MEGAWALK 2

 

 

MEGAWALK -2

BY

WARVET

“ Be ready to start on Sunday Megawalk at 5 in the morning” I reminded Hooda over phone. “ Its no longer Megawalk. Its Megarun. We are going to run all the way 25 km to Ranga Pahar and back in the morning” announced Hooda non chalantly. “Says who?” Protested I, my mind racing, how to escape from this impending catastrophy. “I say so” – Hooda. “Look, its not a joke. You should have told earlier. You can not just announce this one night prior to the event. If you want to go on Megarun tell me 4 days in advance” I retorted. Hooda must have sensed the finality in my voice and quietly gave in.

So we started as usual by car, reached our start point and walked into the Tea plantations. A nala coming through the garden with rain water was having two guys trying to catch fish with an innovative miniature Chinese fishing net like those you see in Kochi. Young boys from the bagaan were emerging in groups with cane fishing rods to try getting some fish. Its the favourite pastime of all big and small in this area. With many spectators gathering to watch anyone trying his luck with a net or line to literally fish in troubled (flood) waters of Assam.

We walked briskly in the cool morning amidst lush green surroundings with birds chirping and cooing. We found 3 guys with a blazing torch in hand groping something in the bush. I could see angry bees in the air. They confirmed they were looking for honey. Another guy was cutting some leaf laden branches for goat. A boy was trying to pluck some guava from a tree. The guys with the big freshly slaughtered hog on the scooter passed us for Sunday haat. So did many hawkers with their varied wares piled on bicycles. One was carrying a rectangular glass top showcase on his carrier containing rings, hair clips, and trinkets. (Reminded me of a golden ring with a green stone I got my mother to buy me when I was 3 or 4. I felt over the moon admiring it on my finger for few days! How some memories are stuck for ever!). Other was carrying stacks of cloth. We came across an umbrella repairer rushing on his cycle and then came a bicycle laden with colourful plastic pitchers and covering half the width of road. He had some music system playing at top of volume and paddled gaily waiving back to us.

By this time, it became sunny. The sun was beating on our back. Sun here in Northeast is unsparing. Coupled with high Humidity, its a sure shot killer. You realise you are dehydrated by the time its too late. We took gulps of water from bottles we were carrying. On our left, there were farmers ploughing in the mud with their small oxen in knee deep mud. It was kind of clay that was stuck in large measure to the part of plough in the mud  making it strenuous work for the bullocks. “One day I’ll take up a job of this man. You work like this and there is no scope of any fat on the body. These people will never hear about Diabetes or cholesterol” announced Hooda. “And in place of these oxen I would prefer to put Borse and Nair. I won’t let them rest. I will be after them with a hunter. In no time those fatsos will be panting like a dog with their tongues lolling” Added Hooda. I knew he was getting tense due to impending weight check in 2 weeks time. “ How much have you lost” I enquired. “Oh don’t worry about me. Tomorrow onwards I am going to run 12 km everyday in morning. On last night I will run from 12 in night to 6 in morning non stop and lose 5 kg minimum” was his reply.

You wear a shirt for walk? I asked seeing him clad in a white cotton shirt. Hooda – “ Oh yes. Its Indian Cotton. Part of my night suit. Best fabric in world and cheap too. I have 15 pairs. Wear once and wash. All these MNC sports companies are frauds. They will wear your nipples in such weather”! I recalled how I had bruised sides of my chest last mega walk. “You wear half sleeves kurtas” I observed. Hooda – Yes. Why waste cloth? Even length of my kurtas is short. Like a shirt. See. It saves cloth. It saves water and soap and effort when you wash them. “ I think its Modi philosophy. I heard same on his interview once” I wondered. Hooda – Yes I agree but I had come up with the idea myself. “Ok. That reminds me. 15 August is coming. Is he not amazing? He speaks without bulletproof  glass from ramparts of Red Fort. Whatsay? I asked - Hooda – What are you talking? No PM does that. I – “That’s precisely why I’m impressed. Hooda – Its not true. You mean he doesn’t wear bulletproof vest? I – I’m not talking of vests. Look ! I thurst my mobile with the information googled into his face. Hooda – “ Oh ! even if he is doing that its for selfish reason” , I – Howcome ? Hooda – For publicity. And if something happens he is immortalised. I – “Some logic that Hooda. Have mercy”! Hooda – “They are all alike. Shows me something on mobile – You know he has employed a team of makeup artists paid 15 lakh per month to keep his face look fair and photogenic”. I, flummoxed, inquire – “What about MMS? He was not having these”? Hooda – “ He too had”. I (relieved) – So ? Hooda – “So what ? MMS doesn’t brag. Your Modi brags”! After some time. “I even like Modi. But he is working slowly. He should act fast. And there is no alternative”. We walk quietly.

