‘You will get in time, just be on the road. And make sure you jump-in whatever comes in first’
These were the worlds of one shopkeeper, while I was enquiring about bus to Tanakpur from my place. And I got a Alto after waiting for about 15 minutes.
This was an unusual route I took to come to Delhi. There are plenty of buses from Haldwani, & two trains as well, one at morning 9 o’clock and another one is at 8:30 evening. But this time I was determined to take a full circle and travel through Champawat and Tanakpur, touching the Nepal boarder.
The route – Delhi > Haldwani > Home > Devidhura > Champawat > Tanakpur > Delhi.
Tanakpur is the last train station of meter gauge line linking Uttarakhand to UP. 
Overnight journey from Delhi to Haldwani was nothing special, just sleeping sometimes looking around in the dark. Travels are always thought provoking. Entire journey I was thinking about past, how I got Delhi and the struggle, friends college and what not.
I miss my home, but when I am there I feel uncomfortable!, why? no idea.
May be I see the struggle to survive, cultivation is the only mean to survive there. They wake up as early as 4 o'clock to finish the daily chore. Having said that, the night was not that easy. Entire night they sleep less, reason? wild animals. Potato and fruits invite wild animals too, night is perfect for them to eat so all the villagers keep awake to scare those animal. Life is not easy. My parents too have small hut in-between the fields, they sleep there in cold. What they care is to save crops from wild animals. for whom? us, children's? Early in the morning I see there swelling eyes due to less sleep, I feel bad.
My father serve Indian army for 17 years. I still remember those delightful days to grab all the luggage when he used to come home on leaves. 2 trunks, 3 bags and small polythene packed with all kind of food and eateries. Villagers too used to ran to our place to see him and enjoy free daru. He used to brought 2 full bucket of Contessa, rum, brandy, and what not! those were joyful days for us. But now I see his face full of worries and thoughtful eyes, I feel like crying. I too struggle here sitting in this crappy single room, unemployed, doing nothing, they are struggling too but doing so much for the family. They sleep in open air to save some food, entire day goes to feed cow, goat and do all the stuff a farmer does to keep his family happy. And at the same time to follow the societal norm. Society, whatever it is.
What father thinks?, what mother thinks? What keeps them occupied to keep up doing everyday the same? What am I doing to keep them happy? Nothing.…
Where is peace of mind today? Cities are full of noise and villages are full of struggle. Where? Where is the creature of this world? Why this world exist?
The return journey was just like that. My father said you can get anywhere you just need money whenever you are on the road. I was supposed to meet old college cum room mate in Devidhura but we both missed each other due to miscommunication. The scattered village on the route reminded me all of that and what govt. is doing for them? The roads were pathetic all the way.
Tanakpur is again a small town. The geography is same like Haldwani, planes starts from here. The railway platform was full of pilgrimage people, the Purnagiri mela was on full peak. So back to bus stand to catch a bus to Delhi. There are plenty of them, buses from all over the big town of eastern Uttarakhand routes from here.
Continued…
