Waking up with Lekhana by my side, my charming princess had just passed 7 months and I was ready to leave on another adventure to the Himalayas. My wife Janya, expecting me not to leave, helplessly hid a lot of emotions behind her eyes. My train was booked for tomorrow but I had to make sure that I reached Bangalore safely without having to hustle with time. I got ready and went to pick up Kiran. We loaded the van, and started off as I kissed my wife and daughter. Nithin joined us in kudige and Akshay Somanna called me to say he was at the station too and wanted to see me off. Darshan was missing since he was plowing in the fields, I was really happy that he kept busy. All of us were not related by blood but my relationship with each one of them was very personal and valuable to me.
What just started as a part time job for Darshan and Kiran changed over time as they became my family. I met Nithin and Vivek through them. Nithin was a passionate biker and Vivek had already started his career working at another property. They were a bunch of hardworking and tough boys who had just passed Bcom and were slowly starting to plan on their futures. Kiran was now taking care of a injured Kite bird that I brought home. He came everyday to feel and nurture the bird before we let it back in the wild.
Akshay Somanna is a real gem who literally put me back to life from the grave while I was fading without motivation, killing my energy with just drinking and smoking. In fact had he not stepped into my life I would have ended in a depression for a lifetime. Akshay Somanna is with the Indian Army and is the Son of a retired Black Cat Commando Mr Somanna. He is a wonderful athlete when it comes to running marathons and shooting rifles, was a master of many sports. We met online with his interest in paragliding, later he wanted me to train him. We met for a few days of ground handling with the glider in his previous holiday and this time we did a number of adventures like camping in the forest, swimming in a 12 feet canal, push starting a royal Enfield to go meet the famous snake catcher Abdul Gaffar and a very memorable ride and trek to Chomakund near Virajpet. He literally puts me in action, pushing me to my limits every time we meet, making me feel a 10 years younger.
We brought all my gears to the platform, but unfortunately a few bus conductors refused to allow the bicycle. Suddenly Akshay brother has different plans, he said let's go on the bye pass and load it on a passing truck. Me and Kiran started moving the luggage when a bus entered. Fortunately they agreed, thanks to Nithin and Akshay for I don't know how they convinced them. I was planning to meet Arvind in Mysore but I guess he was busy which was good in a way or I had to reshuttle with my load. At first the conductor said he would take the expressway but he was ordered to take the normal route through Mandya and Ramnagar stopping at all major towns. I had no choice nor I wanted to shift all my load so I sat patiently. The bus reached around 7 PM to satellite bus station and I simply loaded it up and started riding to Akshay's house. Now this was Akshay Achar, my classmate and a good friend since college.
Most of my travels flags off from Akshay's house, I don't know a better place to start my journey on a positive note with a clear mind and relishing home made food. His family has been very accepting and understanding that they know my passion better than my parents, and I really feel like I belong to a family when I'm there. I knew all their family and relatives, all had come to Coorg 5 years ago and During Akshay's wedding I was treated like one among them by their entire family for I will be grateful always. The beauty of them is that being a Brahmin Family, they celebrate Christmas where uncle's muslim friend makes biryani and they cook both veg and non veg in the house. Sakala aunty is the home minister who keeps the family together, cookie is the executor who brings all plans to action, his mom takes care of the home and cooking. To see them all living together giving value and respect to every person's individuality, at the same time they all stand together as one family.
It took an hour to reach his home where I was cheerfully welcomed by Mythri, Akshay's wife. The house looked empty, he said they all had gone to attend a funeral. I asked Akshay if we could go grab some beers and they took me to a pub called Bangalore Adda on the new BEL road. A singer stood on the stage and sang many good kannada songs but the volume was a little too high not letting us to have a conversation. Cookie calls to say that they were back and asked us not to eat much outside. We finished a pitcher of beer and went back to his place to feast on some delicious chicken biryani and Mexican fried rice. I couldn't have anything during the day as the bus didn't stop anywhere for a meal. We had a long conversation after dinner, talking about my next adventure and about what was happening around their lives before going to bed. This time I was given his grandfather's room who was alive when I visited in the past.
