Around five years ago, my first job brought me to Bangalore from Delhi. I was very excited with my first career opportunity and was doing fairly well. I didnt know many people then in Bangalore but had a very dear friend in Goa.
So whenever I got time, I used to travel to meet him.
This was the first time when I was travelling to Goa from Bangalore. I did a little research and as a result bought a bus ticket from a very famous transport ageny "Paulo Travels". If you are from Bangalore you would know this travel agency very well. They operate between, Karnataka, Kerela, Goa and Hyderabad. My ticket was from Bangalore to Panjim and I was all ready to travel a distance of around 600 Kms. My bus was supposed to leave at 9:30 PM from Anand Rao Circle, Majestic.
I remember, it was Friday evening, though cant recall the exact date. After finishing my shift at around 8 PM, I took an auto for Anand Rao Circle, reached the stand at around 9 PM, had my dinner at a Veg Restaurant nearby and sat in the bus at 9:20 PM. It was a window seat. I think every seat in the bus was occuppied. As my watch showed me 9:30 PM, the bus started to move slowly and the lights were put off. This was truly impressive as I had not expected the bus to leave sharp at 9:30. I called up my friend and informed him that I was going to reach Panjim at right time, 10:30 AM. I hardly knew that this journey was not going to be a simple, easy and ordinary one for me ! 10:30 AM was definitely not the time when I reached Goa.
As the bus started to move, I took out my I-POD, plugged in my ears with headphones and started listening to some music. I like Mukesh, Md Rafi and Kishore Kumar's music so my I POD was filled with all songs and music from these great singers and composers of all time. Listening to songs, I dont know when I fell asleep. It was around 4 AM when the bus suddenly stopped with a loud noise and thump. Due to a sudden brake everyone in the bus got a little worried and the rest who were sleeping opened their eyes trying to understand what happened. I was seated in the bus for around 10 minutes waiting for it to start again. There was however no movement anymore. I looked outside of the window and saw a few passengers chatting with the bus driver. In the pursuit of more information, I too got down from the bus and saw smokes coming out of the engine. Manjunath, the conductor was leaning on to the engine and from within the smoke was trying his best to figure out the reason for this break down. I asked the driver, "what happened Sir?". With a confused look he said, "the bus broke down, Manjunath is trying to find out what happened?"
With a littel rude and convictionless answer, I decided to call up my friend and inform him of this breakdown. I took out my phone and tried calling him. But my phone just refused to connect to his number.
I could not understand the reason behind this another breakdown. I tried calling again and again but in vain. From time to time I would just look at my phone and wonder. Sudddenly I observed that my phone lacked connectivity as there was no signal showing up. I had a prepaid airtel connection and a very new phone at that time. Not to mention I had a very little idea about all the hidden functions in there. I did try asking some people if their phone had enough signals and they all responded positvely with a proud YES. I thought there were issues with my prepaid connection and decided not to break my head anymore.
I walked upto the driver once again and asked him, "Sir, how long would it take you to fix the bus?". He had no idea. Manjunath, though, was below the bus between tyres trying to make some obeservations. He pulled himself out and said," it isn't easy sir, there is a major issue with the engine. We have called up a mechanic from the nearest location but by the time he comes here and fixes it, it will take around 5 hours.
"What, are you serious?", I blurted out. Manjunath and the driver had no answer. I decided to take another bus moving towards Goa. Honestly, I didnt have much idea about the direction but I didnt want to waste my time doing nothing. Standing at the side of the road, I was trying to wave at almost any vehicle moving towards Goa. After about half an hour, I saw a bus coming in, it was a tourist bus. I waved at it fiercely almost standing in it's way. It had to stop. The conductor from the window peeped out and asked me "what's the issue, Sir". "Our bus broke down and I have to reach Goa", I replied. The conductor thought for a while and said, " you can come with us but we are going towards Hubli, from there you can take another bus to Panjim, it's around 180 Kms". I was very happy and said, "That's fine, so how much do I need to pay you for this seat?". He responded, "there is no seat in the bus, Sir. Every seat is occupied. There is however a big Gear box right next to the driver. If you want, you can sit there. You can pay us whatever you want". Having no option and deciding not to waste any more time, I said "alright, I will take it". And I climbed on to the bus, greeted the driver and got myself seated right next to him on the big blue Gear Box. As I sat on the box right infront of the big glass, the bus moved again and I felt as if I were the chariot of a Ratha leading a group of lost Yogis on their voyage.
