Following the nasty semester pattern,we engineering student are left totally destroyed at the end of each semester.My engg buddies will understand the real meaning of "destroyed". After the long sem filled with practicals,'fucking useless' assignments which are meant to produce only "raddi",we are left alone to face the Goliath "The Mumbai University Exam".
Six month's harassment camp ends up withfrustration and everytime I feel like an orange with no juice left in it.So I pack my bags & get my ass moved outta my house.Sometimes to visit Goa,
Sometimes a freaky bicycle trip with my wicked friends or sometime a trek just to get myself back on track.
Siting at the bank of river Krishna , I eventually felt spiritually full,happy and satisfied.Indeed.The journey we did (Me and my cousin Aniket) was a real adventure filled with the moments of frustration,anger,fatigue,fear and happiness.
When I called my cousin Aniket Sane on 19th of June 2011 and told that we were going to Dhom(a village 9 Km away from Wai,Satara) ,neither of us thought that we were going to have an exotic tour.Aniket currently working as clerk at Bank Of India (Mahad branch,Konkan) is a pukka bankwala.Not ready to take a single day off,he asked me to plan a saturday-sunday-Monday trip.(Monday was holiday I guess!).
On 2 july 2011,I started the journey alone.I was going to join Aniket at Mahad where he would have completed his Saturday work hours.Reaching Mahad was quite troublesome when I missed Badlapur-Mahad Bus.
"What the fuck!!!!!" How could I miss the only bus which would have taken me directly to Mahad.Now I had to go first to Kalyan and then to Panvel to catch a bus.Another 50 Km added!!.I catched a train to reach Kalyan and then a local transport bus to Panvel.
Travelling in local trains of Mumbai is itself a big deal.And if you have heavy luggage with you then "God" also won't be able to help you.With lots of 'Gaalis', I somehow managed to get out of train at Kalyan railway station.By the time I understood that day wasn't mine but luckily as soon as I reached Panvel bus depot ,I got bus to Mahad.A sigh of relief !! phew....
Panvel To Mahad:
We left Panvel city behind and joined the mumbai-goa highway.As usual it was flooded with vehicles.Our bus driver was driving so fast and that one moment I thought he must be a pro NFS player.MAN!! He was at his best... His driving skills were really awsm and I was literally enjoying the journey.Along with the "PRO" driver , the natural beauty of Konkan was with us to reduce my frustration level at greater extent.
At Mahad:
I reached Mahad around 1 O'clock.I went straight to BOI to pick up bro but he was already waiting with bad news.He was going to arrange a bike for us so that we could had an adventure while crossing Mahabaleshwar ,Panchgani.
"Sorry yaar ",he started with an apology letter and proceed explaining me how the things got worse and how he couldn't manage bike.I couldn't say a word as my whole trip was screwed and I was terribly upset , angry and lost.It was time to be practical.We rushed to bus depot to catch earliest bus.
Things were getting worse!!
Real worse!!!
Can you imagine what happened at bus station??
We went to inquiry counter and asked for the earliest bus to Wai.The answer we got eventually made me laugh!! I started laughing like hell.It was 2 pm and that person siting behind counter told us that the next bus to wai was at 5.00 pm! I was frustrated,angry and felt real helpless at time.God was playing with me.With empty stomach,numbed brain and crushed ego I was siting at Mahad Bus station.
But then my freak mind came in picture.After 15 minutes of chat with myself I started enjoying the surrounding.The emotions were at peak and instead of bursting out,my mind turned them positively and pulled me back.My anger wrinkled face started smiling and noticing the small small things around me.I realized the utter joy of being screwed and yet happy. Later in those three hours me and bro did a lot of masti , had almost 15-20 cup of tea.My big signature smile returned to my face and I became ready to face another blow!! :D :D
Mahad To Mahabaleshwar :
At last the bus arrived and we grabbed a seat.And I was like "Phew.Chalo.Atleast seat toh mili".
While bus was climbing the pratapgad-poladpur ghat , we were busy in watching nature's beauty and capturing it.Each turn would bring a much rejoicing scenery.
