March 5th 2009, I just wake up and check my yahoo inbox (Very bad habit aashish). Generally all of are spam or mail form unwanted person. But, this time not like that, there was a mail from BMC about upcoming events in March. I just go through the mail. First event is “Night Trek to Makkalidurga [7th March 2009]”. I checked calendar to know what’s day on 7th March 9, 2009. What it’s on Saturday night. Yesssssssssssss I got one more chance for trek. I didn’t want to miss this opportunity. I have 6 days working and only Sunday I get as a weekend. So, for me it’s not possible to go on 2 or 3 days trek or trek on other working days because its hard to get off for me. So it’s very hard for me to be a regular trekker. Ok any way at least I got more chance to know more about Karnataka nature, to go on one more trek. I googled about Mallkalidurga but I didn’t get any extra knowledge about it other than whatever BMC’s guy mention. At office I talked to some of the colleagues if anybody interested to come with me. But, nobody wanted to come. They said “Mushkil Se Ek Sunday Milta Hey Hamin Us Din Bhi Tu Hamin Pahad Chadwaga. Tu Jaa Aur Hamine Maaf Kar.”
Because its night trek so I need a torch. I tried to arrange a torch. But, what this nobody have torch. All are like me. I don’t want to buy it because I cannot bother to collect this useless (except trek) stuff. I already have lot of unwanted and useless stuff with me. And,
March 7th 2009, at last a long waited Trek day came. I can’t arranged or buy a torch. I decided to go Big Bazaar near to office on lunch time. Before leaving for lunch I checked my yahoo mail-box. Manjula from BMC sent a mail about participants. When I read participants list I just surprised. There is nearly more 13 girls. I never expect any girl would be come on night trek. Now day’s Indian girls becoming so daring. Salute to all. After lunch I went to Big Bazaar with Gaurav. I purchased some choloates and other stuffs for next coming week. I asked for one of the salesman about torch. They said “Sorry sir, we don’t have”. What!!!!!!!!!!!. Are Sahaab you don’t have torch. Are Sahaab then what mean of Big Bazaar? I asked to Neeraj Ji if he have any idea where may I get a torch. He suggested me to get down at Super Market, Kundhanhalli gate. Most probably you will get there. If not, then you sure you will get road-side shop at Marathalli near Brand Factory. I little bit confused whether I buy a torch or not. I thought moons already in Waxing Gibbous phase so I hardly needed torch. I decided to leave office early. So, I talked to Divij Bhayia when he will leave office today. He said “I will leave at 5 or 5:15”. I said “Ok 5:30 done”. At 5:35 after saying to good bye everybody I left office. At down Bhayia was waiting for me with Promad Sir Ji and Ratin. After chatting few more minute (nearly 5-10 minute) bhayia dropped me near by bus stop. I missed bus for Marathalli by some seconds. Within next 2-3 minutes I got another bus 500-C. This bus was directly going to silk board. Again confused what will I do get down at khundanhallli gate or directly go to silk board. At last I took ticket for Khundanhali gate to take a chance may be I get a torch. Road was completely empty, but I don’t know why bus walking rather than running. At 5:05 I step down at Khundanhalli gate and run to super market. I directly went to electronics section and asked for torch. They showed me 3 torches. I decided to buy pencil-cell torch. I said to sales man to pack it. Before packing that guys check it and said “sorry sir, it’s not working.” I asked for another one he said sorry sir we don’t have any more in this category. What!!!! Ok give me this Heavy-duty one. I asked for give me one extra bulb and two extra batteries. He checked stock and said again “sorry sir “we don’t have bulbs for this torch. Ok leave it. I went down to ground floor and picked-up two extra batteries and went to payment counter. Cashier gave me bill for 1-kg of Moong Ki Daal. I just shocked what I bought Moong Ki Daal for what. I talked to cashier, sir (Are Sahhab) what is this. He said sorry sir (again this word 5th time). After paying bill I crossed signal and waiting for next bus at bus stop. At 6:15 I got 500-K direct bus for silk board. At 6:40 I get down at silk board. I directly went to ATM to withdrawing some money because no money in my pocket. On the way I memorized I forget to call Lakshman bhai for not delivering dinner today. At 6:50 I was at home. Lakshman bhai had already delivered dinner. I started to pack my bag and thanks to KEB for there timely support. KEB stopped electricity supply for next few minutes or hour. I turned on torch (its right time to test torch) and packed whatever I got in my hand. Its 7:15 I am already late so skip dinner and decided to take sandwich at MG or on the way of Makkalidurg. Before the main road an auto is parked. I reached to auto and asked for symphony theatre without noticing auto wala on the phone. I just disturbed him (Hows bad guy I am). He got ready to take me symphony. Hardly, we crossed Silk-Board Signal there is a terrific traffic block from Madiwala to Forum. What the hell this. It’s already 7:20 when I will reach. I want to be on time because; the punctuality word also has existence in this world. If you don’t care time, time will never cares you. Till 7:35 we were able to reach St. John Medical signal. Auto-rickshaw driver turn on MP3 player to cool my mind. How that guy sensed I need music. He just played song “Mere Rang Mein Rangne Wali from Maine Pyar Kiya”. After