A Beautiful Journey !

"I can bare the pain of being away from Home for the overwhelming feeling of bursting happiness I get, every time I head off to Home…"

I remember one of those typical visits to home happen during monsoon season. I jump into one of the so called 'Super Deluxe' buses from slurry footpaths of Mejestic. I throw myself into one of those seats which carry smell of my home town. A typical conversation about last week's heavy rain and how tough it was to drive… in my home town accent between the driver and his helper brings smile on my face. Every time I get into one of these buses, something tickles my emotion deep inside… A joy appears within me moves me into tears… I look outside the window… City lights flash with blurring pattern in front of my wet eyes. Bus makes its way out of Gobi Manchurian, Fried Rice odor dominated city streets. A relieving feel of escape after surviving a long chase, fills inside me… Escape from sense of tension which haunts in city life...

Bus stops at 11 O' clock in the night for dinner (?). I start chatting with driver and his helper about the recent updates of roads and news of my home town from their own unique perspective. We don’t even know each other's name; but, they recognize me with big smile, every time I board these buses. I feel connected to these people than many others I daily interact and personally know in Bangalore! When bus hits the highway again… I try to sleep… The roller coaster ride of ghaat sections feels like baby cradle swings for me… I slip into cozy sleep with the colorful dreams of exiting tomorrow!

( Amazing Snap - NOT by Me ! )

I always get up when bus starts cruising with joy on NH17 in the early morning. The highway I love the most! It is drizzling outside with the perfect intensity… how I love it! Droplets hitting the window glass leave trails as they roll down… I watch this pattern game for some time. I slide the window glass… Monsoon welcomes me to its favorite territory by sprinkling tiny rain drops on my face, along with a warm hug of chilled air! I can sense freshness around created by last night's rain. Trees look like they are just out of daily bath, fresh and green... Paddy fields with fresh corps dancing in resonance with the blowing wind… Green covered hill range… Compound walls naturally decorated with green algae dress... There is green everywhere!

Farmers heading towards farm fields with their beloved ox couple always remind me of my roots. I wave back to the kids in school uniform waving at the bus and witness they jumping in bursting joy for the reply they got! I can completely understand that joy! I have waved at every bus passing on this same highway for hours when I was kid… I have jumped with the same matchless joy besides this same highway. 

As bus climbs up the last uphill before reaching my home town, I look back from the window to have a glance of Arabian Sea which is integral part of my life. Salt extracting fields in the foreground create an interesting view. I make a point to visit my favorite beach today evening.

  

I wait my eyes wide open for most exiting view of the journey… Bus is going to cross Gangavali Bridge! I witness sun peeping out from the hides of Sahyadri ranges standing like protectors for the river. With his yellow, orange shades sun is painting peaceful love all over the sky. The river reflects these colors on her shy face. Green paddy fields around celebrate this moment by nodding their head along with morning breeze. I capture the beauty in my heart once again with astonishment of a kid first time witnessing a rainbow. I can't count number of times I crossed this place, different seasons, different times; this river never disappointed me! Every time it is different, it is new… but beautiful.

Bus enters my home town… Passes many of my relative's houses. I peep out to try my luck to spot somebody. I get down in front of Ankola bus stand… I feel home! If not raining heavily or my luggage is not heavy, I prefer walking down to home. Hotel owner sitting at cash counter waves his hand with a broad smile. Paper boy stops his bicycle and talks to me for a while…

I reach my sweet home… My father has just finished his pooja… waiting for me. He gives a pat on my back… actually bang on my back! I throw my bag and put my hand on his shoulder. We walk into kitchen… My mother is busy preparing thin crispy 'Dosas'. I am reluctant to brush or wash my face… My mother is complaining I have lost so much of weight… 'Coconut Chatni' is ready… I don’t want to reveal how many Dosas I eat! We all sit in the hall after breakfast… Talking about various topics ranging from who are all got married to whom… to local politics. I am sitting on the floor with Kannada newspaper in hand… My mother is massaging my head with coconut oil… I close my eyes… I sign off…

(There is so much to write about my home, home town, rain, beach... Continues…)

Cheers!
Kiran
nayakkiranraj@gmail.com