The noices of the vehicles woke me up as early as 7 in the morning. I can't sleep back once I'm awake so I got freshened up and took a bath. Everybody woke up one by one and started getting ready for their jobs. First Akshay and his wife left, later cookie and Achar uncle left, wishing me a safe and a happy adventure. Pratham came down and I started talking to him about his progress in cricket, spoke about what he wanted to do in the future and I stressed on being ready for the battle life can offer. It was already 11 and I slowly started to pack things while sakala aunty was packing me some food for the journey since They knew that I don't prefer outside food much.
Bidding a bye to them I hopped on to the cycle and started riding towards yeshwantpur station, found out where I can parcel the cycle and filled out the forms. It cost me 380 rupees for the cycle, 100 for packing and a 100 for a porter. Fortunately my ticket was upgraded to AC class without any extra charges with a new seat number alloted. As the train started moving, my happiness of a comfortable journey didn't last so long. The ticket happened to be booked on a senior citizen quota and the ticket collector was not ready to listen or negotiate for anything but demanded I pay a fine of 3500 to sit in the same seat. No matter how much I requested he was eager to take that seat, maybe to sell it to someone else. I was moved to the sleeper class with a fine of 1300 without a confirmed seat leaving me worried of who will claim the seat I was sitting on. Initially some people were acting rude but over time I found a place, I had kept some liquor which I gulped and slept through the night.
Luckily nobody troubled me in the night and I was able to rest well, still having another 24 hours to survive. I watched a few movies Mazhai pidikatha manithan and the instigators, both worth watching. I started writing which kept me busy and occupied, realizing you must live a story to write one. It was a lazy day with a pretty humid climate making me so sweaty and sticky already. By the end of the day I was looking forward to a good bath as soon as I could. Maybe just reach Rishikesh and dive into the ganga.
Everything was comfortable until the train reached Nagpur, suddenly getting crowded with people coming and claiming their seats wherever I moved, leaving me without a seat for the night. I managed to request an old man and sat in one corner of his seat while he slept, I watched a movie, The Union and waited if any seat would get free. The night felt longer as I kept looking at the time. Also there were very few stops, not many got off but more got in. The old man who shares his space often kept asking me the time and if we passed Jhansi. At 4 : 30 in the morning the train reached Gwalior and the old man got off, leaving me with a seat and I crashed. When I woke up it was about 8 AM and the train was expected to reach Nizamuddin in an hour's time.
Hazrat Nizamuddin, I followed to get off the train and asked where the parcels would be? One person sent me to one end of the train but upon reaching they said if it's a cycle then it would be at the other end. As I reached the other side I could see a porter getting out the beautiful La Sovereign bicycle. I asked about the procedure while he asked me to follow him, we reached a parcel office just like one in Bangalore but here it was more crowded. They guided me to a few counters for clearance and in not more than 30 minutes I was out of the station after paying a 100 to the porter who helped. I asked around how far was the ISBT, Inter state bus terminal to know it was just another 10 kilometers. I loaded up and started riding towards it. Just as I reached the bus station, I was asking them around if they would allow bicycle while a man came and was force to take a Volvo. However luckily there was a bus to Rishikesh waiting to leave at the exit, I called the driver and requested if he would allow, the ticket collector came to check and agreed but asked me to hurry up as they couldn't stop there long. Quickly I unloaded and he asked me to take the last seat with all my luggage. I was very thankful.
Meanwhile Akshay Somanna calls to say he was in a flight, going back to the army and this time he was going to a place near Siliguri. Since his reporting was delayed by a day, he wanted to meet the gang of friends I made there from the tour on the Bajaj Platina in 2019. I knew of them was living in Bangalore, Dewash and I called Antony to know that himself and Samarpan were in the village and Sanam my partner was working for a restaurant in Chennai. I spoke to them and it felt so good bringing back so many memories. Samarpan was working for a tribal school and Antony was waiting to give his trials for the army and wrote exams for government jobs. I was so happy they made made me feel just as they were years ago and they agreed to meet Akshay. The flight had taken off so I shared them both the contacts and stayed put.