listing one more song “Mera Dil Bhi Kitna Pagal Hai” we crossed Forum. Its 7:45 and we just crossed Forum only. After forum there is no traffic till brigade road. We reached brigade at 7:55 after listing two more track from Sajan and again stuck in traffic. By hook and crook auto wala crossed brigade road. We just reached near to symphony there is no way to move ahead either by hook or by crook. I asked to auto-wala how much far symphony from here. He said just 10 meter from here at the dead-end just take right and you are at symphony. I paid to auto-wala, gave him thanks and got out from auto in between traffic. There is no single inch space to walk. At 8:03 I was at symphony by 3 minute late. After waiting 5 minutes I was feeling hungry. Traffic condition was so worst so I thought BMC’s guys take some more. It’s better to walk through MG road and find out sandwich and juice junction. I walked for nearly 1.5 km but in between no stall for sandwich. I got two juice junctions on the way at one junction nobody there and at another one owner said sorry sir, no power. I decided to go back to symphony. When I reached back to symphony I noticed a snacks shop is there and I walked whole MG road in search of juice and sandwich. Really I have to take a trip to a good mental hospital. I ordered for a veg-grill sandwich. I got sandwich after 20 minutes impatient waiting without grill. I hate it. I asked to owner for grilled it. He said “sorry sir”. I don’t know why every body saying me sorry sir today. What’s wrong yaar. Main Pak Gaya Ye Word Sun-Sun Ke. After finishing sandwich I started to measure symphony compound. When I was walking there I noticed a word “Twinkle” written on a cloth showroom. Something came to my mind, Ya you all are right the English nursery rhyme "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" which often sung to the tune of the French melody "Ah! vous dirai-je, Maman". It has five verses, but I remembered only first one:-
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky!
I back to my past, back to again in my childhood. When we are child, we always wanted to grow up but now we think why did we grow up? We thought when we grow up when can do whatever we want. We can watch more cartoons; we can go anywhere where we want, we can do whatever we want, no need to go to school, we can play as long as we want, we have more freedom. But in real all were fallacy. Now we miss our school days, our pals, our silly-silly mistakes, childhood games, fantasy stories, tension free days. Now we have all freedom but nobody want it. We have money, but can’t buy all those memorable days. We are just running without thinking. Now how much selfish and materialistic we are. We all forget real mean of life, if something remembered that is diamond, gold, euro, dollar, pound, position and reputation. We don’t have times for friends, for family and relative. We don’t have time for our favorite game. Not all of you, I also fall in this category. I am also running for just an identity, for recognition, for a name. Even I don’t have time for myself. I can’t understand why I am running; seven month passed I didn’t meet to my parents, my grand pa, my bro and sis. 2 continuous diwali and 3 continuous holi (including upcoming holi) I am not home.
Just one hour passed Janak is there. It’s 9:35. He cross-checked all participants with list and instructed to follow him. At 9:45 we started our journey. Its take nearly 20-25 minutes to cross MG road (only 200 meter). Suddenly Zahir come to mind. Even that Zahir hates me most. Zahir that I want to forget, that I want to give-up. Now I not have any existence for that zahir but still remember him. Why we make mistakes, perhaps for experience, perhaps to learn something new. At 10:40 Gaurav called me and again I messed my professional life with my personal life. We started all office talk that I hate most. After 6 minutes he hung-up phone. He memorized one more Zahir (How many Zahir you have Aashish). Again I lost in all my Zahir ( aksar........dil hi dil aksar... .tumhe soch kar dil hi dil aksar. ). In between the Makkalidurga ways bus driver stopped bus three times for dinner but what a bad luck all restaurant closed. At last fourth time at 11:25 we get restaurant. Janak announced “We are too late and all restaurants close down there today business, its only one in this that still open. Only idli and Dosa is available in dinner. Whoever wants to take dinner please take it fast.” I hate Idli but me like Masala-dosa but at this time no way. I decided it’s better to skip and I already had sandwich. I have enough chocolates and nuts to survive till afternoon without any problem. We start our journey again at 11:55 towards our destination. We reached at Makkalidurga at 12:20. Our goal was just 3 km from us. After 10 minutes a train passed. We carry sleeping bags and started to our twinkling journey at 10:40. If anything is there that is only a silence that giving relive and peace to our soul, moon who showing us our destiny, twinkling stars who guiding us, wind who making us strong enough to face all challenges to achieve our goals. At 1:30 we crossed half the way. Suddenly a girl (I don’t know who’s that girl, but it doesn’t matter) started to cry mummy!!!!!!!!!!! Main kabhi Nahi Aaongi Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! How she can easily give-up. What a foolish decision. Why sometimes we easily give-up challenges without thinking, without struggling, without trying one more time. I still don’t understand; may be we don’t have enough