sounds of the animals in the jungle. This reminded him of his adventures in the jungle with Baloo and Bagheera and the wolf pack, his fights against Shere Khan, the red dholes, King Louie and the monkeys. Mowgli could see his whole lifetime of the jungle from the sight of the jungle, and now thinking he's leaving it all behind. Unnoticed of Kitty saw him and walking slowly towards him and walked slowly to the other side of the window.

Mowgli look at Kitty and could see her face looked blue only knowing that she's feeling guilting about something, Kitty started, "Mowgli, I love that you're coming with us, so I can see you every day, but I hate the idea that you're leaving here."

"I know" Mowgli replied, "But I need to."

Kitty reached her hand over softly on Mowgli's hand as he tried to hold a straight face as he tried to hold his blushing look, but Kitty could see it from a glimpse. Mowgli slowly turn his head and when their eyes meet, remembering their time together in the jungle as it pulled their relationship much closer and more special.

Kitty gently finished, "I know wolves howl and hurt at night, but they all differently need some sleep." They both went back to their own hammocks and fell right to sleep.

The next late morning, the family were packing their bags for their journey, Meshua was sorting out the map of Mumbai to see where to go, Sanjay was dealing the payments for renting the house. Kitty and Shanti were just finishing packing their bags, while Mowgli was bringing down a few small bags outside of the house. Just before Mowgli could back inside to help the girls, he heard a deep tweeting sound from around the house, but once he reached at the back there was nothing. The noise continued as shadow flew over his head as Mowgli looked up and saw a blue peacock flying above. Mowgli followed the bird and stopped by the peacock landed on a branch of a tree in the front line behind the jungle. Mowgli stare at it's beautiful blue feathers and its colourful patterns on it's wide tail, the colour blue reminded him of his maji, Sahana as she usually wears her blue dress. He gently smiled at it and the peacock stare at him, Mowgli nodded and shortly wave before turning around to walk back at the house. All Mowgli could feel was leaving the peacock behind at the jungle was like leaving all his troubled parts of his life behind, as the peacock flew and disappeared into the jungle.

Traveling to Mumbai was interesting. The city had huge, shaped caves and some of them with shiny walls. There were lots of busy people crowded around a few streets, shouting loud for sales, and fast moving, wheel things run past through the streets. Before leaving for England, I did feel nervous as I never been out of the jungle or India before and in a while. But, after spending more time with more man, and staying close to my family. I managed to blend in.

I started learning back to reading and writing from where I left with my maji, Sahana when she was teaching me in the Man-Village. A few year learning with Kitty, soon I began working as an environmental engineer from my love of creating more tricks. While, studing a bit of animal behaviourist, still commenting with animals. I kept my interest in sports, but I main hobby was running like I use to do with the wolf pack. They all reminded of where I came from and who I was.

Kitty became a nature photography from her love of taking photo. Shanti took the chance of becoming a bharatanatyam dancer. Meshua is part-time teacher for much younger man-cubs, Sanjay helps at Middlesex hospital as a short-time nurse, they mainly love to do gardening as a hobby like they use to back at the Man-Village. Kitty's father decided to retire parts of his job, so he could spend more with Kitty, which made her happy, which made me happy as it reminded me how much I loved and respected my father, Akela.

So, I lived in the jungle for seventeen years. I was adopted by three families, one from the jungle and two from the Man-Village. I was a runner, a hunter, a fighter and a leader of the wolfpack. A friend, a brother, and a son to those I love. I belong to the world of man, and the life of the jungle, learnt that I belong more that where I am, who I am. From the crazy worst side of my life; I was kidnapped by monkeys, dealt with a gigantopithecus, nearly eaten by a giant python, and threaten and almost killed by a man-eating tiger. However, I ran on the bright side of the jungle, I was adopted by wolves, taught by a panther, and befriended by a bear. All I love and for their love in return, as family. I

A bright night comes as serval years has passed, a huge, white house was standing near the edge of the jungle. Beautiful, small, flowers grew around the sides of the house and down the path way, and there were warm, shiny fires lit on the top of candles sitting on the bottom side of the windows.

