I M INVINCIBLE

While running we came at a turn where we saw some extra space apart from the pathway. It was in triangular shape. I said to the other friend, “See brother its night now we are not left with any option how much ever hard do we try with no light we can’t reach the base, that too of Mulund side. We have to stay in the forest the whole night and I find this spot a bit safe. At 8 o clock in the night there is light at this place at least. One agreed, the other expressionless. May be it was difficult for him to accept a night stay in forest!!!
We broke twigs of trees, kept a pile of stone nearby us. If rain pours we had decided to go into the shade of a tree 2 feet to our right but in case of heavy rains we will stand in open. If thunderbolt strikes we should be away from trees (had read in textbook). To go to toilet we decided the left corner. One of the friends had plastic bags with him. We wore it at the time of showers. He even had water bottle. But 250 ml bottle that too half filled. We tried sending messages to our friends but the efforts were futile. There was no network. I cleared certain points to both of them.
1. Don’t even keep in mind that somebody will come and rescue us. Even if police is approached they won’t climb the mountain at the night. Nobody will come up so don’t even expect that.
2. We have informed our friend, now we have to rely on him that he will use his presence of mind and inform our parents or take necessary action.
3. We need not worry about animals as they don’t search for food in the night.
4. We know the most dangerous animals we have seen is wild monkey and snake. We have to beware of snake, monkey is manageable.
I ended saying these four points. May be some of the points we presumed but it gave us some courage.
Wet clothes were the cause of itching. Mosquitoes had got feast that night. We sat down; we should have not because predators pounce on a moving object smaller than its height. But we were too tired to stand. We all were quiet probably because of the terrible experience we were going through. Night creatures on the branches were making sound. Glow fly, the only thing around us whom we didn’t fear were everywhere around us. I couldn’t be quiet anymore. This silence was sounding horrible. I started, “I’ll tell you one if the story which I have not told you yet.” I started with my earlier trekking experiences but made it a point that I don’t tell any thrill or any suspense stories. I continued bla bla bla for approximately two hours. God gave me power at that time. IT was 2 hours of lecture without a drop of water in my mouth. We three had sat facing three directions to keep a watch on any movement.
Laughter again came on our faces at the end of the story. Man!!! We are insane!!!(Now I think that). One of us checked the watch it was 12.50. Count of glow fly had gone less by now. At the far end of my sight there were two of them flying towards us. I saw shadow of an animal crossed the pavement hurriedly. The shadow had four legs means it was animal I analyzed that. He was quiet far from us. I said pointing at that side “I saw something over there”. Everybody became alert. We had time to take stick in our hands and wait till whatever that was comes to us. The wait was long. We were unable to spot the animal so we were looking at any movements in the trees. I was visualizing that cheetah or a wild dog will pounce on us any second from then. Mind was spinning at that time. The wait turned longer. Nothing came towards us. Gradually we calmed down. Lucky rascals we were. Whatever that was must have gown downhill, May be to drink water at the lake. But no animal drinks water in the night. He was sure to come back. We are saved but how long we will be?
We had almost forgotten in our laughter that we are in a jungle and danger is the element which we should not forget. Night creatures were also not making noise anymore. A few minutes after, we heard a sound again. This time from uphill. The sound was of a stone falling down. “Don’t move” said one amongst us. We were still. Jungle had started showing us its ugly side. This could have been a planned attack. A flock of animals must have observed us long back. I recollected that in natgeo it showed how whole family of tiger attack the target. But how come a tiger can come in these hills. Can it happen that one of the tiger had escaped from national park and has come into the hill. As it is there was no one near the checkpost in the evening. He must have walked down the road still no must have understood it and by the time officials understand it, we would have been history. The thinking was quite logical. It was easy for a tiger to get into this jungle and we were also very close to that check post. There was disturbance in one of the branch. “BE BRAVE Pranav!!!. Surprise package is coming for u. either u are into his stomach or u hunt a tiger today . No other way. Be brave Pranav!!! or BYE BYE Pranav !!!” Before we could trace the movement one monkey jumped from one branch to another. “Hush!!! Don’t worry we are safe.” Abnormally we were not frightened this time. The reaction was like ‘bandar hi toh he chhod let’s continue our discussion.’
Now when I recollect that situation I can figure out the reason for that reaction. It was close to 8 hours of living into the forest. we had started adjusting to the situation. We take on us; whatever life gives to us. Adjusting ourselves; sometimes compromising. Same thing happened with us that day. We at least give a look to wild monkey if they are found roaming on streets but we did not pay a hid to him that time. Because we had adjusted ourselves to the forest and seeing a monkey in forest is not a big issue. In ours complicated world the same thing is observed but is not noticed. That is why there is difference in progress of the people.
We went back to our discussion. I was lying down on the soil as my back was paining. I was looking at the fast movements of clouds. Airplanes going above us after every 15 to 20 minutes, giving us a modern feel for a few seconds. The glow fly were looking so beautiful when I had a closer look at them. Showers used to start and we used to go into the shade. Life had been so beautiful if the stay had been the planned one. Quite jungle had not played anything bad with us.
Lying down, taking a feel of the nature, listening to my friend and responding to him, I heard a noise. Everybody heard. This time not the one scaring us. This time it was someone screaming our name. We went to the side where the noise came from. There were torches we could see at far distant place, opposite to the valley. We were stunned to see that someone has come to us, to save us. We screamed loudly towards that direction, as loud as we could. But they were unable to hear us. We couldn’t see the torches anymore. We waited for few seconds but nothing really came back. We thought of keeping the same game plan of climbing to the temple and heading back to foothill from there. We turned our back and started at our place again. Just then we heard sounds of siren which was a facility given to loudspeaker. We could hear it now vividly. It was a sharp sound “Pranav” and so on names of my friends. We replied back but this time not solely. I said “1..2..3..” and we all screamed “HELP!!!” This went on for some time. One of my friend was continuously showing bright light of his mobile phone which came to use now. They could hear us.
Out of fear for the first time our legs started trembling. Reason for the same is still to be discovered. The whole night we were quiet, laughing, pulling each others’ leg but we did not fear of death. One of the reasons I suppose is that we broke down at that time. ‘Come what may’ be the situation henceforth someone would protect us and take us down. That feeling of giving up made our fear a way to come out. Few minutes later I could see 8 to 1o young people running near us. It was 4.00 a.m. I was expressionless … emotion;ess for few moments from then
Book III to be published shortly

