Examine what is said, not her who speaks

Last day

It is misty today. I am sitting in the train while I write this, with hawkers shouting at the top of their voice and people coming and going.
A sadhu baba sits at the platform across where I am and is smoking a "chillum" (smoke pipe). Lord knows what is in there. I'm fascinated by his attire. He is dressed up like Shiva, in leopard print dress. Who said vanity belongs only in this materialistic world!

There is a monkey who keeps on loitering around on the railway platform, sitting close to the edge, as if waiting for a train to come in.

A part of me wants to go back while another part of me desires to stay, sit again at the banks of the river, enjoy the peace and quiet, write in this diary, let go of my worries. Alas, time moves on and so must I.

I've filled a bottle of "Gangajal" (water from the river) for it is used in all the holy rituals by the Hindus. Gangajal is said to be the stairway to heaven.

I had gone down to the riverbank today morning where I took some water in the palm of my right hand, gazing towards the sun and prayed that I find peace of soul. I might be a sinful, worthless human for all I am but I am still of this nature's making. Thereby I leave my worries, pain and heartbreaks at this doorstep.

*sits with a faraway look on her face, then shakes herself to present*

As aforementioned, am in the train, which has been typically delayed. Oh darling, this is India! I shall reach Ahm tomorrow at five in the morning. Am looking forward to reaching Ahm where I shall meet friends and revise on the project which is to start in February in Mumbai.

I have the wedding of a dear friend to look forward to soon.
Shall let you know all about it.

Until then---as they say here " JAI GANGA MAYIYA, HARI OM!"

I've been bogged down lately by so much work at the office that I had no time to return to the blog and continue. Today, my boss left for Dubai and finally, I breathe a small sigh of relief. I am free until tomorrow morning to do as I please!

Seriously though, had it not been for a certain charming friend keeping me occupied with his dilemnas and making me smile, diverting my mind- I'd have really gone into a terrible state of stress and despair. But ...that, we shall talk of later. Let me finish what I'd started earlier. So we ended with me being stuck with no transport in Rishikesh, away from Haridwar and the Ashram where I was putting up. Am scared a bit but trying to be brave, telling myself, it will be okay.

TRAVEL DIARY: 18-01-08 at 8:45 PM (contd.)
BE CAREFUL!

Finally, I found a Rickshaw guy who tells me, he'd take me until the city centre of Rishikesh, where I could get another one to a place called "Raiwala" and from there on to the Bharat Mata Temple.
I consented. Something was better than nothing and surely one could get some means of transport in the city suburb! The city centre is around 7 kms away from Ram Jhula.
It was another 30 minutes before he accumulated all the passengers for the shuttle and I was on my way.

Once I reached the centre, I get down close to a huge fruit market. I buy some fruit there (I'd started getting hungry) and started looking for another Rickshaw to take me to my next stop. Caught one which was a muddle of children crying, women and men who stinked of "Bidis" (tobacco leaf rolled into a cigeratte) and country liquor.

With a small prayer to drive the fear away from my heart, I am sitting there in this Rickshaw when I feel a hand crawling up my thigh. Uggghhh!! I look at the man sitting beside me and ask him icily to remove his hand and behave. *shudders with the memory of it*

The shuttle Rickshaw driver (thank God!) was a good guy apparently as he stopped the auto there and asked me to change places. I did so. The guy in the Rickhsaw were talking loudly, cursing every two second and boasting to each other about well they treated women in bed.
They kept on glancing my way but I had my face averted, head up. To say I was shocked would be an understatement. I trembled with fear inside.

Once the Rickshaw reached Raiwala, I got down. The Rickshaw driver- that good man, he kindly stopped another auto going my way from there and made sure I was secure.
This auto also contained a bunch of rowdy men, cursing their current leader of the state and I don't mean she was being cursed as just a politician.
I believe I do understand now why they say women are mistreated and disrespected in the State of Uttar Pradesh and Uttranchal.

I finally reach Bharat Mata Temple and my Ashram. Washed my face and sat down on a bench for a while under the tree close to the temple to say "Thank you God." Anything could have happened but it didn't. Someone seems to be watching over me.

Now after dinner, I wonder if I was being unnecessarily panicky. However, the local women in the Ashram were shocked that I came in so late and did indeed tell me that I was lucky I have come home unharmed. Most women are not so lucky.
To think this place is considered to be holy and so close to the river Ganga who washes your sins away....the River Goddess would have something to say about these mishaps, don't you think so?

*gets up and stretches. comes back to the book* Am tired and yet awake. Think I need a cup of tea. Adios!