ROADTRIP: Jamshedpur-Ludhiana-8

"Sirji, can we move?"

It was Pandeyji from the upper berth.

Day 3 has just dawned.

Pervez was up. So too Pandeyji.

The wristwatch showed 7.11 a.m.

We got out of our night gear.

Soon the engine roared and our journey to LUdhaina resumed.

It was chill and foggy and the traffic on NH 56 - linking Benares with Lucknow - was thin.

Half an hour later, Pandeyji halted the vehicle. Time for brushing our teeth and "maidan operation".

What's maidan operation? Well, that's the code word used by Pandeyji referring to the bowel empty exercise! First time, he mentioned this phrase, I did not grasp the meaning of it. Wondered whether he was suggesting a bit of morning walking exercise. There was a round of mirth and laughter when he understood my 'misunderstanding'.

It was his turn to walk with Pepsi bottle in hand! Pervez too trooped with another Pepsi in a different direction. Before parting, our respective toothbrushes and paste were digged out. There was a well and a running water tap on the roadside. A vast tract of agricultural land was on the other side.

Back in the saddle, Pandeyji announced that we would be passing his hometown soon and suggested that we halt for breakfast where his brothers (elder and younger) would join us.

Incidentally, Pervez said that his village is also hardly 50 km away near Sultanpur and he wanted to visit his family for a few hours. He would join us after the Pandeyji parivar interaction gets over.

It was a fair proposition. Without any loss of time, a passing UP State Transport bus going towards Sultanpur was waved down and Pervez despatched off.

In no time, Pandeyji phoned his family members and gave them his whereabouts. It began to drizzle as we parked and stepped out.

One look at the roadside signage indicated that we had covered 99 km so far after leaving Benares last night. That is leaving NH2 and entering NH 56.


Prem Jalpan Grh is where we decided to break our 'fast'. By sheer luck, Pandeyji ran into his relatives at the hotel. Mind you, this is not a 'dhaba'! Piping hot samosa, kaala jamun and hot tea in a tiny mud pot formed part of our morning session.

While travelling on Indian highways - particularly through small towns and villages, you simply expect a 100% hygienic desi or McDonald kind of eateries. As one passes through these villages/towns where invariably buses halt to pick/drop passengers you will invariably see a clutch of Prem Jalpan Grh type of eating joints.

These joints are basically created to cater to the floating population: meaning,
highway passengers who halt for breakfast or chai-paani (water and tea). It is a normal sight to see hungry customers gobbling up hot jilebis and samosas out of disposable alumnimium-foiled plates and tea filled in mudpots.

Chances of getting coffee is very remote. Few drink brewed coffee. Chai is the most preferred hot beverage. That too, with extra sugar. Ask for sugarless tea. Tough choice.

Don't be surprised if birds and dogs give company under the table on which your servings are kept. Owners promise you that these dogs don't bite! Occasionally, assistants shoo away these creatures to assure you that all is well.

We all learn to live with God's other creations as well.

When Pandeyji received a call from his family, it began to rain heavily. We bid goodbye to his relatives and ran a hundred metres where our truck was parked near another dhaba which had a sizeable parking space to accommodate our longish truck.

I did not bargain for what was in store over the next few hours...

It was a memorable day for me...

To be continued