Inside the living room, an Indian man with a short beard and with a good, healthy body wearing plain greenish top and dark blue troubles. He rests on his sofa by the fire and long, thin wardrobe with glass to see through objects standing inside; a small camera, and next to it was small dagger. The man was nearly half asleep, but he kept his eyes staring through the window out at the jungle. A white woman with hair as brown as a skin of a tree wearing her bright clothing, walked in and sat right next to her husband as she was beginning to fall asleep. Cuddling each other cosy and soft, as the woman sleeps on the side of the man's shoulder as he rests his head onto her. Then man noticed their baby son toddling slowly through the hallway, carefully lift himself up and laid his wife sleeping on the sofa. The man walked to his little cub and lifted him high then low, high then low, like his cub was flying. His man-cub caught his attention on a butterfly flying around the entrance of the house, they both childishly laugh and followed it outside as the man let his son lose chasing down the butterfly.

The man smiled at the laugher chase from his son, his ears caught a sound of deep huffed from the side leading to the edge of the jungle. The man turned around and smell by the wind something leaning on the edge of the jungle, the man slowly walked closer and could see a huge shape of a creature. The man suddenly stopped for this animal may attack, then a cute laugher was made from the little man-cub as he was greeted by a grey wolf, looking above at the wolf's head and touching its noise and the wolf lick his baby tinged as it was tingles him. The wolf smiled for he was meeting his new nephew. The man was shocked at first till he recognises the colour of the wolf's fur and it's face as the wolf was turned and look at him. "Grey" the man whispers as he smiled his wolf-brother.

Then, the creature from the shadows of the jungle gradually moved closer and the man could see it fully. A big, brown bear walked up from the shadows staring at the man with the surprised look, and the man did the same. The man walked closer to the bear step by step getting with to face with face with the bear, their eyes meet, and they see pass their looks to the soul, knowing who each other are.

Just an itch outside from the house, the wife woken up from her curiosity of her husband and son until a shock came to her when she notices them both near some jungle animals. Unaware of a black fur panther walking up from the side of the house, the woman moved back a few steps from the surprised, but she remembered those warm yellow eyes of the panther. She slowly walked to the panther and kneed, gazing at each other feeling unbelieve at much they have grown. The woman wrapped her arms softly around the panther's neck and laid her head next to his, the panther was still as a tree and closed his eyes, so he could feel moment would last longer.

The man stared at the bear while only asking himself how long has it been? He leaned their head forward and their foreheads touched, and the man laid his hand on the side of the bear's face feeling the fur brushing through in between his fingers. The man tenderly whispered, "Hello old friend."

Aside of the bear, another wolf with as white as snow walked along and stopped where the bear stands. The man leaned his head back to know who it is, his eyes and the wolf's meet and whispered the only word he had never much spoken of, "Ami."

The end.

Hey guys. So, this will be my last character of the story, I hate it but every story has an ending. This chapter is really based on how Mowgli lived on with a new life in the society of man.

If you're a jungle book fan, then you defiantly know one or two Easter Eggs I have written in. You know the big one about the stranger! I added some small ones about the city, Mumbai, aka Bombay which is where Rudyard Kipling was born, and where Sanjay is now working at in England, Middlesex hospital is where Kipling died.

In this chapter, Mowgli is now adopted by Meshua and Sanjay. Like in the original book they were Mowgli's first adopted man-parents, but after watching Mowgli's father died in the first film (SPOILERS!), we all probably wondered what happened to Mowgli's mother? So, I creature Sahana for the first fanfic story, "The Jungle Book 2016 sequel," I thought of Mowgli needed to be adopted somehow by Meshua so I decided in chapter 13 for Sahana to die. Sorry guys!

So, this will be my last chapter of the jungle book three, I hoped you readers have enjoyed it as much as I have writing about it. See you later…