The Amazing Road Trip - 1
Vicky and Raj are two best friends, at present they are living thousands of kilometres away from each other. One is settled in abroad and one is in India both are successful personalities in their own world. Their relations are like bosom friends or brothers for life. They have done many spectacular things when they were idlers. They both shared some common interests like body building and making fun of others. They both used to spend hours in gym doing exercises and in the evenings they go for ride in the town just to find somebody whom they can make fun of, irritate, annoy and then they would settle down the matter light heartedly and return home. Vicky looked very serious and so nobody doubted him as a real nuisance for all. Raj looked very innocent and clever, please always considered him ‘a nice guy’ but he too was sometimes a dangerous customer for those who underestimated him. They both have no worry for anything until one day when there was letter from foreign land came to Vicky’s house.
Vicky’s uncle was in a foreign country and he proposed that Vicky should be sent there for a better future. Everybody was happy at home that Vicky will have a better life. That night both the friends were tensed and serious. Even other friends were shocked why these two guys were so serious. The thought that two best friend would be separated in three months time was hurting both of them. For about one hour both of them sat silently without uttering a word. In the end, Raj had a fantastic idea. He announced that we have three months time and we will make the most of it. Vicky also agreed with her that those three months would be the most glorious months of their lives. They thought of several things that could be done so that those memories last for life time.
After a week, it was a very chilling winter night. They both were sitting at their favourite place, Hanuman Temple. This small temple was located in between a huge open area. There were lot of trees and wild bushes. Some snakes lived in that area but Vicky and Raj cared about none. Every night they used to sit there without caring about weather. That night they thought about a road trip. They started working on plans, budgets and places to make the road trip, the most memorable one. The intention behind the road trip was to have at least one great incident which would be a memory for lifetime. They thought of various things which could be done in that trip. The most difficult thing was to get the permission of the parents because these guys decided a road trip of five days and this to in the dense forests areas of Gir.
They both tried a lot to convince their parents but the parents were worried about the safety of their sons. Raj was the only son and delicate darling for his parents but after long discussions and hesitations, they gave him permission. At the Hanuman temple both the friends allowed nobody to come there and a long plan was worked out for the road trip. They estimated a budget of 4000 bucks for five days was more than enough but they got 5000 bucks from their parents. In the year 2000, this amount was quite handsome. Raj had a new bike so obviously they had no issue for the bike. They planned to take a single bag for necessary things. It was decided that they should never compromise on lunch or dinner. Raj was very choosy in terms of food items so his mother gave special instructions that they should eat the best and the costliest food available.
Next morning with the sun rise, they both started their road trip to the jungle of the Gir. Their first destination was Tulsishyam. They both were very excited and were over enthusiastic. Tulsishyam was just 160 kms away from their home but they took unconventional roads, they took village trails rather than going through highways. It took them very long time to reach their destination. They both were mesmerized by the scenic beauty of the jungle. They enjoyed the jumping of monkeys on the way, sounds of various birds and also chased a mongoose which appeared on the road. Many times they used to halt at different places and sat there talking about their lives and funny moments of the past.
Tulsishyam area is located in the Gir forest. They reached by 2’o clock in the afternoon. They went to the temple over there and then directly went to the person who was in charge of the ‘Dharmsala’ there. He managed a wonderful lunch for both of them and everything was going as per the plan. The man served them with his hand and he was a very lovely person. They got a room over there to stay overnight. Then they went to the ‘Hot water springs’ over there.
‘Hot water springs’ of Tulsishyam are just fabulous. It is said that they have some divine powers in them to cure skin infections and diseases. There are three small ponds of hot water one is normal other is high and the third one is the hottest. The water in the third pond is simmering all the time and one could see vapour from a distant place. Raj and Vicky were just going crazy when they saw this wonder of the nature. They just jumped in those ponds and enjoyed bathing for more than two hours. As it was winter season, every now and then Raj would dip himself in the hottest pond where nobody dared to go. In one minute he would come out from that pond turning reddish due to the heat of the pond.
Then they again went to the mountain side. They climbed the steps to the Rukshmani Temple located on the top of mountain. They had a spectacular view of entire Gir forest from that mountain. It was a fantastic scene. They sat there for two hours and decided about their next destination – Diu. Raj had some different plans in his mind. He thought that Diu means only beach and nothing else. According to Raj they should go to all the places of Gir forests which were seen from that mountain. It was a risky task. They had arguments for sometime but in the end the plan was changed. The next morning, they would return to Dhari for new destination. In the evening they had nice meals and then they sat in a big hall of the Dharmashala. Local person told that the next day there would be some ceremony so the guests would be coming in plenty. A lady called the two boys to help her in preparing Laddus for the ceremony and they readily agreed to help the strange lady. After sometime both the boys became friendly to the family who was hosting the ceremony and then to the guests who arrived there. Everybody started believing that these two boys were really nice members of the host family and for whole night both Raj and Vicky talked and enjoyed with the strangers. At 5’O clock they went to their room for their sleep.