We stop at a shack and get some cold drinks. Suddenly there is a commotion outside. People have gathered near bus stand and a guy is being roughed up. We can see people like anywhere in India rushing to see the tamasha. We can hear someone shouting “If he can enter a house today tomorrow he will enter another house”. We finish our drinks and move on. We are nearing Rangapahar and see a row of e – rickshaws on road. These vehicles are saviour of urban India from the air pollution. Biggest revolution of our times. Its replaced smoke spewing auto as well as cycle rickshaws ending inhuman labour.

We come to a crossing with a board of a Planters club. A golf course is visible. I suggest we go on the “Road less travelled” to escape dust and heat. Tea gardens will be having tree cover. Also, it would not be wise to go back walking in the killing heat, so we shall contact a planter friend nearby who will drop us to our car. Soon we are in fresh, pollution free tea gardens. We cross a bridge on a river full of muddy waters. We stop a guy who tells us the road leads to a tea factory 8 km ahead. We reach a tea hamlet and find two elderly ladies at a well washing clothes. Hooda goes to the well, draws water and pours it on his head. “Its heavenly. Fresh cold water. It will save us from definite heat stroke”! The ladies are watching us. I do the same and am instantly refreshed. There’s a 2 yr old child. They tell us he is the grand son of one. One old lady works in tea garden. She is skinny. Must be 70. Another is retired. The houses are from tea garden. When one retires, the children are absorbed. They get ration, medical, house and pay. A young tall lady has come and watching us. Hooda buys some biscuit packets. Gives one to the kid, More children come and he offers all one packet each. The shop keeper, 20 something is son of pluckers, does sundry jobs and runs the shop.

We turn back. Lie down in shade of a tree in the golf course. We can see 2-3 golfers searching for the ball in bushes. They are planters. There’s an old decrepit building on a slope. It’s the club. Must have seen better days. A guy with a girl riding pillion and holding an umbrella over both of them cross us. Two guys come on bicycles and we stop them. They live in a tea colony nearby and are coming from another after having party with co-workers after weekly payment on saturday. "The central government has spoiled the workers. They are getting 5 kg of grain per member for free monthly. Now they don't work and drink heavily. On monday we have large No of absentees" My friend Gill, a senior manager had lamented. They had enjoyed a rice brew distilled locally. Elder one, Ashok tells us he is working in a hotel in Jaipur. He met the owner on the golf course as a caddy and went with him. On inquiry he tells he has 5 kids. His wife stays here and works in tea garden. He repents not going for family planning timely. Other one is 40 and single. He looks at my cap and shades and quips “You look like you are shooting for cinema”. Hooda tells them we came walking from the city. They are utterly surprised. Why on Earth we were wandering on foot? Hooda says he has to shed weight as he has become like a rhino of Kaziranga. The guys’ Hindi is not perfect. They dissuade us from Kaziranga saying its flooded. We won’t find Rhinos. They have a hearty laugh as they understand Hooda is calling himself a Gainda!

We get up and track to the managers bunglow. On the way we cross paddy workers planting paddy in knee deep water. Two girls are carrying breakfast to them. In a nearby field that holds deep water children are swimming carefree in muddy waters to beat the heat. We enjoy a hearty breakfast in the heritage bungalow in sylvan setting and beautiful view of the tea and foothills in horizon in company of our benevolent host. Now as I recall, we ironically asked for coffee with breakfast! We head back in his Gypsy. It seems only us and planters are stuck to Gypsy while India zooms ahead in top ended SUV’s! Suits us. We ARE Gypsies roaming the length and breadth of country. And we gather no moss as we roll! Talk of Anti sticking properties!!!