At a point you see a waterfall and the very next turn you realise that you are siting in window at side of valley and clouds are downed so much that visibility is less than 20 feets pumps adrenaline into body.
Once again 100% marks to driver chacha!It's really tough to drive in such condition and that too with having responsibility of so many people.Craving the road through the clouds we reached Mahabaleshwar.
One of my hottest destination.
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| Mahabaleshwar |
Mahabaleshwar To wai:
We reached Wai around 8 pm.The chilling atmosphere of Mahabaleshwar & Panchgani gave the goose bumps.While observing and absorbing the chilling weather , sleep caught me !
"Abey chal,uth ata.... wai ala"(Wake up,we reached wai)Bro brought me back to earth.
I woke up , took my bag and we were on Wai bust stand!
We had completed 90% of travelling.Only 9 Km were remaining....
Wai:
My native place Wai holds a solid place in history.The connections goes down to the era of The Great Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Wai is also known as "Dakshin Kashi" (दक्षिण काशी) .It is also known for the various temples like famous "Dholya Ganpati"( ढोल्या गणपती).
It's not just a spiritual place.But its the hottest destination for bollywood.Yeah!! Wai has been a film-shooting location. Films like Omkara, Mrutyudand, Swades, Gangājal , Dabangg and Singham are shot in Wai and the nearby villages. like Dhom, Bavdhan, Chikhli, Menvali, Bhuinj, Pachwad & the sorruoudings of Dhom, Balakwadi, Jambhali & Nagewadi dams.
I love my "gaav" but hate it's local transport system.
1) State Transport buses which have less frequency especially when interior villages are concerned.
2)Auto-Rickshaws which are too costly.
3)private taxiz(where 20 ppl travel in a single tata sumo or a matador)
Another blow and Ninz on fire:
At 8.10 pm , me and aniket were having a special chai at a hotel.Now we were just 9 km away from our destination! I knew that there were no bus to Dhom after 7.30 pm so we moved on to catch share taxi..("jisme 1 gaadi me 20-25 log thoose jate he !! )
But God had something different plan.Hoping to get some transport to dhom we headed to spot where these private jeeps or matador used to halt.And then..............
Another problem!!!!
Man!! The day was filled with so much problems.I was totally pissed off and was expecting a fast ride to dhom.Hungry,angry and frustrated I literally sat on road when I saw that not a single vehicle was there.Later I came to know that a week before the ACP of satara was changed and new ACP closed this non permit taxi's.At night these taxis are the only way to reach interior part.
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| Boundry of wai.city |
Now what to do?? Jaaye to kaha jaye?? My blood pressure was so high that I could feel that now I'm gonna burst out.Bhai suggested to take a room at lodge but I was totally upset and angry.
"Why me??Why me always?" I was literally fighting with myself.I could understand the bike ,bus problem but this crushed my ego totally..I couldn't let the situation win easily this time.I decided....Kuch bhi ho jaye abhi aaj hi Dhom jake rahenge..
Aniket didn't had idea..I said,"Chal,ab chalke jayenge!!!"
I was the decision maker that time and my poor bro followed me.We crossed the boundary of WAI.The night was cold , I was determined and we were walking......
Climax:
As we moved further and realized that It was becoming much much lonelier with each step we were taking.Aniket was frightened a bit and was trying to stop me from doing the insane stuff.But I was in different mood."Mazi satakli hoti" :D
Slowly my anger level came down and finally I started thinking practically.We could have been robbed , or would have became a victim of animal attack. (SNAKES!!!!)But we were accompanied with street lamps and continued walking until we reached to last street lamp on that road.
By the time I did realized that it was sheer "chutia giri " but ab izzat ka savaal tha!!We stopped at a point from where we had to choose a path.Either we would have continued walking in dark or would have to return back.Walking in dark with no clue of what was going around was surely not an option I would have opt for.Another was to go back to wai."peeche hatna matlab haar!!"
GO MADNESS GO:
"GANPATI BAPPA MORYA!!"
