WANDERED IN VERAKHADI

Verakhadi was always on my list past years and I surely wanted to travel there with him. Had heard about the mystic largeness of nature there as folks visited the habitat for a peaceful bliss, being tired of horns, honks and the busy city life.

A day it so happened that we both finally took a local train to nearby station named Anand, planning to move further as the pillion on his friend's ride. As they say, day is all about twists and turns, the ride ditched us at the last moment. Having waited almost half a day to arrange a mode of transport, we finally dropped the plan and set forth to explore the town where he spent his growing years graduating. Struck by heat and hunger, he finally took me to a beautiful place named "Baker's Heaven" with graffiti all over walls that surely made me feel finally alive. Stuffed with Mexican and Indian food plattered to the belly that was growling and grumping inside, the man and me strolled to explore, talk, share and smile. No complaints as "whatever happens,happens for the good" and if not for the non-availability of the bike, I wouldn't have walked down the lanes, roads, tuck shops cherishing moments that I craved for years on sight.

Finally, took a train back home to end the day with laughter, amazement and need to stay together some more and some other more and more more. Alas, departed with happy thoughts running like Usain Bolt in heart and mind.

Being an arid human on accomplishment of plans, I set forth in few days again to actually explore the place with few friends by public transport. This time it was a shared rickshaw on the road to Sirsa Chowkdi to reach the outskirts of the village Verakhadi. Voila!!, after too much wind in the hair and dust on the face, reached the destination with pumped up pride.

It is a small place with a river running in the middle having temples on one side and a dense forest on the other side. Calmness is the word here, amazing calmness. We found a place to sit for sometime and giggled at my stubborn temperament of "I need what I need". Worth all the wait and efforts, the boats and canopy reminded me of my college days, the sea-view balcony and amazing annual weather of rains that blessed with joy.

Now, I randomly visit Verakhadi more often due to its proximity accompanied by two friends, and a bike that had vanished my first attempt to reach the height, rocks and stairs here.

Hopefully me and him will surely come here for a long ride someday. Hopes don't cost much and so does exploring such undiscovered surprises.