Early morning. December’s early morning. Infectiously cold. I walked down to the auto stand to catch hold of one to drop me at the picking point. Going out had mixed emotions shadowing me and running away to contribute something to the social cause.
Reaching the centre where I was supposed to pick them up in a Tata Safari, which looked quite new to my surprise. After having the customary greetings and exchanges, the Car was filled up. Not knowing anyone else over there proved to be very odd, but yet meeting new people and the experience that was on the cards, was something that gave me a kick.
Maybe it was the cold or the initial hesitation that kept most of them to be quite, but as the sun woke up by slowly removing the blanket covering itself that started vanishing. I comforted myself in the front seat along with the driver, before we stopped midway to have our breakfast. A couple of Jalebis and lots of puris down the stomach, put on a big smile on all their faces, which were all silent and dull all this while. Words started pouring out from their end, as if the food was all that did the talking for them. I was munching away my jalebis, savouring the taste along the way, before the eldest of them came and enquired as to how this was actually made. I wondered at the mere thought as to how someone, not know about the magic of jalebis. When I turned to answer him with slight astonishment flashing across my face and a smile of sarcastic indulgence garnishing it, I noticed it was the partially blind Ravi, who was asking that question.
Somehow, I couldn’t straightaway answer him back. My answer wasn’t depended on the question that was asked, but the person asking the same as well. Just out of curiosity, folded with the polite tone, I retorted back with, “Aapne jalebi nahi khayi kya kabhi? “ to which there was a chuckle of rememberence and “Oh!! Jalebi hai ye”.
There was realization on my part, that this was not just any other person asking it, but Ravi who had asked the question. For some strange reason, I didn’t ask anything else but the thought of being the “guide” had just materialized. I thought of the fact that I should make this trip, not just productive for them but also make them enjoy through my eyes as well.
Hopping back on the extremely big Safari, instead of seating myself in the comfort of the front seat, I sat at the back along with Ravi, Harish, Kiran and Kalpesh; while Jeetu, the youngest of the lot gave Raheem, the driver company in the front seat.
With one topic to another, experiences being shared and laughs being echoed inside. On a particular song that the driver put on, they all ganged up on Kalpesh and his story of how he met his wife. A love marriage back there was still a new thing and his story was something very filmy or philmy as they put it. The story wasn’t anything really over the top, but the sheer joy they all shared in laughing at Kalpesh’s “misery” and the subsequent endeavors.
We stopped midway, almost 1 hour away from our destination to soak in some pan frenzy (beetle) as suggested by our Driver. Now, these people had never tasted that before. It’s not like there in Siliguri they don’t get these, but never got to chew in these leaves before. For first timers, it’s always preferred to start with a meetha pan, and this being one of my personal favourites pestered them all with this only.
Now with the size that filled their mouth with the reddishness of the pan flavor and making them blister out parts of it, even to the extent that spitting some of it on others along the process, and again laughing it off on each other again. I stood there admiring how life is so uncomplicated for these souls, whose vision is hampered by no fault of theirs. Yet the simple joy of togetherness is mastered through the bonhomie being visible all across their pan laden faces.
Although splitting with laughter had gave way for spitting it out among each others, still at the end of it, the customary spitting it out procedure was carried out near a dust-bin placed nearby instead of just doing it anywhere as Rahim suggested. This particular act of theirs, to keep the place clean even though they cannot soak in the visual pleasures, is an example of what these guys were.
Zooming ahead with the team while talking through about the descriptions of the notable things that came across and at the same time listening to their co-relational conversations among themselves, we had almost reached Mosaboni. The talk about their own culture was interesting for me and enjoyable for them. After having reached the venue, and greeted with the refreshments, which they enjoyed after a long ride from Jamshedpur.
The reason for the meet was to get them acquainted with the necessary working knowledge of how the Disability wing of Jharkhand works, so that they could use the experience to help their own wing back in Siliguri. A lot of positives came out of the meeting, with involved discussion from everyone, sharing problems and their solutions. Journalists had also gathered along to help promote this meeting and highlight the social issue.
Although there was a plan to stay back and be a part of another meeting, but it was cut short due to the postponement of the meeting, and we needed to wrap it all up on that day itself. So returning back, we went in to one of the roadside restaurants and ordered food. I must add here that the food was terrible to my taste buds and I left half of it.
After washing my hands, I stood there waiting for others to finish their food plates. It’s amusing that how these people had so much of understanding affection between them. Ravi and Harish, the visually impaired were being fed by Kalpesh and Kiran, who had a physical disability due to their legs. While Jeetu, who was partially blind, ate his way through the plate without any sort of complaints offered to anyone. Like most of the things that I saw, I again wondered as to how, they could adjust to each and everything that was thrown their way.
While returning back, I was calm and soaked in the time and experience of just one day of being with these wonderful people. Wonderful as they were, gave me a lot to think about. I exchanged my numbers with them, and assured them that if I ever happen to visit Siliguri or any place near North Bengal, should call them up.
Good bye it was then. Leaving them with the other guide, who was to arrange for their train tickets to return back to Siliguri, I returned back home. It started raining, while I was almost nearing my home. Getting out of the Safari at that meeting point itself and taking an auto back home and then finally getting drenched in the rain to enter my home. There is a certain amazement associated with the rain-walk when you are happy. You just want to let it go and soak in the awesomeness coming from above.
Coming back home to my Ammi’s surprise and scolding of getting wet, which might make me bimaar, I changed up soon. She dried my hairs and made me a coffee. Sipping it down, while looking out through the window on the movements of droplets along the panes, I kept on thinking about the fact that this was the best trip of my life. Even now, when I remember that time and the experience I had, add to it the learning I still feel the same.
The happiness that got generated post the trip and the things I learnt, i would someday take others to experience the same joy which i became a part of.
This entry was written in association with Indiblogger for Yatra.com.