Who is this inside me which keeps on asking questions to me at every step, every day
Don’t know, not sure about what I should reply to all these. I just choose to have these thoughts in mind and “Keep walking”. Maybe someday, somewhere I will stop and answer all of these..!!
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Here I am sitting at 40 thousand feet, cruising at 700 km/hr and rewinding things which happened in last few days.
Everyday started with lots and lots of uncertainty, lots of chaos, some learning from past some plans for the future. Every day after getting up, I took some time to look around and realise, where am I. Once I feel the place I was in, I used to move out of bed, reluctantly to start the day. And then it all starts, numerous calls, verifying check lists and saying..shit..I missed this. Then rushing for the breakfast and the day starts. Running around people to get things done, trying to reach out to people to align them for our planned activity for the day. For me it was a target, a passion but for them, it was a routine and I was someone who was interfering with their daily life.
Initially everyone resisted me and my presence in their lives, but slowly they started accepting me. It was a nice feeling to be part of their lives, eat what they are eating, drink what they are drinking, think what they are thinking and fell their feelings. it continued for 2-3 more days and then it was time to say good bye. My time with them was over, I have to move ahead for my next assignment. Although few days back, I was no one to them, but while leaving their place, I felt as if I am part of them and their life.
It feels bad to move out from their place but it also contained a hope that there are few more people waiting for me to barge into their lives and be a part of that. Life moves on, never stops for anyone and its the same thing which I have to do.
पर मुझे इन सब से क्या, मैं तो आज यहाँ हूँ, कल फिर मुझे चले जाना है
जो आज तलक मेरा अपना था, कल वो मेरे लिए बेगाना है
क्योंकि मैं तो एक मुसाफिर हूँ, मेरा कब अपना कोई ठिकाना है..!!
Here I am sitting inside train, wondering if only I and fellow civilians are supposed to follow the rules laid down by "The Government of India" or it applies to everyone including the people who are serving in armed forces.
When our train reached Agra Cantonment, I stepped out to have stroll and was really shocked to see a army vehicle parked bang opposite to my coach on platform no 1. The vehicle was surely belonging to some big shot, it was with a red light on it, a alert driver in uniform and 2-3 more guys waiting for the Sahab to get down from the train. Wow..!!
I am really shocked to see this. When ex-prime minister don't have a right to drive his own vehicle on the platform, I wonder if there are separate rules for the armed forces. If this is how the resources are being used from the money I am paying as tax, I rather prefer not to pay tax anymore, I refuse to pay tax now and I want all my money paid as tax (even though its too small) back. Or else, I request authorities to give me right also to drive in my vehicle to the platform whenever I am traveling by train.
Come on, reply to me guys, me and every taxpayer like me is waiting...!!
I have no idea how many of you had ever tried a eco-holiday or eco-tourism. These words may look fashionable marking term used to promote tourism but if you ever try to understand what exactly they mean, they are very simple.
The idea itself of taking a break from our daily routine life and moving more and more towards nature will look like a crazy one to most of the people. Forget about going on a vacation at a place like this, where you will be spending money but won't be getting Jacuzzi or a personal swimming pool. The idea itself will look weird to most of us. They may end up experiencing this vacation as a guilt trip instead. How can someone pay for a vacation in today's times to get nothing of these so called luxuries, with no mobile, no Internet or no television? No, I am not interested..will be the reaction from most of us.
Now think of a place in Kumaon, where only bus you can catch is bus number 11, your own legs to explore the place. Or at Haridwar, where you have to climb a 7,000 feet high mountain by yourself for trekking. Or at Kanha national park, where you can travel across the park fastest in a bullock cart, where food is organic and the wheat in your bread is pounded in a water mill, at a near by village not at any big food processing factory.
The adventure package may include walking across the villages accompanied by porters who helps you in identifying the places, flora, natural resources around and sometimes will assist in carrying your luggage, or staying every night at different rest house across villages, or having local delicacies cooked on either solar cooker or dung cakes but no electric ovens or LPG, in night you may have some dim bulbs glowing, thanks to usage of solar power or else you can sit in the varandah and enjoy the breeze. For the health freaks, you will get packaged drinking water, a chance to go for a cycling trip across the terrain, a swim in fresh water rivers with no contaminations. And above all a rejuvenated body and soul that none of the so called healing spa sessions can provide.
Although most of us reading this write-up may not be much enthusiastic and eager to take all these challenges, there are people who prefer to take a break for a vacation at one of these places. And yes I belong to that crazy category.
Give this a thought next time when you are planning a holiday, remember, your life is calling, where are you...??
It was while I was travelling on Howrah-Delhi Rajdhaani yesterday, I again had an experience. I was sharing my cabin with five other people, two moms and two daughters and one of their friend. My god they never stopped their chit chatting for the whole journey, they were like talking machine. Both Aunti ji were really irritating. Their grown up daughters were also funny, playing Ludo along with Snakes and ladder, both makeup boxes. One of them created a scene while trying to reach to the upper berth, everyone were laughing watching the drama by her. I couldn’t stop laughing.She was happily sitting on my berth and never ever asked me if I wanted to sit at my place. When after dinner I wanted to sleep at around 9.00 PM they said they want to sit for some time after dinner and I have to wait. Finally I got my place at around 10.30 PM and I started my laptop for watching movie, to which also the Aunty ji had an objection, gave me good gyan and I have to shut it down. Somehow managed to sleep which was again interrupted by her at 6.45 AM saying that its too late and she won’t allow me to sleep just because she wanted to sit now. I was too sleepy to argue and I shifted to upper berth. She also told me that while travelling I should adjust to other’s requirements also. I wonder what else I should have done to please them. How shameless are these who never care for anyone while travelling and will give full time gyan to others about adjusting while travelling in public transport. If they need so much care why the hell she was travelling in AC 3 tier, she could have opted for AC 1st class and other’s would had travelled in peace.