We entered into dark!!Turned back for a moment,saw the light,stored in our eyes,looked at each other.Smiled and started walking with the spirit of never backing down.
First half hour passed while we were still adjusting to surrounding.
Complete dark night.Cold,Steady & Determined.
Torch light was disturbing the dark and we were marching towards destination. Ennio Morricone's classic music with the cricket's chirr chirr kept us walking.
The moment we would felt alone on the road,we used to look at sky.
Stars and moon were there for us.
"keep moving. You will find your destination.Not immediately but definitely!!
Don't feel you are alone.We will be always with you!! "
A MEETING WITH GOD:
We were walking with joy though tired , we were enjoying the "WALK".No one to disturb,No one to interrupt.We used to have such long chatting time when we were children.We recalled our childhood........
Leaving villages back one by one we kept walking with the pace.Observing nature's silence , walking with sweat cloths and swelled foot;we suddenly stopped when we smelled refreshing tea.We were stunned.On the road where we were the only human,who was making tea??
It might be some mind game!! I thought.
Knowing the fact that there was smell of tea,we headed forward with caution.As we crossed the next turn ,on that lonely road,saw a tea stall.We figured out the mystery of tea smell and ran for it.
A 'chacha' with long white beard and worm smile welcomed us.He asked where we were going,where we came from and all that typical questions.While bro was talking with uncle , a planetary system caught my mind.A tiny bulb bursting out light thinking himself as sun and the small flying creepy as planets revolving around the bulb formed a planetary system!!
A World inside a World!!!
We rested there for sometime.Although we enjoyed the "WALK",we were damn tired and could hardly put a step forward.We halted at perfect time.We let out foot take some fresh air and took that rejuvenating tea. I have a style to take tea.First I look at tea.Then hold in palm so as to absorb it's heat.Then while doing the same I watch the steam coming out of glass.Then slowly slowly take a sip.Let your mouth experience the aroma , the taste of tea.Then let your throat fill the energy , the heat of tea.It's an art!
It was time to move on.. But chacha didn't take money.We filled ourselves with full of energy and moved on..Within half hour we reached DHOM! PHEWWW!!
We were happy but it wasn't time for celebration.We went to our home and surprised everybody.Grandma , uncles were astonished to see us . We then took dinner and fall asleep..
The morning was awsm.As the village is near dam , the atmosphere is too good.Nature loves you than ever it does at any other place.Whenever I go there , I find myself filled up with positive energy.The temple of 'Narsimha' is also a holy place.The words are not just enough to describe the experience.
'I' don't exists:
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In Temple
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Morning came up with new thoughts and moods.As we entered into the beauty of nature,it was proved that yesterday's juggad was worth.
I was finally connected to nature.My ego,my pride,my arrogance was smashed.I was as pure as nature.The magic of nature can only be understood with pure mind.I was filled with arrogance and ego!! Nature just wiped it out so that I could have that experience which lasts long.The frustration,anger,fear were just to wash my mind.A pure mind absorbs much more.I was finally with nature;THE SUPERPOWER!!The whole journey ; each incident had a lesson and meaning.
LIFE IS A JOURNEY.IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW FAR YOU HAVE GONE.
WHAT MATTER IS 'HAVE YOU ENJOYED IT?'
NOTE:THIS IS WRITTEN FOR A CONTEST ON INDIBLOGGER.IN
http://www.mahindraxuv500.com/
Link to FB album of this exotic tour!!
While absorbing the silence and sunset magic,"RE"-test thought came up in my mind! Why we have re-test in college? Just to make sure that the mistakes done previously should get corrected and we should proceed (ideally)with a pass stamp.A second chance given to get your academic stuff back on track.Then the vary next question I asked myself is 'why just we don't get a Re-test for real life?' 
A second chance given to an engineer (who is best at music than engineering) to select his own field of interest will change his entire life.A chance to a mad lover to propose ON time is the thing which he might want to do.A person who's Last stage cancer is detected would be the most happy to get the second chance.He will LIVE the moments with his dear one's.
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