This is my rebirth when I am writing this. I’ve got a new life on 13th of July at 3.45am when I and my 2 friends were rescued by 8 young people, from the dangerous forest (now I feel the danger) of yogi hills, Mulund. When I reached the gate at foot step, my eyes started searching for my mom and dad. Somewhere at right side I saw my mother and I hugged her tightly, tear ran down my cheek……
After finishing all the jobs assigned to me I came home at 2 o clock in the afternoon. It was a sunny day. I thought, it’ll be no fun trekking at yogi hills without little shower. The plan was set to meet at yogi hills base at 4 o clock. When I was leaving my mom said, Pranav take some tea but I dismissed it and just drank water. I reached on time. One of our friends turned up late at 4.30. We had a juice and we started climbing.
Screaming and cracking jokes we started off. Dedhshaana amongst us started climbing the hill rather than taking the normal route. A few feet he went up climbing, his leg slipped and came down rolling. It was laughter everywhere. The atmosphere was serene at the 1st plateau of the hill. It was lush green everywhere. Cool breeze was blowing. The sky was filled with dark clouds but it was not raining. The sunlight was perfect. From the jungle i was looking at the concrete jungle. An endless view of buildings!!!
Click Click Click from the mobile camera and we went ahead. As it was late we took the steepest of the way. Straight 60 degrees up. It took us 20 to 25 minutes to reach the top. The view was stunning, outstanding, and marvelous and I can go on. At this height the fog was beneath us. It seemed that sky is at the stretch of our hand. It was greenery everywhere and in the center was the Talauti lake. The Talauti Lake is towards the Borivali national park. At the top we were screaming like maniacs and at the same time rains started. We started dancing over there and my friend said “YE DIN ME MARTE DUM TAK NAHIN BHOOLUNGA. 40 SAAL BAAD JAB MARUNGA TABHI DEATH BED PE YE SCENE YAAD KARKE HASUNGA.” The other friend of us, who did not climb called us’ “kidhar pohoche?” The reply was “half an hour and we’ll be there”. I gave a smile and said the sun is going down let’s start moving. We all said “OK” and the journey downside commenced. It was around 6 o clock in the evening!
We were going down safe, singing songs. On our journey back we came across a temple of ‘SHIV bhagwan’. The flowers placed at the deity’s idol were fresh. We took blessing and moved ahead. Ahead there were 4 roads. Two roads going to right where we were supposed to go. But which amongst the two was the question. One was going down and the other up. We selected the one going down thinking that we’ll reach early. The road was steep. We came across river, “flowing water that means we are on right direction”, I said. Sun was no more in the sky now but there was light, of hope...the light was going deem with every moment. These were most crucial moments of the whole experience. We had started running by now. We came at point where all the roads were meeting but are going nowhere. The scenario in front of me was a circular fence of stones, stream flowing from one of the side and mountain ranges on all sides. Not a single pavement and no footsteps any more. I got a feeling that we have landed in center of mountains. My heart started beating faster. I tried to hide my expressions and ran with the direction of water. Clearing all the branches and twigs that were obstructing my view, stepping on stones, mud and sometimes into water, I was running. I was heading my friends at that moment. I realized I am responsible if I make any mistake and miss any footpath (if at all they were). I had to be alert. And Awe!!! My heart skipped a beat. What I see now is a wide road in front of me. I was rejoiced. The road was as wide as the one outside my society. A few seconds ago I was badly searching for a pavement and now a wide road. I could also see marks of four wheelers. Yippee I said. God at that temple blessed us. I can go home now. I can see my concrete jungle back!!! I can hear scolding from my mother again. phew!!
