HILL FULL OF DREAMS

Dedication: To all those common people whose dreams came true. “I miss u, wanna c u once before I board the train.” I am elated to read that text from ANU and decided to meet her for one last time. ”Sandy lets go,” I said to SANDEEP pointing toward his bike. “GOWTHAM don’t be crazy. She is going to be back in Hyderabad from Tirupati by Monday. Don’t behave as if you are not meeting her again or the world is coming to an end. You guys just started seeing each other since a month and how come you became a Romeo so early? Holy shit” “Am in love bro” I replied, ”Whatever, I don’t believe in this love, its all attraction. You got smitten by the charm sitting next to her in the computer lab and now named it as LOVE.” I was not paying attention to his monotonous philosophy but as a boyfriend it’s my duty to fulfill her only wish. Wait am I talking like a Romeo, never mind. “Sandy Do you believe in Love” “No way.” “Do you believe in friendship”? “Of course yes” “Then as a friend please take me to the railway station. I am really running out of time” I knew he has no choice. He started the ignition of his new “Hero Karizma” and vroomed towards the Secunderabad Railway Station. Like the vehicles on the road various thoughts are running in my mind with all love songs playing on my tiny mp3 player. But like a traffic signal my thoughts had to break since Sandy braked at a Gas Station for the fuel. Though Sandy’s filthy rich dad bought him all the expensive stuff, he never had 50/- in his valet not because he misuses the money but his dad is of the opinion that his dumb son might get exploited by some CUNNING, STREET SMART friends like me. I paid Rs50, which didn’t even come to a litre. I still remember my dad getting the petrol for Rs 30/ litre in my 10th class. 20/- shooting up in 4 years is too much. I wonder how much would it cost 10 years from now. It might hit a ton even before Sachin Tendulkar gets his 100 centuries. We parked the bike and started running towards the platform. After scanning the whole platform with my anxious eyes for 15 minutes, I found her standing in front of the AC compartment. She was wearing a green salwar…Ahh she is unbelievably beautiful. I texted her to come towards the idly stand where Sandy and I were waiting. She came after 5 mins. She said Hi to us, smiled and walked back to her seat. We could not talk anything since her mom, dad and kid brother are around. I want to see her again that one last time.”Heyyyy” she turned around and I took the tiny MP3 player from my pocket and gave it to her. She was surprised by my gift and that is something, which I didn’t expect too. Yes, now I see that twinkle in her eye and I always loved it. Now I feel like a KING. While walking back to our bike I said, “Dude may be I should go to Tirupathi” “Have you gone mad?” “No am serious. I want to see Lord Balaji with her.” “Why don’t you both tonsure your head and stay there forever? Don’t be impulsive Gowtham. Why are you going head over heels on her? Is it because of her green salwar? Think of it, she will be back in 2 days. Stop your wild imaginations and lets go home.” “Sandy even if I come home I keep missing her like hell, please let me just try this adventure. I felt so good when I fulfilled her small wish. I want to give her something more than this. How much would an AC ticket cost?” “1500 may be” “What? That’s almost equal to my monthly expenses. I can’t afford that much. Any alternative?” “There will be only general tickets available for now. Did you ever travel in a general compartment?” “I did few years back may be in my 6th class but I puked that day and decided never to travel in a general. I am now ready to break my decision. I have Rs 400 in my pocket. Would that be enough for my total trip?” “It should be sufficient if you don’t spend on gifts to your girlfriend to prove her that you are the greatest boyfriend on the earth.” “I think I will be one someday” I took the ticket and headed towards the platform. I got a seat luckily but have to share it with 4 other people. Sandy bought me a handkerchief (its always advisable to carry one if you are travelling in a general), some lemons and a water bottle. I also gave him Rs100 to refill my phone. The announcement came, Sandy waved and left. I kept thinking “What would be her reaction when she finds me in the same train? Can I make it to the AC compartment? What if their dad or mom finds out? Am I going crazy?”. The train started moving and thus started the journey of my lifetime on June 16th 2006 at 17:28 PM IST. I somehow felt travelling in a general is not as bad as I imagined it to be. There are some annoying moments like people spitting from the windows, few snoring heavily, packed seats, stinky floor etc but still I am enjoying my trip. A part of my mind is still thinking about Anu but I decided to make a move only after the sunset. I decided to stay calm for a couple of hours and embark on my mission though I still haven’t decided what to do next. But my only motto of this adventure is to meet her and have a DARSHAN together if possible. Lets see what Mr.Balaji has in store for me. After an hour into the journey a lady who is sitting few seats ahead of us puked and that started making me very uncomfortable. I have decided to change the compartment but as a part of courtesy I planned to change in my next stop i.e. Warangal, which also happens to be the place where my parents live. In the mean time I took out the kerchief and managing myself. After 20 odd minutes of my wait the train arrived at the station. The warmth of my hometown greeted me in the form of nice cold breeze. No I am not exaggerating it was cold that day. I got out of the train and walking towards another compartment. A person who is short and stout with bald head holding a suitcase on one hand and a bag on another hand is yelling at his wife to board the train quickly. I am wondering if he is uncle SURESH and yes that’s uncle Suresh. I started running in the opposite direction and boarded into a compartment. The train started moving as soon as I boarded. Then I realized it is second class. I received a text from ANU “Guess where am i?” “Australia” I said “ No sweetumps am in my husband’s town”. Her message eased me a bit after the series of incidents in last 10 minutes. It started getting dark and I sat near to the bathroom planning my next action. The train passed Khammam, Vijayawada and Ongole and I was lost in my thoughts. I saw the TC walking towards me with a broad smile on his face. He asked me “General huh?”