The bus was flying through all bumps and speed breakers throwing me all around the back seat, considering the traffic and the way he was driving, of course he was driving fast but so fast that I was hoping nothing breaks off. I was hungry since I had nothing after yesterday's dinner and this bus was ready to go in the morning, also didn't feel like taking a bite of anything in Delhi. I was really desperate for a smoke too so I rolled one in the bus and waited for it to stop someplace. When it did I first wanted to eat something, I asked for the cost of rice and dhal, he said 40 rupees and I said okay. The food wasn't feeling so good but I had to fill myself with something, for the shock he gave me a bill for 300. I asked what and he's saying only rice is 40 and the two small bowl of horrible gravy was charged 120 and even for the fried vegetables he had charged, for once I argued that none of that was what I ordered but couldn't help the greed for money. I left it upon God and went to light a smoke. A much much needed feeling after a pretty long journey. Something made me smile today, to see people selling coconuts at 20 rupees a piece remembered me of home where coconuts were common.
I called Dhaval Pandey to say I would reach Rishikesh when he said Sagar Bhai was in Rishikesh and he could host me for the night. Dhaval and I had a history after he came to meet me at Joy's home in Gujarat during the platina ride saying he was a fan. Infact he is my first fan who gave me a feeling of accomplishment for what I was doing then. I met Sagar Bhai last year when I came to meet Dhaval as they both rented a room in Urgam valley near Kalpeshwar temple. We had spent almost a month there chilling and exploring the surroundings. I called Sagar Bhai, he didn't answer at first but called back immediately. He agreed to give me some shelter for the evening.
I called Sagar Bhai to tell I reached and he shared me his location which showed 7 kilometres, but I missed a road somewhere and was shocked to see 8.2 kilometres. The heat was so theratening making me feel like a bad desicion already. I called to say that I reached and he said he's coming down. He welcomed me with a smile which was all I needed after a restless journey. I asked him if I could just stay for an extra day, he agreed. Within no time I asked him, if I could a bath? The amount of dirt on my body and clothes flowed in black colour. I felt so fresh after so many days that I was really very thankful to him. He took me out for a chai and I told him I needed a drink, we bought whisky and went back to cook something for dinner. I simply denied eating outside. I made potato fry while dhal was ready already and he made rice, so fulfilling that it's only when you are hungry you know the value of food.
His family sent food from his village the next day and we went to collect. Since I needed a solar charger he took me to a place where he had bought one but it was closed. As we were returning I found a electric store we found what I needed. I asked him to leave and said I'll look around the town and walk back. So much poverty, pollution and greedy to live better, so much population, I felt the town has sold off its vibe. I roamed on the banks of Ganga watching people living such lifestyle felt it can't be recycled forever. He called him to say I was starting to his place when he said stay back, I'm coming that way. We went back and feasted on some satisfying home food. I had a drink and saved another for the next day, planned to start as early as 5AM.
The alarm rang at 3:30 but with a little hangover, I pushed myself at 4 and was ready to ride before 5. Everything looked perfect except for the bag between my legs, having me to pedal with a slightly bent knee. The hangover kept asking me many questions as I left the city but later I was set with a pace. Just after 7 kilometres was a incline road that sweat out all chemicals from the body. I kept a pace, not in a hurry, nor I wanted to turn back. As it was the first day I wanted to realise how much energy I had to start this journey but as I climbed and climbed it was most by pushing the cycle one breath at a time. Just when I decided to rest I found show far away, the heat was simply cooking me like an oven, upon reaching there I was begging for something cold and there was a coka cola, which I normally don't prefer. Trust me it quenched my thrist. I took a seat to enjoy the relaxation while there stood 3 men with a broken radiator. Suddenly one of them started saying a story of his trek when he was around 20 years also had a beginner and expert mountaneering courses and also made it to the summit of Mt comet. He shared one of his story while he did the Har ki Dhun trek where he stayed back to freshen up and the rest of the group left, though he was close to the base, he couldn't find back the way so he decided to rest. Staying awake till 3 AM, unable to find sleep he aye some biscuits and tried to rest neat the fire. He opened his eyes in the morning to be in a shock 4 ladies around in front of him while they asked him what was he doing there. He said he lost the way when they showed it was right beside leaving him dumbfounded.
