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ALL THE CHARACTERS IN THIS STORY ARE REAL AND THERE IS NO RESEMBLANCE OF ANY OF THEM TO THE IMAGINARY WORLD
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It was one of those Joyful days in City of Joy, Kolkata. Roads were wet after the overnight rains. And there was mild sun glimmering over the left drops here and there. everything seemed to be brimming with life. Ankit was there to visit his relatives in the town. And the kind of invitation that this weather threw was impossible to ignore for anyone. Ankit has always been an enthusiast in roaming through unknown streets anyways. He asked his cousin brother for his bike's key and off he was on the Kolkata roads, relishing the beauties of Bengal.
He wandered through the old streets of Kolkata, amused by the red structures. Stooping here and there relishing the local delicacies and savoring tea ofcourse.
It was almost dusk time when he decided that he should start back to his place. And thought of buying some gifts for the relatives back at home. He asked some of local elders for nice place to do marketing. Seeing his interest in traveling he was suggested by localites about one mysterious CHOR BAZAAR (Thiefs's Market). He was informed that he would be able to get various branded items at pretty reasonable prices over there.
Ankit was interested too after listening all these. Next he headed to the Chor Bajaar. It did not take him long for him to reach the place. After parking his bike in one of the secluded corners of the street he went towards the more happening nooks of the market.
It wasn't tough for him to select the gifts. In an hour or so he had wrapped up all the shopping he had to do and made up his mind for going back home. Giving little attention he tried to reach to the place where he had parked his vehicle. When he could not see his bike over there he thought that he had reached some other place. But then he saw a pillar which he had noted just as a symbol for returning back. He started getting anxious. beads of sweats were flowing over his forehead and he could feel his heart beat increasing now. He was kind of sure that his bike was stolen and collected the courage to turn back and head towards the nearest Police Station for FIR. But then he did not even have his driving license or bikes documents with him. He was utterly confused.
I those moments of numbness he noticed a very narrow street running besides the pillar. Seemed like a dead end in itself and there was hardly any light there. He did not know why but his legs started moving into those directions. On moving inside the street there was a big right turn which opened into a huge area after walking for some 200 feet He never expected this and he was even more bewildered to see what was happening over there.
It was like a stock market for used bike parts. Everyone seemed busy is just dismantling the bikes which had any recognizable shapes. Only noises there were perhaps of the tools interacting with the way vehicle parts. He did not know what to speak to and whom to speak to. There was a young muslim boy in lungi and vest with a cap over his head, throwing a stern look over him which perhaps questioned his purpose of being at the place.
He hesitatingly approached him and told him that his bike has been missing from the markets outside. The other guy asked whether it was 6083. When Ankit showed his consent with him the other guy gestured towards some dismantled parts and ankit cold see his no plate lying some where too. he lost his temper after all this and started shouting that he would complain to police about all this illegal activities happening over here.
All of a sudden all the people who were peacefully doing there work stood up and started approaching Ankit with their tool in their hands itself. their was furosity in each of those eyes and fear would be only thing that could be seen in Ankits's now...The circle of people surrounding him was reducing in size and he admitted to himself that he had done a mistake by losing his patience and started thinking of good and bad moments of his life. He closed his eyes losing all the hope.
Suddenly he wakes up in his bed. Feels as though the very same beads of sweat are still there on his head. takes few moments to realize he is still in Gurgaon and thanked god for bad things happening in dreams only :))
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Losing the madness in the mountains
I so very not want to miss the opportunity of writing a blog on my bike trek to the himalayas. I know no words can do justice to the feelings that are effervescent when one rides to the natures castle. Still here is an attempt to sum up the events during the trek. We started on Saturday, 5th of Dec for Kotdwar. And it was not the best of beginningss. Started late than we ususally do and got lost in the maize of cannaught place's circle before reaching to anand vihar. The entire process of finding out the correct way just took too much time. But once we reached Anand Vihar things changed. Roads got better, almost creamy from there on. But my biking partner and me lost track of each other. Assuming that both of us would keep moving, and we did keep moving met at some place near Meerut. Discussed about the directions and the best roads with the locals present and we were all set to rule the roads from there on, our next targets being Kotdwar. Soon bikes were taking with the winds making a noise that every biker loves. Views changed as fast as a movie played on fast forward mode where you know of eevrything happening around and at the same time you don't know of anything in proper details. Anyways reached Kotdwar by 3o'clock. It was time for some food. We hadnt had anything since morning except some tea and the fags, the fellow biker ddid,t smoke so he was devoid of that too.
After having our food we decided to move on for destination next , Lansdowne, some 45 kms from Kotdwar. It was a moment which played on my nerves because I had never driven bike in mountainous ranges and path to Lansdowne is known to be no less tortuous than any of its counterparts in shivalik mountain ranges. Anyways, risk is the name of the game. Prepared myself mentally and set we were for the next part of the trip. Was anxious at first few turns, especially the U turns but got hold of things pretty soon and it did not reallly take time when I had started to enjoy biking there. Stopped at many spots in between when ever got a view worth trapping though the lenses . Though after every shot clicked got the same feeling that God is the greatest painter and eyes are the best cameras invented.
Next morning was equally serene and temperature was not as low as the previous night. We were late in waking though and missed the chance to trap amazing sunrise through the curtain of mountains in our gear. Without delaying it any further we started for our next destination Tarkeshwar temple, lacated 35 kms from Lansdowne this was probably the most solacing place I visited in the entire trek. It was amazing to see that the roads ended at that point and we were there biking till the very last nook. The temple had a mystique associated with it and it hovered over you just as you a get a glimpse of it. Surrounded by tall coniferous trees from all around and zillions of bells hanging everywhere, the landscape it presented to the eyes could be nothing other than a treat. Ride back to lansdowne was amazing too, was feeling pretty fluent with driving in rocks now and had made friends with the curves. Once we reached a point from where there were two ways one back down to kotdwar and other to lansdowne it was a emotional moment. Other friend(Ashish) was returning from this place as he hadn't any more leaves approved with him and I was supposed to go further in the terrains alone. Well we bid each other happy journey for the rest of the trip and moved ahead on our respective paths.
My next destination was Khurshi (An even smaller village in Pauri) some 100 kms from the Lansdowne. Was not sure whether it would be worth covering so much distance. Had read about this village on Internet and that was all the information I had as it is not a well known hill sttaion type of place. But doubts were all erased when i witnessed the sun set over the snowcapped mountains on my way to Khurshi. Reached the site late evening took a room and went straight forward to sleep. As the market was all closed when i had reached. Next morning was special. roamed through the narrow foot walks in the village observing the details of the place and the beauty of nature of course.
Next stop was at Devprayag. After this the roads turned better and raced up my accelerator. Did not stop much. Though did stop a rhishikesh n haridwar for small breaks and some odd clicks which did not come well in all those hassle. Went nostalgic when i stopped at roorkee in front of my college. Never thought that just passing in front of it would have such an effect. Had first good meal of the day at Punjabi Dhaba(A name all roorkee passouts will recognize without taking a moment).
It was already dark by that time and was time for cautious driving. Delhi was still 170 kms and body was feeling the tiredness too. Did it the best way I could and when I was just few 100 mts away from ma place in gurgaon a smile effused on ma face broad and loud, celebrating the journey, the destinations and every moment of it.
PS: There is so much to write that I can just go on and on. Still have tried to brief it up expressing the best parts of it.
A special note of thanks to Ashish Wahi, the co biker. It was always his idea to bike in rocks. Thank You dude for persuading me enough to come out of my shell of apprehensions.
Last but not the least, I do hope that i did lose some of the madness inside me in those mountains :)))
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