courage and confidence, may be we don’t have trust on our self. But, one thing I know that is whenever we fall in problems and we cries Mummy it gives us courage, confidence, patience for waiting right time, trust. Mummy words you can do anything, you can conquer this world. I think “she also asking for same for courage, confidence, and trust to conquer that hill, to reach on top”. Only move on, be careful, wait guys only these word echoing everywhere. At 2:11 at last we conquered. We are on the top; top of the world, top of the all fears, close to nature. Everybody feeling more relax, more confidants, calmer, more fearless. I think the word mummy gave that girl enough courage and confidence that she is also there. I think that girl give-up his foolish decision “I will be never come.” Now she is feeling more confidants, fearless. Now she has trust that she can also conquer the world. May be she try one more time whenever she will fail. As soon as we reach on top of the hill everybody started to click Lord Shiv Ji just like as Show Stopper make presence on ramp. (Abe oye Duniya Ke No.1 Pagal God always be celebrity samja.). After clicking some shots, I sat down on a wall alone. Staring at sky, there is moon alone in among crowd of stars just like me. I was searching my grandma in the sky who giving me his care, warmth and love. I prayed to god whenever I alone, nobody with me and wind against me, give me mom’s patience, give me dad’s guidance, give me grandpa’s experience, give me sis’s love and care, and give me my bro’s confidence. Make me strong enough that I can walk on right path without fear. Give me power to take decisions. How peaceful that place. Only voice of joy, music of wind was there. Wind was too cold, it was shaking me. I don’t know how I resisting it. I don’t want know why I want to feel power of wind, his presence. Wind purifying my soul and giving me warmth. I started to digging up my self. I am tired, I want to sleep but when I don’t know, I am missing home but when I will be there home I don’t know, I stayed a lot, I want to be restless but how I don’t know. But one thing I know that is I don’t want to be a pond or lake, I want to be river that always keep flows one place to other, flushing all ill-will, a needs to thirst and a mean for crops. At the end I want to merge in sea. But, don’t want to be sea because it is too vast and somebody takes a long time to cross it. I want to be river so that anybody can be able to cross me. Why it’s happen to me. Again air filled in my stomach due breathing. May be there is any trek when things not happen to me. I tried to vomit but……….
At last at 3:30 I decided to take a sleep. I unpacked my sleeping and lay inside it. But I can’t able to sleep. I started counting stars. Again I reached to my childhood. After a very long time I am lying down under upon sky. I still remembered when I was child whenever we went to grandpa’s house in summer vacation, me and cousins we all use to sleep on roof-top under open sky. I still remember all funny moments, grandma’s fantasy stories, playing Antakshari, scaring to shadows, shouted and making funny voices whenever any dog bark or somebody pass through road.
Mujhko yakheen hai sach kehti thi Jo bhi Ammi kehti thi
Jab mere bachpan ke din thay, chand mein pariyaan rehti thi!
Ek ye din jab apnon ne bhi humse naata tod liya
Ek wo din jab ped ki shaakhen bojh hamara sehti thi!
Ek ye din jab saari sadken ruthi ruthi lagti hain
Ek wo din jab aao khele saari galiyan kehti thi!
Ek ye din jab jaagi raaten diwaaron ko takti hain
Ek wo din jab shaamon ko bhi palkein bojhal rehti thi!
Ek ye din jab laakhon gham aur kaal pada hai aansoon ka
Ek wo din jab ek zara si baat pe nadiyaan behti thi!
Mujhko yakheen hai sach kehti thi Jo bhi Ammi kehti thi
Jab mere bachpan ke din the, chand mein pariyaan rehti thi!
Really Jagit singh voice makes this ghazal so beautiful, realistic, and meaningful.
At 5:30 I got out from sleeping bag and started to roam here and there alone to exploring that place. I am not only one who can’t able to sleep or don’t want to sleep others also like who exploring whole hill in dark. It was 6 o’clock everybody waiting for sun-rise to click it to make a memorable day, a memorable trek. All were stand on wall or rock side in a line to catch sun-rise in their camera. As soon as started sun-rise begin all camera started to click it. Some of the guys were trying to play some tricky photography with sun. Sun one more celebrity is there who wants to miss a chance to capture it. After clicking some pic I start back to base. In the way I noticed palash tree (Kinshuk, Dhak, Kankrie, Polashi, Parasu, Muriku, Shamata, Modugu, Khakda, Flame of the forest, Bastard Teak or Parrot Tree). I saw palash tree after very long time. I still remembered fragrance of its flower. We used to make color from it on Holi. Holi (3rd continuous holi in
It was my first experience to a night trek. It’s really exciting. I learned a lot of thing from it. Thanks to all to took me close to nature once again. Thanks for made me home sick little bit (Don’t want to complete). Thanks for taking me back to my past (My childhood) that I always all want to visit, even people say forget past, live in present. Sorry boss I can’t forget my childhood period of my past.
Ok bye its 5:15 am and I also have office today. May be see you people again.
http://picasaweb.google.com/joy.karan/MakkalidurgaNightTrek7thMarch2009#
or
http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#Album.aspx?uid=16570333890365015348&aid=1236544925
