7:30am bus or 8:00? The confusion still prevailed. Nevertheless I was heading for Jyoti circle and was sure to reach by 8:00 only. This left me with only one option.
It wasn’t the first time I was on my way to Kerala, God’s own country as they call it. I was surely excited for a number of reasons. It had left an enchanting effect during my last visit and the memories shot back as I boarded the express. Memories, most of them sweeter than the honey itself.
I had been to n number of places in India. Be it the barrens of Rajasthan, tribal jungles of Jharkhand (formerly Bihar) or the concretes of Metros including Bhopal, Jaipur, Indore and Gwalior. Needless to mention Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata. From the violent Meerut & Gaya to the holy waters of Prayag (Allahabad) & Hrishikesh, I had seen it all. I just wonder what’s in this place that it seems to have cast a spell on me. Mangalore’s the place I can never forget throughout my lifetime no matter where I land up. Mangalore, a small city at the Border of Karnataka and Kerala. It’s now famous among my relatives ki “Mangalore aane wala aata apni marzi se hai aur…” If you are thinking about the continuation as “jaata Mangalore ki marzi se” to you are mistaken since “yahan aane wala jaa hi nahin paata hai”.
How true it was. From the window with my head rested over my hand, I could figure out the numerous coconut trees lined up like a huge army. Observing closely would make it clear that it’s more of a thousand windmills defying the mighty wind. It was cool morning breeze with a misty atmosphere and the Sun taking a back seat. A real romantic scene but only memories by the side. That familiar scent of the wet air always tests my capacity to control the emotions.
There was a loud screech of brakes to bring me back to earth. This was nothing new for the express buses here and the next moment it was again at the speed of 60. We moved into an open trench. Very much similar to the ones on the way to Jamshedpur (Jharkhand). Jamshedpur (built by the famous industrialist Ratan Jamshedji Tata), another cool place in the merit list for my taste for places. As a guy, you can very well judge a city by the babes out there at the market place. Surat (Gujarat), surely is in with close competition. Still Mangalore tops my chart coz it’s not always about the hot chicks but about what you discover. I had discovered something invaluable. Something called ‘
Love’.
I was definitely in love with the city as people around say. Where can you both trek and surf? Where can you achieve both frolic and peace of mind at the same time? Yes it’s this place only.
By now we had already entered Kerala which was immaterial to me as it’s all the same. They point to the signboards or the writings on the shops while for me there wasn’t any difference in the font even. Kerala had been the largest share holder in the tourism industry for India (until recently when the post was taken over by Rajasthan).
After Uppala and Kumbla came Kasargod. The place I hear a lot about gold and jewelry. I took an auto and was surprised to see no meter around. When asked about the fare to Geeta theatre it came to just 10 bucks and all my concerns for being fooled out were gone as it’s supposed to be the minimum charge. Later I realized that you can go to the extreme end of Kasargod in Rs 10 itself :( Finally I arrived at a house wherein she was waiting. What all happened after that can be aptly explained with the following lines…
Kitni jaldi mulakat guzar jaati hai…
Pyaas bujhti nahin baarish guzar jaati hai…
Apni yadon se keh do is tareh na aaya karein,
Neend aati nahin raat guzar jaati hai…--- Pramod
