Tryst with 'Thane'

... I will write a blog... a 'nalla' blog... Super mama Ready... 1...2...3...4...

My friend Vinayaka and I had decided to have some raw excitement for the year end. The plan- the destination of the get away will be decided by 'chit system' just an hour before leaving. No bus/train/hotel reservations. Just take everything as it comes and make instant decisions. The chits will have all district names of Karnataka and important ones of other southern states.

It was Pondicherry. We knew that cyclone 'Thane' had hit Pondy. But there is something called respect for 'Chit Verdict', isn't it? So, no question of turning back. We reached Pondy 3 hours late. It was a terrifying sight. Storm and heavy rains were on. I had seen nothing of that sort ever. Uprooted trees, hanging electric cables, fallen electric and traffic signal poles, hazy sight and inundated roads and buildings- it reminded me of Huc town shown in 'Behind Enemy Lines'. Sign boards, EDS swinging dangerously. Every time our bus see-sawed, my heart skipped beats. No telephone network, no access to News. I didn't know what is gonna fall next and where. Nature's senseless 'tandav nritya' was on full display. Pondy was brought to its knees.

We waited helplessly in the bus. Let me admit- I was not tensed or worried for my life, but instead I was calm and it was we who had asked for raw excitement and we were just getting served its unadulterated, 24 carat variety. True, life is all about making choices. Suddenly an autowalla appeared from the blue and offered us to get us a hotel room. I was skeptical, as I imagined the rickshaw taking the aerial route right inside the Bay of Bengal. Like that car shown in Harry Potter movies and me not knowing a single spell and with no wand or broom to even give a try.

As it was New Year eve, the hotels were full. After a lot of searching, we found one. Thanks to the rickshaw driver who helped in a couple of more things also. The hotel people worked overtime to get us something to eat as we were very hungry. We kept ourselves warm. We had discussions of taking the first available bus/cab to Chennai and then to Bangalore. But we decided to stay put. We took relief in the fact that it was just a cyclone and not tsunami or volcano. All the roads were blocked; there was no way to get out of there anyways. We did a quick 'city darshan'. I know we are crazy.

Actually I had started enjoying all this, because I may not witness all this ever and this was going to be a great memory for the future.

Next day. The sky was blue and the sun smiling. The Sea gods had given us relief to 'yanjaay' the new year. Rain and storm had stopped.  Nature was back in her sexy avatar. Yes, we did all that a normal tourist does in Pondy- beaches, Aurobindo ashram, Auroville city, French Colony et al. We also had a few aftereffects of our last day's 'super' excitement. Our bike breaking down in the middle of nowhere and then getting help from JP Sir- a local youth leader. I am grateful to his selfless help, despite his narration of distasteful local murder-encounter stories. Then running from pillar to post in search of working ATMs and then food at night added the much needed 'double tadka'. It was humbling. Despite all our technological advancements and our ego, we are nothing when Nature decides to go nuts.

Then our day journey back to Bangalore is another story in itself. From Pondy to Tiruvannamalai to Krishnagiri to Hosur to Bangalore. I had a feeling someone was intentionally making all this happen.

Lastly my salutations to people of Pondy and Tamil Nadu. You are the best people I have met. Your down to earth attitude and friendly nature is inspiring. A hug to Vinayaka, who was my partner in all this and his Tamil knowledge, though amputated, was very helpful.

It was the bestest trip of my life- full of surprises, chance events and accidents. It made me feel so alive. It made me strong and confident that even under such extreme situations I can remain calm and take reasonable decisions. I may visit Pondy again, but I know I will never get this experience. I am grateful to Destiny/Chance Event or anything you may call it, that this trip happened.

Bye Pondy... Hello Colombo.