I came
out from the railway station. It was hot and sunny outside. Stream of
passengers were flowing in same direction. Cullies were carrying luggage on
their head and making way between this ocean.
Anyway I came out and saw railway station which was beautifully
architected but garbage and other dirt were making it sick. I had to go in a village
near Lucknow so I took auto. Traffic jam, sound pollution and bright sun were
making Lucknow too painful. Just then auto stopped and took two more passengers
inside, which was shocking because auto was already full. That lady set on the
floor comfortably and she holds her little daughter on her lap. It seems that
she is used to of this. I only can watch the things happening. I saw different
points of Lucknow through window like Parivartan Churaha, University and other…
That
lady was giving me strange look and her daughter was playing with my bag’s
ring. Her eyes were too big and her daughter was scrawny like skeleton. Anyways
auto was bumping like hell. U.P. roads are worst in India. Auto wala took two
more passengers who were hanging out. It is risky but people do this because
they have no tolerance to wait. All have to go in same auto, which makes things
horrible. Suddenly one start saying – Now
Lucknow becomes a big city. It is difficult for me to travel now. He looked
me and said – I am old and not able to understand
all these new age tantrums. Oh god ! I had never thinks that it would be
happened once. He went into deep silence and washed off swat from his
forehead. Man sitting next consoled him, who was almost the same age.
One man
and a woman sitting in front seat were speaking into Avadhi language, local
language of UP, what I understand was that lady was angry with her in lows and
complaining to her husband. It was like an emotional blackmailing. Anyways that
girl still busying with my bags’ ring and wanted to take it off. and her mother
stopping her and staring me with smile. When auto went outskirt area I got
relief. Cool breeze was giving relief from hell of city. To divert my attention
from inside I look out through window.
This
area was open and beautiful. Surely good to ignore scorching heat. Auto wala busying
in passengers and passengers were busy with talks. Mix talks were taking place
inside. After a while I reached to my spot. I paid him and came out. From here
I had to take one more vehicle called CHHAKDA in local language. Chhakda
is basically a rickshaw attached wooden platform where passengers can sit. It
is completely based on Indian jugar theory. Chhakda went into a pavement between banana
garden and paddy fields. Some locals were also on it and all were speaking
Avadhi language. One woman stared me and asked – Nai ho yaha pe Bitiya ?
Are you new here child ? Yes – I replied. I wanted to talk with here
more but she was not understanding. She
turns towards her friend and told about me and long conversation start between
them. Chhakda stopped in a small snacks shop. An old man whose tummy was
hanging out, was frying samosa. Women sitting next to me got off and bought
samosa and I looked around…
After
this break we moved and after 10 minutes I reached to my friend’s house. Her 95
years grandmother was sitting out. Anyways I met with her family who were busy
in festival celebration. I took bath finished lunch and went to take rest.
Around 5PM I came out. It was beautiful evening. I saw old ramshackle house all
around but thing which took my attention was old TV antenna which are almost
vanished from cities now…
After
dinner I came onto roof and thought to sleep in open. Sleeping beneath blue sky
was something new. I could see the stars and small little clouds, changing form
in every minute and becoming big. I can
feel the presence of nature. I wanted to close eyes but I could not. I kept on
looking sky and all of sudden rain starts. I folded my bedding and went in
though I did not want to…
I woke
up in the morning and it was still raining. I was disappointed but joined the
family for celebration. After 12 noon weather becomes surprisingly sunny. I went to roam around and walked through muddy
path and ramshackle mud huts. It was rain so little water pool was everywhere.
I crossed them and went to huge paddy fields. Every field was divided with
narrow trails so I thought to walk on it. I remove my shoes hold into hand and
walk with bare feet coz it was wet all over. After a long and lovely walk I
back to road where a kid paddling cycle. I stopped him and ask for lift though
I didn’t need it but want to talk to him...
I asked
him – in which standard you read ?
7th
– his
quick reply came to me.
Today
was your leave ?
Yes
–
again he quickly replied. After shot pause he again said – I often don’t go
to school because there is no study in my school. Teachers don’t come into
school.
How
do you read then ? How do you clear exams without study ? I had lots more
questions in my mind
He
innocently replied – teachers came to my house to meet my parents and then
they gave me full marks. This was enough to tell me about the standard of
education there…
He
stopped me after a short ride and then I turned back. When I was returning it was
heavy rain so I stood down in a big Pipal tree but I was almost wet because I
made all efforts to save my camera. Anyways I turned back when it was drizzle.
In the evening I had nothing to do so I set there to listen family talks but
all went off from my brain coz they were taking in their regional language. Little I could understand was that they were
not happy with recent BSP government. They were talking about corruption and other
daily life problems. I heard this for little time and then went to sleep…
I woke
early and got ready for departure but before this I had to meet with a family
whom I met yesterday. They wanted me to have tea with them. Their house was small
mud hut. I entered into a verandah which was surrounded by small rooms. It was
mud floored and muddy everywhere. I went inside room where roof was again leaking.
