As I set on old wooden bench,
pair of eyes stairs me from inside the house. I think he is astonished to see
me alone in this wilderness. He is still engaged scrutinizing me but I am badly
drained that just want to rest for a while so fixed my eyes to see the pristine
beauty of Himalaya...
I have been walk almost 14-15
kilometers in 4 hours and now reached here. Though in morning I came for
morning walk but instead of walk I went for a small trek to Cheena Peak, near
to Nainital, coz warm winter morning was bright beautiful and cozy...
After an hour walking I find
myself in a snow View amid of blue painted tea shops, red plastic chairs
exciting outside. Where I was the only patron. Huge Himalaya range could be
seen from here but didn’t want to see so took a sip of tea and asked to
shopkeeper about crowd. He said -no one
come in winters but in summer this is a busiest place...
Winter sun is making walk
enjoyable so I continued walk to other side of road and saw beautiful lake dazzling
with morning sun light. After crossing motor road I turn to the walkway upward.
Road covered with jungle both side and mild sun rays reaching through the dense
forest. Few women, bare foot, carrying wood and dry grass bundle on head…
While I walked up vast range
of Himalaya starts follow me and made trek exotic. I walked long way along with the Himalaya and
reached here where I am sitting now...
Man comes out for quarry- who are you ? Why you come here? I move
my eyes from Himalaya and settle on him. He is wearing mustard color sweater
and grey pant. No idea about his age. Could be 30...40...50 any. I come for trek - I replied. He seems
confused and said - now no one come here
for trek. You are the only person whom I am seeing here after so long. He sits
in front of me and says - when I saw you
first I thought you are a forest officer and come here to inspection...
Then I came to know it’s a
forest log hut and the man is worker of forest department. After this
conversation I went to see the other side where a small Cheena Baba temple is popping
out amid of forest. When I back man shows me British time iron map attached on
stone pillar. This map shows the name of Himalaya range. Man says point out to
the bench I was sitting - this is too an
oldest British time bench but still in a good condition…
He tells me - I works alone nobody comes here. In long
holidays I went to my village otherwise I stay here only. He continues - after so long I am talking with someone.
I can feel the happiness in his voice and shine in his eyes...
He ask me for tea and went
inside I follows him too. Sooty pan were on the earthen hearth and water is
boiling in it. He offers me tea which is treat for me…
It’s time to turn but guard
tells me another way to get back. When I follow this route I saw a different
angle of Naini Lake and Nainital city. I spend some time sit alone and feel
like a bird coz city and lake is below me. View is spectacular weather is
amazing...
Walk through the jungle and
small village I back to city from deep silent to honking noise...