I was standing in the stream. The view now in front of us was such that, in front was the stream going down. Road going to the right as well as left. We headed to right. It was a unanimous decision. Running and screaming c’mon yaar jaldi cannot waste a second. I couldn’t believe my eyes that not more than 100 meters (approx.) away from us we could see a check post. We ran harder to reach there. This could be said as race between us and darkness, racers reached the check post at the same moment.
We were disappointed to see there was no one at check post but still check post means we are close to the foot of the hill. I moved ahead. My friend behind me screamed “Stupid!!! U idiot come back immediately. Can’t u see it’s a check post. This should not be unless and until there is something dangerous inside”. I was stunned. Even if there is no danger inside I was not in a position to take any risk. While coming back I understood that henceforth all decisions would be made taking concern of all the three.
It was night by now. Lush green is no more beautiful. Little showers I don’t want. There is no thrill anymore. Jungle is not so good at night. When my leg shivers, body sweats and I am not the controller of the whole situation. I don’t like this. I didn’t think our small adventure would take this ugly look. I always have a backup plan for everything I do. But here I am helpless. I have to succumb to this situation and accept or fight what nature makes us face henceforth. I was gripped with fear. In low tone I passed a statement. The reply to this statement helped me diagnose their mental status. “It is night by now. Forest will show us its ugly side. We should not take any wrong step. Let’s sleep in that small chowki near check post. There is a door and even windows that were sealed, may be for the protection against reptiles. It is a perfect location to sleep.” When I said perfect location, their eyebrows went up. As if they were newly married couple looking for a resort to create wonderful lifetime moments and I am selling them a nice beautiful bungalow. So I was forced to add, “Under these circumstances”. They dismissed it as it was dangerous. One of them said, “If we go back to temple we can catch up the way which we have missed. Temple is 15 minutes from here. I think we have lost the track from there. If we reach there at least we are assured that we are on right track.” “Affirmative” I said. “This bastard still has not given up. Good” I said in mind. The other stood numb. We turned towards the entry. All we could see is……..darkness…. in the woods. A leap out of the water and into the jungle again.
The run here onwards was actually a run for life. Splash!!! of water because of our foot, Into the mud another foot, Scratch because of pointed branch. “Pranav my boot stuck in the mud”, “give strain to your muscle and take it out. Can’t afford to stop”. Loss of balance because of shivering, running legs. Running at a point my friend yelled again, “My mobile has got network. I am making a call to our friend (whom we presumed is still sitting down and waiting for us) “hey buddy we have lost track. We are into the jungle. We were going right till the shiv mandir and we are lost from over there. Please help. bacha le yaar” the phone disconnected. No network. We tried again. Fortune didn’t favor us. The other friend said “Look, the lake is so close to this place. We can see it. This means that….” a long silence followed. We stared at each other’s face. Heart beats were so fast that they could be felt. “This means that we are not on the wrong track but we are on the wrong side of the mountain. The lake is not on the Mulund side but is on the Borivali side. The lake has crocodiles into it. The check post where we were standing a few minutes before was the forest entry of BORIVALI NATIONAL PARK. A national park where every animal whom had we said Hello to, had the ability to tear us and fill his stomach. “RUN! RUN!! RUN!!!” were the statements heard!!!!!

DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER

Please forgive me if I make any mistakes or if I hurt anyone’s feelings. My blog is not intended to hurt anyone but my opinion over current happenings…

My dad says,”U should judge a person by his thoughts. A human being is best described by his abilities and culture and not by his religion, sex, or economic background because the former one he has achieved and the latter one he has inherited.”

For a bit of change I visited my native place after my exams. I must appreciate the cleanliness of Indian trains especially the train in which I was travelling. It was kashi express, from Kurla to Gorakhpur. There were cobwebs in the basin, seats torn, cockroaches coming out of their houses. They are “quarter of a century” my sister declared. As this was the situation of the compartments u can envisage the condition of lavatory n if u cannot……. I won’t even explain. Adding to this, the compartment was packed with people. The condition was similar to morning 9’O clock local of CST though ours was reservation compartment. There were women sitting between two seats with their children on their lap…. crying. The situation recalled to me a dialogue of movie rang de basanti ,”yahan pertain me 3 ke jagah pe 6 baithe rahenge aur saatva aake bolega yaar thodasa adjust Karle”. We managed finally to reach our place. Seeing the seats I said to myself God blessed us! No seats torn... No women sitting between the seats… No baby crying…

I comforted myself and opened wise and otherwise by sudha murthy. While I was reading, my neighbor asked where we are going and what am I studying etc etc I answered him and took a gaze in our compartment. My dad and my sister were sitting on the window seat. My mom next to my dad then me and to my left was that uncle whom I adjusted in my place. In front of me there were two aunties and again one more adjusted uncle. Gradually everybody started talking to each other. They introduced themselves, so did we. We shared our breakfast and so did they. The chat developed and the topics diversified. I identified everyone the uncle was Guajarati, the couple in front of our seat was Marathi and the lady was North Indian. I identified them but I didn’t judge them as my dad had said ‘DON’TJUDJE A PERSON BY……’. From somewhere came a Guajarati aunty, wife of the Guajarati uncle. She was a chat box. Chapad chapad all the time. Apparently aunties in 50s don’t have anything to do.

The lady sitting alone offered everybody banana. No one accepted. I guessed the reason. She offered me,”Munna will you have it?” The word munna surprised me. Her voice was kind enough to win Hitler’s heart. I observed her for the first time carefully. She was fat, dusty in complexion and around 45 years old. A close look at her revealed that she was a widow as she was not wearing mangalsutra. She even offered me a napkin after finishing my banana. I liked that attitude. I couldn’t guess what attached me towards her. Maybe it was her kindness, or I had sympathy over her or I it was both of them. Whatever it may be I was OK with it.

The Guajarati aunty gave us the khakra of famous suruchi or some surbhi shop (famous as because she thought it is or because it is close to her house) and she said,”yeh inn logo ne to pura desh kharab kar diya he train to in logo ke liye chhoti si baat he” showing her hand towards the north Indian lady as boldly as she could notice it. I felt embarrassed and I thought everybody did but NO almost everybody agreed with her. The exceptions were me and my dad and uncle sitting in front of me. This topic came into the compartment like a hot cake. My mom and both the ladies started,

“sab train me se yahi train ganda he kyu ki yeh wahan se aata he”

“yeh log rehete kaise he dekho”.

I wanted to say shut up! this is height, when I heard

“Inn logo kop pakad pakad ke nikaal na chahiye.

A volcano erupted in my brain. Many thoughts came into my mind as much as the source of my brain would have sreamed,”STOP IT !!! I can’t take that anymore”. I convinced myself to stop thinking and continue with my book but the effort was futile. As much I tried to control myself that much it went on. My cerebrum, cerebellum, forebrain, hindbrain, cerebral cortex suddenly started functioning at blistering speed. The thoughts were unanimous.

This not right I say. Why are people judging each other by their religion? The other day I received a sms saying “terrorist unite us and politicians divide us. How true is that?” 95% of our population is always ruled and fooled by 5% of population. We are again falling prey to ‘DIVIDE AND RULE POLICY’.

Is 150 years of harassment not enough?

Is a geo-political line between India and Pakistan not enough?

Are the communal riots not enough that you are ready to add some more opponents?

Unique identity of India is ‘Unity in diversity’ but I think this unity in the phrase is fading. I pray to all youth of the nation don’t be just literate be educated. Why you want to fall to this casteism? It won’t bring you any good. Why am I asked my caste while I am filling any government form? Isn’t this biasness. My merit should give me the seat and not my caste or religion. We already have many problems to deal with when concerned with control over different states. We were close to formation of Khalistan in 1985 which we call it as Punjab. People of North eastern states even today say,” We are KHASIS and NAGAS by birth but Indians by accident”. We say we want Kashmir but Kashmir says “India has done nothing for us and Pakistan is responsible for bringing us to this condition so we don’t want to be with either of them. We would be happy if we are an independent country”. Is this much friction between the country not enough as we want more which is Maharashtra V/S Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

Problem of migration is faced even by America through Mexico but this isn’t the way they are treating the problem. They are developing Mexico but here we would prefer to fight and beat people. I say stop this, I can’t resist this and if u can then I congratulate you for enslaving yourself. Let’s take an oath that we will not look down to people hearing their castes. Let’s not discriminate between Thakur, patil and shah, Singh. If anybody asks my caste I will proudly say I am a ‘HINDU’. What about you? It’s time to give exercise to your brain.