They say you must be content with the 'security' that life offers. The predictable path is the most reliable and repeated advice must be paid heed to. You ought to not quit that job and continue dealing with 'Devil wears Prada' boss, be safe when making your decisions, go to the dentist once in two months, have life insurance, and gosh you can't get soaked in the rain. The world has it's views and its repeated time and again. Life is sometimes forced upon us.
But then sometimes, just sometimes, you pay attention to what your heart says. I can't say I follow it religiously but I do have moments when I flip and clearly 'need' and not 'want' to do what I want.
The bug hit me last year. I read Harish's travelogue on his journey from Delhi to Bombay in an Alto. I was inspired. I went through various travelogues, noted the genius of HVK and somewhere in my heart I knew I had to do this.
Here's the catch. I learnt driving at 24 exactly a year back on my Chevy. Noone in my house drives and my mother is paranoid about vehicles unless she has the back seat. My first highway drive was in December 2011 to Jaipur and back. I repeated this stretch again 2 months back. Till a month back I didn't even know how to change a flat, and all that was about to change. My life was going to take a spin and I saw it coming.
Tada.. I barge into my boss' cabin (by barge I mean not literally barge, but one knock and I'm inside) and I ask her for leave. She grants me 12 days starting from the 30th May 2012.
I find out about the route and who else to the rescue but HVK and Ranjit and I'm all set. But hey, this is first ride exceeding 250 kms and I am nervous as hell.
Physically I'm fit as I do run regularly. I ran for 3 weeks leading up to my leave 5 kms everyday to build endurance for any fatigue I may experience.
My girl friend in Bombay is paranoid, she thinks I've lost sanity. My friends tell me I should wait for a better car. My service station guys give me the odd look and then they ask again.."Sir bombay is gaadi pe?"
The word spreads around on Facebook and I get calls from a couple of friends. One has the audacity to ask me if I have any last wishes. Clearly, none of them can ever make it to T-BHP. But I see hundreds of the 'been there, done that' folk among you all and I am ready for this.
I get myself an ice bucket, loads of munchies to snack on. Diet coke and water and I'm all set to go.
A full tank is done at the next door reliable pump and the air pressure checked and filled.
I crash at 10, but I can't sleep. Nope. Not happening. I try Yoga ..no respite. Oh did I forget to pack that shirt? When would I reach Himmat Nagar? I can't stop thinking. Dexter to the rescue.
I leave at 4.45 am and I remember to carry enough cash (not to forget coins for the nasty tolls).
I reach Highway King at 7.35 am. I can't wait for breakfast. I've been snacking on Granola bars( just for the energy, No I'm not exactly a health freak) and diet coke for the much needed caffeine fix. The drive has not exactly been a breeze I encounter truck traffic and so many diversions, I lost count. Anyway, the road is much improved from last time. I'm happy with my progress. The car is behaving well and so am I. You must behave on the highway right?
I keep reading on the log provided by HV Kumar sir which was my bible and plan my route ahead. It says right from the sign board for Mahindra World City. But I see it on my left. I have a 'what on earth?' moment and in my blondness keep driving straight. I stop ask people around but they keep urging me to drive straight for the expressway. Another one wants to know what it means. I reach Jaipur. I know I can take the expressway from the city but I am on panic mode and I don't know what to do. Well the left turn technically did curve towards the right. Yes it did. Oh noes! what on earth am I doing? Anyway, I take a u turn and go back and waste a lot of time doing that. I hit the HPCL petrol pump around 10.30. I've wasted a lot of time. I quickly go use the loo and know I need to make up time to reach Himmat Nagar. My next hault is around 12.30 at Amar Hotel's CCD. I quickly grab a coffee and within 12-15 minutes I shoot off to Udaipur.
So this is what a highway is. Delhi- Jaipur what? I mean really? That stretch from Delhi to Jaipur should be considered a city route and not a highway. This is beautiful I keep driving. The roads are empty. Its too hot for the truckers and thank god for that. I reach Udaipur at 5.25 but waste 20 minutes at the BPCL station trying to get some more petrol before I proceed to Himmat Nagar. I've never covered more than 250 kms in a stretch before and here I am sitting at 600 odd kms (minus the Jaipur city tragedy!!)
So I'm speeding along well and covering time and I'm happy that its going so well.
Suddenly, out of nowhere a pigeon decides to land just in front of my car. People run over dogs, cats and maybe cattle but here I was guilty of murdering a pigeon. I could see the wings go up in the air as I looked from my mirror. I had no time to react and it did try to escape but it could not. Pigeon karma was waiting keep reading.
I've come to realize we make situations difficult by limiting our thinking. Who would have thought a year ago with that 'L' sign on my car, I would be doing this. But I am and I am living in this moment and I am 250 odd kms from Himmat Nagar. I stop by a beautiful site before the descend from Udaipur towards Ahemdabad and just watch the cars and trucks go by. Life is beautiful and I realize my true calling is the highway. I see two little kids playing by the side. Amused by their antics of throwing little stones at each other I decide to keep moving. Hills..oh well I've never tackled these before but I manage. I decrease the speed and the Chevy behaves itself around corners. The car has urged me to push her and I have ofcourse within her limits but here's where you respect the road. There is no rush. Now the driving has taken its toll according to HVK's log I've covered almost 880 but in my panic and the unfortunate detour to Jaipur I had covered a lot more.
I slowed down and found Hotel Landmark. Excellent suggestion from Ranjit, it looked decent. But this is where the pigeon had to even even things out.
My valuables were spread everywhere. My seats folded flat behind and a suitcase and a 18 ltr icebox as luggage. I reached out for my laptop bag and got my thumb stuck between the zip of the bag and the pigeon has his revenge. A severely bleeding thumb with valuables all around. I struggle to wash it with water. The bleeding does not seem to stop. What on earth moment Again.
Somehow I make it to the room. Get the dettol out and make use of the bandaid in my first aid box. I watch a little bit of T.V and I look at the log. I made it to Himmat Nagar by 8.40 pm and I never in my wildest dreams a few months ago thought it was possible. I knew I was on my way to what I had been dreaming of for months.
I am sure it is just another routine run for you who do this often. But this was a first of many for me and I am so certain, I will always remember this run. Infact, I will always keep this car. Maybe a little too early to say that, but its been special. More to come