Unfortunately, Jim Corbett needed a 45-day prior online booking and cost 1500 per person. I skipped it and rode towards Haridwar. Reaching up North into the hustle again, for once I missed home.
In the evening around 4PM, while I cruised through the normal traffic, a Muslim family on a bike overtook me, slowed down and came closer asking if I was from Bangalore? I said, "yes, nearby." We continue to talk on the road, riding side by side for a while and he bid goodbye and rode ahead. He slowed down again and invited me for tea at his house. His name was Rashid, a barber working at a salon in Bangalore. He was riding with his wife and a 10-month-old baby, he was home on vacation. I agreed and followed him to his house and he ran outside again to grab some more snacks for the unknown guest. They served me water, tea, biscuits, carrot halva, samosa and egg pakora. Took me out for a smoke, bought me an extra cigarette, rode further and introduced me to his cousin, assured me of his help if I needed anything till I reached Haridwar or anywhere ahead.
Goodness! I was filled. I told them no one would even care to treat them the same in Bangalore. He had a good salary so was forced to live away from his family. Came home for a month every year. He was an unexpected gem that I found. Bidding goodbye, I moved on. After about 10 kilometres I found a perfect spot to camp on the river banks and laid down with a smoke in hand, tucked inside the sleeping bag. It felt less cold after staying in Uttarakhand but was still bone freezing.
I woke up around 8, took some time to pack up and just when I started the bike, a police Bolero with lights blinking came towards me with about 20 people gathering around. I turned around to check what was happening to realize they were there for me. Before me asking anything he asks me to zip down my jacket and started looking into my waist pouch. The main pocket had a wallet and phone, the next one turned out to be chillum and charas. I was scared but the issue was way bigger than a small stick of charas and chillum. It was during the riots for the National Register of Citizens and I was in the Uttar Pradesh jurisdiction sandwiched between Uttrakhand. After opening my bags and explaining my luggage, the inspector was cool. Next, the team of a sub-inspector arrived and rechecked all details. He asked me to sit in the vehicle and the inspector rode my bike with the luggage mounted. Looked like some locals had informed them about a suspicious man living in a tent.
The moment we sat on the bolero, they seemed calm and cool. They spoke to me and treated me well. Arriving at the station, they made me sit comfortably near the fire. Took a photograph and a copy of my documents. They served me chai and roti with dhal and vegetable fry before sending me off. My whole picture about Bihar and its people changed there. I rode on towards Haridwar and reached in the evening.
I booked a room at 250 a day and rested for 2 days. Bathed after a week, washed all my clothes and visited the Ganga for aarthi. Later when I Watched TV and lazed, Rajinikanth from Hyderabad messages that he was in Rishikesh just 20 kilometres away. I was too lazy to move, I told him I will meet the next day since I had paid for my stay already. I just took a walk outside, roaming around the markets, trying out street foods.
The next morning I moved towards Rishikesh. Rajinikanth was staying in the go stops hostel and had booked a bed for me. We met while he was with his cousins and headed out for rafting so we decided to catch up in the evening. I took a walk to the Ganga, visited the Triambakeshwar temple on Laxman jhula and sat there for some time before returning. Went again in the evening to see the aarthi. While I reached the sai ghat, I saw a woman doing yoga. I walked to the other side and did a few Surya Namaskar and watched the rituals for the holy river. When I came back I had a burger and fries with a butterscotch shake. Rajini wasn't back yet, I went to sleep.
I joined them on a trek to Neer waterfalls and they decided to stay in Udibaba campsite on the hills, I decided to join them, But I had to pay rent at both places because I was supposed to continue in the hostel as well. At Udibaba campsite they charged 800 with 3 meals. A group of 3 friends had started the place but now only 2 had stayed back to run. The landowner took care of cooking for the guests and it tasted good. The taste mainly came from the soil.
Another Punjabi family was staying there. A 60-year-old Jagjit and her 32-year old son Noorinder. After his father's death, the family broke down putting the son into depression. His mother said he was coming out on a trip after years. He was good at driving and had a lot of knowledge but was still a kid at heart pampering his mother for his every need. His mom was a strong lady, innocent but strong. After her loss, she had taken care of him and his sister on her own. Like me, even he had a broken career but recently had taken a new job that paid him well. He looked Happy. She said when both daughter and son went away for work and education she felt alone but now she had her son along.
They were also on a spiritual path but chanting to "hum yaha rahenge kyon." In the evening while I sat in the next tent listening to the chants, I went to their tent and sat meditating. There was so much energy in the chants but they didn't seem to feel it. When they stopped I ask them why do you chant asking why are we here? And said there is no point creating so much energy when it's not being felt or used. They were holding on to certain concepts and the mother was dominant and I let it be. It felt like they just wanted something to feed their minds. She advised me on quitting weed which hurt me and I asked, then why are you putting your son under prescribed drugs? Just because it's prescribed doesn't mean it can heal a mind.
I spent more time with this family than with Rajini and his cousins. They all looked conservative and comfortable on their own. Rajini was pulled around so much, I was better to be comfortable with myself. The next day they all left for Haridwar and I came back to the campsite. Camped again at udibaba paying him for food but Pitching my own tent. The next day, I drove with them to Kunja Puri temple, another one of the 52 Shakti Peets and the place where Shakthi's chest had fallen. In the evening, we all sat next to the fire sipping some Liquor.
After I started smoking charas I realized that my body felt weaker than with smoking weed. Charas heated the body to help in cheating the brain about the cold. It drains a lot of energy though and my food was limited. I reached the main road sweating with layers of clothing. Noor and his mother dropped me off exchanging goodwill.
I rode towards Himachal.
Related Videos
Picture Gallery
 |
Like the blog? Then support the blogger
You can contribute through Phonepe @ 7259496378 ( Akarshan Devanand )
Or
Bank transfers can be made to
Federal Bank
Akarshan Devanand Bhagwan
Account number - 19310100012360
IFSC - FDRL0001931
Kushalnagar branch
---
@Akarshandevanand
https://instagram.com/akarshandevanand?igshid=ZDdkNTZiNTM=
YouTube
https://youtube.com/user/TheAkarshan17
Thankful to them all, Thankful to the One! Much metta
Comments
Post a Comment