Travelling has always been a treasure hunt for me while unfolding new places , creating memories and incidents to remember for life. Last few days has given some of the finest moments of life in the company of nature and family while traversing the country side. The days were spent hopping from one historical monument to another religious place and in between hanging around to relish the deshi food in the road side dhabas. Today was also another day of the recent road trip in west Maharashtra . As usual, we picked up “Bada Paw” and some fruits and started the journey after checking out from the hotel. We never preferred the breakfast in hotel just to get the taste bud charged up with new food wallah. Our destination was 100 km away this time and road was also expected to be extra bumpy, so intentionally we kept ourselves lighter. After settling in the baggage on the back seat , my wife as usual picked up the window seat to enjoy the nature. The daughters were besides her with their phone lens ready to capture the moments and snap chat back to their friends in school and college. Some times, I wonder why they are hooked up to phones but I guess this generation is impatient for story telling and so they remain glued up with technology. Unfortunately, I am still of old school and love front seat next to driver which gives a wider view and every opportunity to pick up some local knowledge from driver while chit chatting on the way. In the process, even the unknown drivers becomes a closer friend than those with whom we spend years as sophomore.
Engine cranked, wheel rolled and row of houses and empty field started getting left behind . Only five of us were moving forward, rest everything was just whispering bye after giving a pleasing short memory.it took almost three hours to reach the destination. Typically in India, any of the tourist places keep buzzing round the clock but somehow their was a deep silence in Ajanta. This gave some anxiety to us. We tried to find any one who could guide us on where to go now but no one was visible. Suddenly, two guys come from behind flagging tourist information books. I had sigh of relief but the next sentences they spoke in local language was heart breaking. I was not ready to accept this. “Today the site is closed” - all the excitement of last few hours went away as if some one has pinned the fully blown balloon.
We were disheartened but our cab driver was a wiser guy, understandably parked the car on the side and asked us to first think and then decide rather than just reverse the car and go back. I murmured to self “what a stupid person I am!!” Should have checked the closed days while planning. With disgusted look, I got down and started talking to those guys. I didn’t want to give up and at least have the glimpse of the place what ever I can. I strolled trying to understand options from them. Wife was not so keen to stay back but perseverance is my forte. Though mostly, we take decision in unison but exploration is something I have to do alone. So, another round of digging started with open conversations with people around. What I got to know from the conversation gave a little ray of hope of further exploration. There were few shops nearby and some more local guys. I spoke to another one whose comprehension ability was better than the earlier ones. He showed me a picture and explained that I can get a much better view of the caves from slight far distance but will get a different experience. He also asked to take one of his friend as local guide. After some quick negotiation, he agreed for Rs 800/= for the trip guide. I went back and spoke to my wife to just get stamp on the decision from her as well on which I already had made up the mind. Went back, sat on the front seat and said let’s bet another 800/- on this. The guide went first on his bike and our car followed. We kept following unaware of what exactly we are going see but just hoping against the hope that we might see something good. After 5 kms of zig zag mountain road, we stopped at a small hotel as I wanted to use the washroom. And since the hotel offered the facility, so we decided to have a cup of tea as well. My mind was a little lost, still cursing myself on ill planning. After the short break, we again went back to the car. The guide told that we now have to take a diversion and travel another 2-3 kms to reach the view point. We followed him but after 5 Minutes, when we reached our destination and once we got down , it was a mesmerizing view. The word which come out of our mouth was “WOW”. The whole sadness and and anxiety vanished in a fraction of second. The entire cave was visible from there and perhaps, we would have not come and seen this view if we had gone to original place. Phones started clicking. Since the Guide had taken some money, also needed to show his acumen on location knowledge and skill of photography. He asked us to pose in different angles and clicked a few himself. From there, we saw steps for going down and reach closer to waterfalls and caves. At this age and extra weight, one thing I fear a lot is putting pressure on body. At one end, the steps were taking to excitement but on the other hand fear of climbing back was giving a bit of stress. Unsure about oneself, I looked towards my wife and daughters. They were excited and didn’t want to loose any second from there on . So, with heavy heart and hoping somehow, I would be able to climb back, I followed. Every step I was going down, mind was actually thinking that one more step to climb while returning. But we went on, through the trekking route and in the lovely greenery on thee backdrop of mountain. Once we got down, it was closer look of caves and panoramic view was becoming more and more encapsulating. The eyes become wider when we saw the waterfall and entire caves from end of the hill. It was titanic experience and every picture we clicked would be something to remember for ever.