…I was startled by his straightforward question. This man should have been a lawyer, how on earth could he notice am a general guy standing in second class? I honestly explained him my problem. He then said “ Do one thing go and take the seat A36 in the AC compartment”. I don’t believe this I am actually sitting in AC!!! I took a 100/- to give him but he refused. I thanked him but inside I felt “ Meru Devudayya”. I took my seat and with my X ray eyes scanned the whole compartment for her. I don’t see her anywhere. I felt I should relax here a while and then start my hunt. I searched the compartment after everyone turned off the lights. I found her on the other side of the compartment on the middle berth and my beautiful is sleeping. That was such a lovely sight which I can keep looking forever. I know its not the right time to disturb her so I went back to my seat. I slowly fell asleep and suddenly woke up to realize the train started approaching Tirupati. Wowwww I am finally in Tirupati with her. I got down the train before them and texted her “Welcome to Seven Hills”. She replied me immediately “I jus reached n how do u know it?” I texted her to turn around and her face turned into a big question mark with her mouth wide open. I got a call from her “What is this? I don’t believe it?” she asked. “ I want to see how beautiful you are after waking up so I took the train…simple.” “ You are one crazy %&@##% “ “ I know” “ Hey I have to go. Long day ahead, walking the hill and then DARSHAN. I will cal you whenever I get time…Love you” Wow I now need to walk, never done it before. Sounds exciting!!! I took a bus and they took a taxi to reach ALIPIRI. I started walking as swiftly as I can to reach her. After an hour of my brisk walk and little running (infact mostly running) finally found her. I started to think how horrible I might be looking now. Forget introducing me as her boy friend she cant even introduce me like her friend with the way I look now to her dad so I made sure am off their radar. We both exchanged a glance but didn’t really smile and suddenly got a cal from my dad to check if I have started to college, which is his usual routine while going to work. I looked at the couples coming from different corners of the state while walking and started thinking I should take my kids with ANU after the marriage and have a happy cute, little and happy family. OMG why am I thinking like this? 4 hours of our walking took us to Mr. Venkat’s place. They left for their cottage and I just stared, stared and stared at her from a corner. I bought a soap, towel and underpants to take a bath at the nearest pond. Not even in my wildest dreams I ever thought I would do something like this. Only love made me do this and am happy doing it. I changed my dress after the bath and looked myself in the mirror. Wow I felt like I have lost 20 pounds. I received a text from her telling that they are leaving to darshan in 2 hrs. They have the VIP darshan mostly so I decided to take 100/- ticket for my darshan with a hope that I might meet them sometime after 2 hours anywhere in the temple. I took a locker and put my stuff in it to meet my favorite GOD. There is a heavy rush and I am almost 6 hours in the queue but don’t see any traces of her. I felt positive that I have to thank GOD for making atleast this happen and its not good to expect Darshan together after all he has done to me. This made me feel little strong. After 3 more hours I reached the temple entrance. This is the place where general, VIP, VVIP all merge together. The commotion has to be experienced to believe it and YES YES YES there she is!!!!!! The traditional yellow half saree with eyes full of devotion and innocence. Inspite of the huge crowd around I could only see her just her. For me the whole temple is evacuated with just GOD, her and me. I waited till she came to me and we exchanged a smile. Wowwww am approaching my favorite god with my favorite girl. What more can I ask for now? I now have the B-E-S-T D-A-R-S-H-A-N O-F M-Y L-I-F-E. I am definitely on cloud 9 sorry on top of the 7 hills. I took the last 100/- from my pocket and put it in the HUNDI. I am not sure how I would go back home but am totally carried away by the best things happening around. Her family was sitting on some corner with PRASAD and praying. I was watching them and then she sighed me to follow her. We reached a corner where no one can find us. She gave me a small paper and left. I opened the paper and found 500/- . How does she know I ran out of money? Is she returning the favour of my MP3 player that I gave her? No she understood I didn’t have money and gave me. Now that’s true love. I decided I have memories that I can cherish forever. So I took all my belongings and reached Tirupati bus station. I texted her “ Hey am leaving to Warangal. Feel like going home once. Will be back by the time u reach hyd. Till then have a great trip and haffun. Love u Tc miss u” I saw a small idly stall then it struck me I haven’t eaten anything since I boarded the train. This is unbelievable I wasn’t eating anything till now and didn’t even feel hungry. Is this the true love where you forgot to sleep, eat and everything just for her? I had a heavy meal and took my bus to Warangal. I peeped out of the window to see the whole town again and rewinding the memories. I know this might not be a big deal for everyone but for a 19 year old it definitely is one. My body needs a reboot i.e. sleep. I called mom and sandy before the sleep. I reached Warangal around 7 in the morning and hit straight to home. Mom and dad were little surprised to see me at that time. I explained them there’s nothing to worry just felt like coming home and will leave tomorrow. While dad was about to leave. A person with tonsured head came home and yes you guessed it right that was uncle Suresh. He brought home the PRASAD and gave us. My dad was asking if they had nice darshan and he said it was great. I said to myself “Gowtham you had the best one man”. Uncle Suresh asked me “Babu how was your darshan?.” Everyone there was in a shock with his question. My mom and dad gave a puzzled look!!!! I am shocked too. ANURAAG