It was a sunny and shining evening till now. Suddenly turned grey and then almost charcoal black within 15 minutes. The sky above was over cast and the road ahead too hazy and non-fathomable. On coming lights started piercing my eyes. The fast approaching Lonavala ghat sections created goose bumps in my stomach with the thought that I need to travel the ghats to reach Mumbai. Uptill now the day had turned out splendid and happy. Will I be as happy few moments later?
I saw him. He must have been waiting there for longer time, upping his thumb umpteen times. Becoming dull in the process with every decline of the passing motorist. Must be about 55 or so, almost white head but still strong and atheletic body frame. There was an urgency in his body language.
I stopped. Usually I don't but today was somehow different. I asked him where he wish to go. He said "Khopoli". Barely he has entered in my car and the thunder showers began. Omnious and with flashes of brightness thundering all over the sky, it was real scary. I started with trepidation. Was slow and cautious. Clearly focussed on the road and the bends ahead. Traffic kept passing by with lots of blaring horns and various sizes of vehicle lights flashing by. It was tedious drive, surely.
I casually asked. Wanted to know why is he travelling at such a time.
He responded with a twinkle in his eyes. His daughter will be waiting for him. She was at her job in some nearby village as a teacher. She will be going to Mumbai for onward journey to distant Udaipur in Rajasthan. She is the sole earning member besides him. These days she is staying alone at her working place and they have not met for a couple of months. Apperently he loves his daughter much. It was evident in his small talk as well as the way his eyes light up everytime he mentioned his daughter.
Soon we covered the distance and reached the base of ghat sections.
Yes I could see a slim, saree clad woman there. Her umbrella barely covering her from the rains. Under the tree near the road. The moment her father got down, her face shone like thousand diamonds. She didn't care for the lashing rains. Came crashing in her father's arms. Both hugged each other and though it was raining hard, I could clearly see the tears. I could see the smiles. I could see the tender love for each other. I could see the strong bond between a father and a daughter. I could not press the acclerator. Something stirred in me, swelled in me. Suddenly there were tears in my eyes,too. I remember my growing daughter. I got down, getting soaked, patted both and smiled. There was a hugh hug from the man. Without words, it was a super moment.
It was my pot of gold for the day.
I saw him. He must have been waiting there for longer time, upping his thumb umpteen times. Becoming dull in the process with every decline of the passing motorist. Must be about 55 or so, almost white head but still strong and atheletic body frame. There was an urgency in his body language.
I stopped. Usually I don't but today was somehow different. I asked him where he wish to go. He said "Khopoli". Barely he has entered in my car and the thunder showers began. Omnious and with flashes of brightness thundering all over the sky, it was real scary. I started with trepidation. Was slow and cautious. Clearly focussed on the road and the bends ahead. Traffic kept passing by with lots of blaring horns and various sizes of vehicle lights flashing by. It was tedious drive, surely.
I casually asked. Wanted to know why is he travelling at such a time.
He responded with a twinkle in his eyes. His daughter will be waiting for him. She was at her job in some nearby village as a teacher. She will be going to Mumbai for onward journey to distant Udaipur in Rajasthan. She is the sole earning member besides him. These days she is staying alone at her working place and they have not met for a couple of months. Apperently he loves his daughter much. It was evident in his small talk as well as the way his eyes light up everytime he mentioned his daughter.
Soon we covered the distance and reached the base of ghat sections.
Yes I could see a slim, saree clad woman there. Her umbrella barely covering her from the rains. Under the tree near the road. The moment her father got down, her face shone like thousand diamonds. She didn't care for the lashing rains. Came crashing in her father's arms. Both hugged each other and though it was raining hard, I could clearly see the tears. I could see the smiles. I could see the tender love for each other. I could see the strong bond between a father and a daughter. I could not press the acclerator. Something stirred in me, swelled in me. Suddenly there were tears in my eyes,too. I remember my growing daughter. I got down, getting soaked, patted both and smiled. There was a hugh hug from the man. Without words, it was a super moment.
It was my pot of gold for the day.
