The road is inviting. Always. To run. To drive. To walk. To stroll. The road is inviting for in its standing still, it symbolises a journey ! A journey of many miles. That can take you long and forever to complete !
The roads !
Hoardings that occupy all available air space. Large and small format stores existing side by side like India and Pakistan. Uneasy yet accepting. Of course, this is Maharashtra and Shivaji on a horseback is present too.
Yet, the streets of Aurangabad are paved with many thousands of years of history. The caves and the forts stand mute testimony to that. Situated bang in the middle of the country, it was as our guide told us, the gateway to the south. Or North ! Depending on where you came from.
Carved out stone as part of a road divider is something that begets attention easily.
Have you seen something like this ? Perhaps you have. I havent.
My own demented hypothesis is that…this is about making a point. About every corner and bend in the road reeking of history !?!
Whatsay…?
If Ellora took our breath away, Aurangabad with its history has a impregnable charm to itself ! There is so much of history coursing the soil of this city that could well take a lifetime to comprehend completely !
The calf muscles are sore of alternating between the clutch, the brake and the accelerator ! But then, there are a thousand plus snaps in the camera. Hundreds of stories to share and thoughts to write about and tips to give !
The good roads, some prodding and constant encouragement from the good souls that shared the car made me ponder a ‘travel blog’ aloud. The sound that came about from the missus face palming caused a jolt to the Jap engine ! That notwithstanding, watch this space.
For now, the calf muscles are threatening secession from the body, if they are not given rest. So..Excuse me please !
And still be left with some surplus change to pick up the islands in the pacific ! But that’s a different story.
Where were we…yes. The Gods. Moving on to the ‘Common Man’, the common man’s urge and need to travel is often times expressed in the most uncommon of ways. This blog has had several posts in the past. Often, showing how informatively local trains and buses have been used.
The urge to travel is universal ! Modern day man has it woven into daily life ! Mankind has been known to use anything that moves. For travel. From donkeys to Camels. And now, we are even talking bacteria led biological http://premier-pharmacy.com/product-category/gastrointestinal/ warfare !! Phew !
The point is if it moves, it will be used. Presence of a specifically designed seat / place for travel is rather immaterial ! Here is evidence.
That perhaps leaves us with the smaller families. Four member. Three member. Five member.
Well mention of a five member family is not something that will cause a flutter in your eye. But say, all of the five members travel on two wheels at the same time. On a busy highway. Without helmets. Without understanding of road rules. And without a lot else too.
And also. Not as a part of a circus trick. Or a politician’s austerity drive. Or a photo op. Or an advertisement promoting shock absorbers, engine power, fuel efficiency. etc etc. And the like.
The question of how much space is there between two wheels of a bike is yet to be answered.
Indian roads keep presenting a picture of space that can take as many people as required. A space that houses a seat that has no end.
A space which screams ‘no distance is too far’ !
To a small towner like me, this elevated perch of the local traffic constable in Madurai is permanently etched in memory.
He had to climb a ladder to get to his post. And there he stood. Majestic. With his khaki trousers and white shirt. The metal buttons seeming to be just about successful in holding back a pot belly from falling apart.
Yet, tall. Majestic. And the wave of the white gloves that had the power to stop anyone on his or her tracks. Not that the tracks themselves had wheels that would set the road on fire. But that’s a different story.
At other times, he held a round metal object ensconced in those gloves. That almost gave them a God like visage. Written on it, in bright red : ‘STOP’ !
That blue and white perch, with a funny pointed top, designed with the ostensible reason of protecting him from the sun and the rain, offered a sight of opulence and raw power. In the eyes of school kids. Like me.
In the modern days, the perches have slowly started dwindling. As automated signals replace the white glove and the rolling glare ! The man himself, stands besides the signal or under the tree. Waiting for the next offender. Causing the mind to wonder if he misses the days where he was on a different plane !
Well. Nostalgic struck. The other day, a neighbours kid asked for some help. In writing out a small essay on ‘Ambition in life’. When i was her age, i told her, my ambition was to become a traffic constable.
She smiled. And asked me to get serious. And in all seriousness, i told her, that that was who i wanted to become.
What flew by as the explanation reached her ears were the….White gloves, gleaming buttons, metal whistle, polished shoes and power to wave anybody down. ( No. The potbelly isn’t part of this list).
She didn’t get it. I guess she doesn’t quite know the perch side of this story !
“Its the Joy of Giving Week uncle”. So she speaks. In a well rehearsed presentation. The request is simple. She is collecting old newspapers from each house in the apartment. She wants to sell it and ‘GIVE’ the proceeds to slum children living close by.
She sure should have given slum children something. For all the newspapers in the apartment would have added to decent sum.
More importantly, she sure gives hope. That all is not lost. That people still do think about the man living down the street. And are willing to go knock and open many doors. The mind is young ! Nothing can be more encouraging.
The Joy of Giving week is here ! Actually, its slipped into its third day ! It sure does merit an extra thought ! And some action too.
Whatever. Clothes. Eyes. Appliances. Books. Sweets. Whatever ! Perhaps its important to add there : Time, hope and such else too. And maybe they are the ones on real short supply !
So people, here is the message. To all those that give, give more ! And for all those that have been thinking about it : try giving !
The Joy of Giving week is here. And we are three days into it ! Make a start this week. And carry it all along ! Perhaps you can let the world know by sharing it too. You never who it will propel to action !
The smile and joy that emerge after sometime, evident from their wide grins and shy nods is but a logical visible consequence.
A consequence of something as simple as a small conversation over a pack of cookies that were in the car..! It has always caused unceasing wonder, that such smiles indeed reside in otherwise sad faces.
The beauty in those smiles.. well.. they beat the beauty of the flowers. All the time !