A member from the host family woke them at 2’O clock in the afternoon as he went there to call them for meals. They woke up and got ready and suddenly realized that they were out of time for their next destination. Due to immense pressure from the host family they took their lunch with them and hurriedly bid farewell to all and left for the next destination. They reached Dhari in one and half hour and straight away went to a local shop. The owner of the shop informed that the checkposts of the jungle would close in two hours and they wouldn’t allow anybody to stay in jungle at night. The owner also told that if they went to jungle and establish some contact with the localite at ‘Sapnesh’, they would keep them as guests. ‘Sapnesh’ is one of the Neshdas or small villages of the ‘Maldharis’ or cattle rearers in the Gir forest.
They decided to take the risk. They entered the forest in the evening. The road after checkpost was really dangerous. There were big stones and pits almost everywhere. In next one hour, they could hardly cover a distance of ten kilometres. At five o’clock, they both had same thought in their mind what if they couldn’t find the area of ‘Sapnesh’ or what if the local people didn’t allow them to stay there. Anyway they continued riding their bike. Raj was riding the bike with utmost care because they sun was about to set and soon they would see lions or leopards for their hunting. They also worried about their tyres of the bike. If the tyre got punctured, they would be in trouble.
From a distant place, Raj saw smoke. He understood that they might be people somewhere nearby and in few minutes they reached ‘Sapnesh’. It was a small place in the wild. They parked their house near a hut and started searching for somebody who could talk with them. Both were very practical. It was decided between them that they could afford upto 1500 bucks to anybody who would lend them a shelter. They talked with a local person about stay. The man was suspicious about these two boys and frankly told that they could not offer them a room. Then they went to other person and asked for shelter and that man reluctantly gave him permission to live in a hut which was close to place where his cattle was locked.
They both were happy to get a shelter. That place had no electricity and it was the biggest shock for them. The man managed a lantern for them and gave a match stick if in case they required. As per the agreement they gave 1000 rupees to the localite. The localite gave them two buckets of water which can be used by them for bathing in an open air bathroom. The man gave them wonderful food ‘big rotlas of bajri’ and tasty ‘sabji’ which they hadn’t seen throughout their lives. In the evening they went to that man’s house. It was small kachcha house made up of mud, bricks and other materials. Wife of that man was preparing some superb handicraft items. Raj went to her and she showed him many items prepared by her. He made toys, decorative items and many other things in her leisure time. Raj asked for one thing as a memory for his family and she gave him one thing made by her own hand as a gift to the guests. The young boy of the man was singing some songs and playing on ‘Ektaro’. ‘Ektaro’ is an old musical instrument played by pulling its strings in different ways.
Vicky, Raj, and father-son duo sat together in the dark. The man told stories of his childhood and stories about his encounters with some of the dangerous lions of the Gir forests. He narrated about some strange saints and strange incidents that happened in the forest area. Vicky brought some dried sticks and cow dung cakes and they had fire to keep themselves warm. It was a very cold night and Raj had put on his army jacket and a woollen cap. The only problem for Raj was mosquitoes because they were in plenty in that area.
The man told many so many stories and facts about lions that Raj and Vicky got interested in it. They listened patiently and asked questions for explanations. These local people believe that lions are a part of their cultural heritage and as a result they have played an active role in the conservation of lions in the Gir forests.
In the ends, Raj and Vicky boldly asked him to take them to forest at that time. The man was worried and he replied negatively. He informed that there was risk of their lives and other factor was forest guards. If the guards found them roaming in jungle, they would have to face severe consequences. This didn’t stop both of them.
They both started walking towards the jungle. They could hear strange noises of various creatures. Suddenly, they heard a loud roar of a lion. It seemed that there was a lion near to them……………………….
……………………………..What happens next?????
Have they taken extra risk?
……. Will their trip would end in tragedy?
…….What will they do in this situation??????
The adventure has just begun…… Keep reading…… The next part will be published soon on Matrubharti….. And guys if you liked this please rate it and review it….. Your reviews and comments are very important for me……… Keep reading………. And one more thing……..this is based on real life incident…….I have changed the names of characters and some places in order to avoid any controversies………..Enjoy reading…………………
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