I asked how much more of inclination and he said after 7 kilometres they roads are ridable but for me another 7 kilometres in that heat was a big big challenge. Just when I had another 3 kilometres, wondering if it was just me going through such a test and that's when I met Ramesh with a cycle parked in a shade while maggi cooked in a portable gas. This man left me dumbfounded when he said he was doing 12 jyothirlings and was coming by road all the way from Telangana. At that situation all we could do was to tag along for the journey ahead. Now both were pushing the cycle up hoping for a slope that came after a few kilometres to ride down to reach Devprayag But again after passing the town we had to climb uphill. I had covered about 35 kilometres and was dying to push the peddle. I told Ramesh that wouldn't be able to push longer and I wanted to camp early. He agreed.
Suddenly a bike chased us to stop and say, we left someone behind. Since we ourselves met a few hours ago I said there wasn't anyone with us. That's when I saw a small cycle with a boy riding breathlessly towards us to say he wants to join along. There is no way to deny anyone considering the journey till Devprayag so we simply agreed. Yash Pal was 16 years old and was riding from Delhi. Whenever he couldn't catch up he simply stopped a bike and asked them to pull him. Clever bugger. As we rode ahead my legs were giving up on me and I was desperate to find a place and rest for the even, I found a ground where some kids played and confirmed with Ramesh and Yash if we could camp there and they agreed. Unfortunately after reaching down and unpacking the luggage, a teacher from a school nearby comes to say we cannot camp there since the place had wild bears. I wouldn't mind the bear but with the tone he spoke, I clearly understood that they were not happy with us staying for the night. For me not the unpacking mattered but climbing up a few kilometres to reach the main road.
None of us wanted to go back to stay in the town so we decided to ride ahead until we found the right place and we did find one within 3 kilometres. I suggested we first cook and pitch the tents later so we don't attract any crowd. I made some Dhal with pumpkin and rice, our drained bodies were waiting for some fuel to run. I had managed to clock up 78 kilometres and my legs were calling for an end of the day.
By 6 am we were packed to start gliding up and down the mighty ranges. The sun started heating us up very soon but we still kept our feet forward. At one point when it was too much to take we stopped to make some food while the sun passed it's peak. With what we had I managed to make a kitchidi with some pumpkin, variety of pulses that was soaked the previous night and rice all cooked together. There we met a cyclist who was just returning from kedarnath, had rode all the way from Jaipaiguri near Siliguri. After stretching the first day I cou8do much on the second and luckily Ramesh had some work on the bicycle with mine needing a new pair of pedals. It took some time while he suggested we can rest the evening at a Dharamshala, we took the cycles and checked ourselves into the Dharamshala. In the evening me and Ramesh, we went to the ghat nearby where the river alakananda flowed at a full swing, as I puffed a smoke to relax. My body suddenly felt very weak and I felt a fever had started. I tucked myself into a bedsheet and with my jacket over, I crashed like a baby. Someone shakes me to call me for dinner and I simply denied and tucked back.
I woke up so fresh that I assumed the time has gone beyond 9, the clock wasn't clear so I slept back. When I woke up again it was getting hotter and brighter, this time the clock said 4 am. I took my phone out to see the time was just 20 minutes past 4 in the morning. I was happy indeed for an early start so I woke up Ramesh and Yash. Yash wanted us to continue so we packed and set out before 6 am. Pushing each other to our best we reached near Rudraprayag and camped in front of a small temple. Soo. As we were trying to settle down a man came to say we cannot sleep there. We packed and rode ahead to find a good place to camp where we rested for the evening. Luckily we had a restaurant nearby who provided some food before sleep. Now we didn't have to worry much about the sun so we started riding at 7. The journey mostly went in pushing the bicycles rather sitting on the. For me since I started I was spending more time pushing the cycle rather than riding.
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