I hate these types and believe that they should be thrown out of the train for all this dramatic behaviour.
I was once again back on track with railways for my visit to my parent’s place. Usually I had enjoyed travelling with Indian Railways till date and this travel was also nothing new. But again as always I came across few things that I am jotting down. I booked this ticket in a hurry but was confirmed with the help of one relative sitting at Railway headquarters. Long live Babus in our democracy. It was a pleasant surprise to see people responsible for keeping train clean visiting and cleaning the coach three four times in just less than 24 hours but it was unpleasant to find food pathetic this time. It was pleasant to see that ticket checker was asking for the identity proof but it was unpleasant to see that air-condition needs conditioning.
I also came across flying squad guys who were having free snacks at pantry coach in train, after one successful capture of an elderly uncle who was travelling without ticket. The uncle was also smart, after so many attempts these squad guys were unable to extract a single rupee from him as bribe. He insisted on receipt and they insisted on off the record settlement. After one hour of trial and discussions they finally gave up and uncle ji left the place smiling. It looked as if having free food was their legal right and they had negotiated this as a part of their CTC. There was not even a single GRP personal in the train for past twenty hours, which again surprises me. Is there in any change in rule regarding serving terms and conditions for railways staff?
This corruption, negligence and arrogance among the elite babus is one of the major reasons holding back India from growing. Although India has been ranked as one of the fastest growing economies but its also considered as one of the poorly managed economy. Its like India Inc. would like to fire its all cylinders but can’t as the road ahead is bumpy. India really is crawling in slow motion towards growth and thriving to become a economic superpower. Lets hope to see that dream and vision realising soon.
Yesterday I had an experience of my life. Because of some prior commitments I travelled from my residence to one of the extremes of Kolkata (I am still confused, although Kolkata is not so huge but it never ends also). My god, that entire travel was awesome. I somehow managed to reach Sealdah station to catch a local train, I said somehow because it started to rain while I was on the way and traffic came to a standstill. I purchased a ticket for my travel after so many consultations over phone with multiple navigators who were supposed to keep track on my movement. Amazingly the fares are still very cheap. For a travel of 45 minutes all I paid was just seven Rupees.
Incidentally this was my first ever attempt or first ever dare to travel in any local train. This was a mixed feeling of excitement and concern as I always prefer to avoid all this messy means of travelling. These are called as life lines of the cities they carry. Even my maid also uses this to reach at my place in morning. Although she has to start as early as 4.00 AM to reach in time. I always wondered how she was able to manage all this. So back to the journey. I entered the local and managed to get a place near the window. Each seat looked as it was meant for three people and four were occupying it.
The train started bang on time without any delay but by the time it started it was jam packed. It was a mixed bag of people, some returning from job, some returning from college, few were vendors offering various products like lassi, snacks and even ayurvedic medicine and very few like me travelling for the first time. But the situation was really pathetic as you can see in the picture below
On reaching the destination, I completed my pre-fixed commitment and then moved to a Govt Guest house for taking rest. It was a location situated on the banks of Hoogly river. The location was an excellent one but very poorly maintained. The view of river was awesome.
The overall feeling and experience was a good one. Although it was a pleasant one but I would always prefer to avoid travelling through locals in this city as it was not an experience I would like to have again.
I believe the guest house can earn a lot more attraction if it maintained properly and of course the situation in trains should be lot better. Also they should think of providing First class as in Mumbai locals, so that people can think of that as an viable option instead of wasting money and fuel on taxies and cars.
Few days back it was a lazy weekend approaching when I got an invite from Jamy for lunch at his place on Sunday afternoon which I happily accepted. Any invite from Jamy is meant to be accepted unconditionally as it is always bound to be a fun session. Every time I had been to his place, he is always ready with surprises and we had all enjoyed every time.
I was joined by Opium and KG for that lunch. We had a splendid round of Rajma-Rice-Curry along with Raita. All this was followed by a round of mango delicacy courtesy KG. We all were relaxing after that awesome treat, sting when we had an idea of going out for a road trip. Opium opted out owing sleeping disorders of his but rest of us three proceeded towards an unknown destination .
We crossed people enjoying an careless evening at Maidan and Victoria Memorial as we proceeded towards our unknown destination.
From there we headed towards second Hoogly bridge with an intention to have a drive at highway. I was especially excited as this was the first time I was going to those places in my stint at Kolkata.
Crossed toll bridge and continued to drive towards Delhi on NH06 although KG wanted to drive towards Mumbai but Jamy smilingly turned down his repeated request.
The view all around was very refreshingly green and lovely reminding me of one of my older trips to country sides.
By the time we reached Kona expressway it had already started raining and we were enjoying each and every moment of that.
By this time it was getting dark and we were also feeling hungry so we decided to give rest to our engines and cylinders to cool off.
And then it was time for Begun & Aloo Bhaja along with cups of tea served hot complimented with Parle-G.
After finishing all this we decided to take a U turn and started our journey back towards our dens. It was raining all the way back adding to the pleasure of the journey.
Enjoyed this Road-Pic-Trip to the most and looking forward to so many detoxifying and revitalising moments like this soon with you guys…!