After being seated for amost around 3 hrs the bus stopped, the condcutor smiled at me and asked me politely to get down. "This is Hubli Sir, you would get buses from the new bus stand which is towards north". I got down and handing him Rs 50 said, "Thank You".
As I walked towards the bus-stand, I stopped at a small shop, bought some breakfast and then moved ahead. It was a pleasant morning and I could hear Koels singing and greeting me to Hubli. For some reason, I was enjyoing it. I reached the bus stand and enquired about the buses to Panjim. The next bus to Goa was only after 4 hrs at around 2 PM. "O Shiva", I just murmured. Anyways having no other option, I decided to wait for the bus. In those 4 hours, I think I did whatever I could, had another breakfast, then had lunch and then took a small walk around the place. I took out my phone and decided to check if it was working now or not. But the fone didnt respond and looked at me as if trying to state that I was a big fool to have left the first bus. Anyways I tried calling my friend from a local booth and asked him to give me the exact address so that I could note it down. "House #24, 1st Floor, SBI Crossing, Dauna Puala", was the exact address that I wrote down. I was happy that at least I had the address now and that I now knew where to reach.
It was 5 hours and I could not locate any bus to Panjim. I enquired again and got to know that the bus would now come only at 7 PM due to some technical glitch. "Arrrgh", I couldn't believe and looked up into the sky and said "Shiva, what's happening with me today, why this now?".
"In which direction is Goa from here, sir", I asked one of the passengers wiating for the bus. "Towards west sir", he answered. Alright, so I decided to walk again. I came out of the bus stand and started walking on the highway towards west. I thought I would take another lift. After having walked for half an hour, I decided to sit own on one of the milestones which showed "Panjim - 180 Kms".
"O God, Hey Shiva, help me", I said in my mind.
Immediately I saw a beaming light approaching me from east. Delighted to see a vehicle, I waived up my hands towards the light. The vehicle came sraight towards me and stopped. It was a motor bike, a YAMAHA Gladiator. "What happened Sir, you need my help?". I could not believe my luck. I called for help and here I get it, I was very happy. I said, "yes, I am going towards Panjim and If you could drop me somwhere close by, that would be really helpful".
Well, before I proceed with the story, I must explain to you the appearance of the man who came out of nowhere to help me.
He was a 6 feet, well built tall guy with a very strong body structure, wore a white half sleeved Kurta and a jeans. His forehead was resplendent with vermillion ash with a clear three horizontal lines of chandan spread across the middle of his forehead. He had long hair not less than Jatas. Through his thin white Kurta, it was quite evident that he wore Rudrakhsha around his neck. As he asked me if I needed his help, I looked into his eyes and for a while was lost. I dont know why. I had never seen such powerful eyes before. I felt as if the whole Brahmand was in there. It was around 6:30 PM in the evening. I literally saw the sunset in his eyes. And he always smiled.
"Sir, you OK? Yes I am going towards Panjim and I can take you there", he answered with a smiling face. I was standing still, unable to say anything. "Sir, did you get scared of me or my look?", he asked smilingly. I suddenly got out from a confused state and said, "no, no, not scared. But you do have a very charming personality and quite a unique one in appearance too". I had seen many Sadhus with such appearance before but never so attractive and charming. I must admit, I dont have enough words to explain his outlook.
"You look like a Yogi but in Jeans and Kurta", I said smilingly. He smiled back and said "yes Sir, I am a Yogi in search of snakes". "What", I blurted out with a complete schock on my face. "Hahaha, don't get scared, I am a snake charmer Sir, I had gone to a nearby Jungle to catch Snakes for my profession. But today didnt have much of luck", he answered. "Aah okay, so I am safe", I answered cheerfully. "Yes Sir, absolutely. You are always safe in my affinity", he smiled.