One would have preferred to stay there for hours watching the mountain, greens and beautiful caves. These place make us feel so proud of our heritage and country. But, good things doesn’t last for ever. After spending an hour or so and enjoying the “lemon water”, we decided to take the onerous task of climbing 500 steps. As I was put wrong on few occasions, this time also proved wrong. I climbed much comfortably and gave me confidence that heart is still pumping well.
After settling the money we decided to return but much more satisfied. We had to reach Pune before 10 Pm, so planned short break for lunch and keep moving uninterrupted.
On the way, we stopped at a lovely open air hotel, had a traditional Indian Thali to keep the stomach satisfied. As usual the drive was long and pleasing 5 hours of non stop drive doesn’t had any dull moments. Road was perfect, the side views were awesome and joking about the experience made it more enjoyable. Suddenly , we were heading and about enter the Pune City, I realised , my watch is missing. It was an expensive Apple Watch. Some how the bad omen was continuing to follow me today.
I panicked for a moment serching my bag and other places in the car but couldn’t trace. Holding my head, I took a deep breath and asked my elder daughter to use the search function in apple phone. She tried and it gave some location . First I thought , I might have left it while taking the lunch but location it was showing was different. Then I realised, we had briefly got down before the view point and I went to wash room. I kept my mind rolling back every frame of what I did there and I remembered that I had put the watch aside to clean my hand and perhaps forgot to put it on. The bigger challenge was we are already 300 KMs driven from that place and it’s night and next day morning was the return from Pune, so no chance what so ever to go back. I tried hard to remember the name of hotel but none of us could. Tried checking the payments I made there, so that I could find the phone no. But to utter dismay, I had made a cash payment there. So no way to reach or find out. I didn’t take the phone no of local guide , so even the chance of reaching out to him was ruled out. I was repeating to myself “what a silly person I am!!, can’t even keep my mind awake”. All the joy of last 4 days were counter balanced with one loss. Every one was silent but elder daughter kept echoing that people in Maharashtra are very honest and if I could reach somehow to the location or person, I will get back the watch. Also, my silly mind was googling every option to find some contact in that area. I was somehow convinced, I need to find some contact number and then can reach to that hotel. With a key word of tourist guide near Ajanta, I saw some names popping up in google search result. One name looked quite authentic with business card also appearing in image. The card was stamped with Govt of India and there was a cell no also written. First I thought why an unknown person will take any interest in my problem but desperation overrides all the emotion and I called up the gentleman. After a couple of ring, the person picked up the phone. His voice was welcoming to take the conversation further. He patiently heard my story and immediately could recognise the hotel with my description.I don’t know why he took interest but his voice made me to trust him more and I gave every details like what time I reached there, who were with me, my car no etc etc. I also shared the family photo.He said he will come back. I kept waiting anxiously for next few minutes. I don’t know what was going in the mind of all other occupants in the car but seems everyone was thinking, we have found a lead , a reasonable lead.
In 5 minutes, the guy called me back. He said he has located and watch is safe and in custody of hotel staff. In one day I got two surprises after complete dead end. First time, I could get to see an awesome view of nature and human work. The second time, I met an unknown person who sneaked in to bring smile on the face of five person. This joy was much more because otherwise our four days of accumulated happiness would have been dampened. He was truly a god send.
The next challenge was how to get back the watch. It was lying in remote area and difficult place to reach. But the gentleman Bharat offered some solace, called me couple of times that night and next day as well. Since by now, I had developed a deep trust, gave Bharat a free hand to spend money if needed to get back the watch. He asked me to wait for 1-2 days. But some how , it seems hotel staff sensed an opportunity to make some money. When Bharat send some tourist driver to pick up the watch on the way, the hotel staff didn’t gave and asked that they need a cab to come and deliver. Seizing the opportunity, they wanted to make some money. Bharat called me to enquire, should he go ahead with this. I told him okay and also made some transfers so that he doesn’t feel like that I might not pay him later.
Finally after 2 days, the watch arrived and Bharat paid those guys the extra cab fare and another Rs1000/- on top as thanks. I transferred back all the money to Bharat. He didn’t stop there. I asked him to deliver to one of my company's extended business relation in that city. He went and delivered the watch there so that I could get it back without relying on courier services.
In today's world how many such selfless person are alive. I think there would be plenty otherwise the word "trust" would have vanished from dictionary. The watch has come back but it gave me a real experience of use of technology, mindfulness and trust on human kind. I didn’t meet Bharat but hope to see him in near future because I will fail in my duty if dont thank him in person.
Thanks everyone for patiently reading this true happening of events.
——prakash—-