I looked for dry place and adjust myself. Whole family, a husband, a wife, two
kids, one old lady, set around me. They wanted to know lots of things about me
like how I came here alone, what I do, who is in my family, do I always travel
alone and so on…
After
replying all answers I ask - why don’t they repair their house ?
All became
upset and with a sad face man replied – I was planning to repair it this
year but our crop got spoiled due to heavy rain. I am in a heavy debit now and
our government is doing nothing for us. They only made promises but don’t do
anything. Wife went to kitchen and man kept on saying – I am worry for
my kid’s future. I don’t know how will I give them a good life, good education
? it is terrible to do farming now. I am thinking to sell my land so
that I can earn some money and start new work. Farming is now a very costly
affair. His eyes became moist. It was really pathetic to see this.
Meanwhile lady came with tea and biscuits and said - I am preparing lunch
for you. Have food with us and she went off. Old lady was only staring me
but not saying anything. She was old enough to talk…
I asked
him - Would you be able to establish your life after selling your land ? Would
it be enough to spent life? His eyes were wet and he tried to hide but he
kept on saying - I will start business. By then his wife came with food.
She brought Dal, Rise, one green vegetable and chutney in a single plate. I
hold plate on my lap and start eating. Now wife said with her shy smile – stay
with us for one more day. We have a temple here which is our family god temple.
I want to bring you there. She was requesting from heart but I had to back
so I apologies. Rain was still in bad temper and water drops were still
trickling in. All became silent which I broke and said goodbye…
Again I took
Chhakda and then auto. Three all wet eunuchs were inside and ones clothes were
thin wet and touching her body. All male were continuously staring her and she
abused them badly and starts chatting with her friends. She said with broad
smile – I collected 15,000 rupees in last 3 days. Her friends looked her with strange
eyes and starts pulling her leg with adult jokes and laughed. I was also
smiling with them. Auto was full and passengers sitting where they could
possibly sit. Roads were logged with rain water and garbage was flowing on the
road which becomes cause for big traffic jam in which auto stuck for long time.
3-4 kids were jumping and swimming in logged water pool. They enjoyed rain
fully atleast there was something good otherwise reality of U.P.
administrations’ responsibilities was poking out through rain. After 3-4 hours
I reached Lucknow bus stand.
Now it’s time to
wait for bus which was around 5 P.M. so I set in waiting room. Though waiting
room was good but filled with muck. Eventually bus came and I acquire seat in
almost packed bus. We had traveled half n hour suddenly bus start bumping
bumping bumping and then stopped with heavy break. Everybody shouted like
anything. Driver got off and said with irritation – one tiyr has punctured. All
got upset went off and start roaming. After one hour everything gets on line
and bus starts again. After Bareilly it became heavy downpour and came to know
that all roads in hills are closed by landslide…
Bad news for me.
Early morning 4.30 I reached Haldwani bas stand it was jam packed with buses
and passengers. No bus was going to hills. I came out from station and enquire
to a policeman who advised me for not to go anywhere and also assured me that
Nainital root could be open by 4PM. I turned to waiting room which was again
jammed with passengers. I got seat in rickety iron chair where I took little
power nap. When I woke up it was light so I went out for tea. In tea shop I saw
a man who were looking very tensed and sprinting from one place to other
– where are you going ? – I asked
Lohaghat
– he replied
with no expression and then said - nobody
told me about weather here. I was going there for my son’s admission in
engineering collage. Don’t know what would happen now.
He became sad and
I moved from there and went into a bus. This bus was going to Dharchula and it
was here from since last night till 11. All passengers were saddened. I set
inside and spent almost 3 hours to listen everyone’s problems then I came out
and start roaming around again. It was drizzle and had no idea what next I am going
to do…
Meanwhile one taxi
guy came and said he can drop us Nainital.
How
? my question
for him.
He said – I will drop you near landslide and then
other taxi will pick up you from there and drop you to Nainital.
His idea was okay so
we 5 people agreed with it and set inside but when we reached police check post
they stopped and said no vehicle can go. We back to station again. I was badly
exhausted, tired and hungry and so on… Just wanted to back to home but there
was no sign of it so I thought to go to my friends’ house. It was 2.30 when I
reached his house. There I got refreshed ate something and took small power
nap. Around 4 PM I came to know that road is clear and I can go. I booked a
taxi and came from Kaladhungi road. This road was awesome in rain. Huge water
falls were dropping on road but I was only wishing to reach safely Nainital.
When I reached Nainital it was badly damaged with heavy rain and market was completely
closed. I walked back to my home…