Without trying to read too much between his lines, I perched on the back seat of his bike. With a whrooom, the enginee started and we were on our way to Panjim, Yipee ! For some reason I felt that the rest of my journey was going to be in total control and worryless. Travelling smoothly along the way, I almost dozed off. "Are you sleeping, Sir ? Be careful, we are almost there, one more hour to go. Hold on to my shoulders and you would never fall", he said. His confidence and powerful voice made me feel as if Shiva had sent him to help me.
I said, "I know, I cant fall if you are around". "I wont let you Sir", he laughed.
"By the way where do you have to go exactly?", he enquired while the bike was moving with a brisk pace. In my mind I said, "O Shiva, please ask him to drop me very close to my friend's house". I didnt want to roam around anymore.
"I stay very close to Dauna Paula, near SBI Crossing. If you want, I can drop you there?", he asked. God, I couldnt believe that. I was deligted and said, "yes yes, I have to reach SBI Crossing at Dauna Paula". "Dont worry Sir, even if you had to reach somehwere else, I would have taken you there". I didnt know what to say. I felt as if I was on the Bike with the GOD himslef whose face was lit with all the knowledge and that he knew everythig about me and about this world.
After about another 30 minutes we reached Panjim and then finally to Dauna Paula in another 20 minutes. He stopped the bike at SBI crossing and said, "that's it Sir, your destination". I got down and looked around the place. Since I had never come there before I didnt know which direction to walk in to find # 24, my friend's house. So I asked him where did he stay. "Sir I am a wanderer, you can find me anywhere", he answered with a similing face. "Just kidding sir, I stay very close by. By the way House #24 is down there", he said, pointing towards a three storeyed white house, hardly at a distance of 100 meters.
Wow, I never expected this, "how do you know that I have to go to House #24, I never told you the exact address?, I asked surprisingly. "You told me Sir, while we were driving",he answered. I never believed that and also didnt know what to say. I was completely bewildered.
The guy then smiled at me and said,"I hope you had a wonderful trip on my bike Sir, I have to go now". "But why", I responded immediately. I dont know why I said that. For some reason I wanted him to be always with me. I felt a Karmic connection with him. Gathering my words again, I said " I would never foget this journey and the help you rendered to me. It's difficult to find people like you". He smiled.
"You can call your friend from you cell phone, Sir, and inform him of your arrival", he said. "Sure, yes let me do that", I said.
As I pulled out my phone from the pocket, he said, " If you haven't changed your connectivity to IDEA, your Airtel Connection wont work here, Sir. Let me show how you how to do that". And he took the phone from my hand while I was wondering how he knew that I came here to meet my friend and that my phone was not working.
While he was trying to play with me phone settings, I asked him, "but how did you know that I came to meet my friend and that my phone was not working?". "I guessed it Sir", he said with a bright smile clear enough to state that he knew all about me. I didnt buy his response but was never the less, speech less. Addtionally I was completely mesmerized with his charming smile. A smile that told me that everything was in control. A smile that told me that he knew everythning about this world, about my journey and about me. As these thoughts crossed my mind, I suddenyl realized that I never asked his name. How could I do that, I thought. I wanted to save his name and mobile number, if he had any.
After making the necessary changes, with a smiling face he handed over the phone to me, sat on the bike and said, "your phone is all fine now". He started his bike and wanted to leave when I said, "hey, you didnt tell me your name, what's your Name, do you have a mobile number, how will I get in touch with you, how do I contact you if I want to talk to you?" Listening to so many questions all at once, he smiled again and said, "you can save my name and number in your mobile and whenever you want to meet me or talk to me, just call me". I looked at my mobile and asked him to tell me his number. He called out his ten digit phone number. Without paying much attention, I quickly typed his number on my phone and then asked for his name.
"SHIVA", he said and sped away in one of the streets towards Panjim. I was speechless. I always knew he was SHIVA.
Once he drove away, I tried saving the number he gave to me. And as I tried , my phone showed me the message "This number already exists with the name
My Number, would you like to replace it?"
I was stunned, it was my own mobile number.
-KGS
