The Clinical tear….

The Indian Ocean Diary

Rojnamcha 

The early morning train …

The regular departure, though innocuous as it might appear was far from truth as the heart was torn apart as you bade farewell to your own….tru the lump in the throat , as the formative years rolled…the vacation over now , the morning train awaiting departure …such was the strain , that you are overwhelmed and an inertia supreme: a strenuous effort….The biggest stumbling block was Ma : the epitome of entwinement: her frail frame hard to let go…

Nevertheless, the brave heart trudged on , the thoughts shattered by the thunderous Diesel Loco with its 21 bogie load as it appeared on the horizon…

The monster of a train as familiar reliefs of the small town slithered passed as it diligently tore apart the comfort zone…

As the trip to the new session of the school culminated ,one cannot fathom the sea of change just a diurnal variation…

Took time …. the fledgling roots still raw from an uproot , slowly finding its ground of sustenance , as fellow comrades mingle, a newer zone of self realization, a goal for self development, far away from the safe haven, not very old but fresh in memory…

Time is the currency, as the school hostel years rolled on , the cut out of an agenda of self awareness, self assertion and ultimately Self confidence….

As I fly back home from the Sunny clime … there will be my own family waiting….there will be quality time ..a short visit …a week…but enveloped in hope, bonhomie, … only to be torn apart as you part again from your kith and kin ….flying into the Sunny clime , the crossing over the Laccadive sea : a ritual…. this time it’s not a Diesel locomotive but a jet plane clinically executing the tear…….

As Constant as the Northern Star ....

 ...The  Sun  warming  up ,  the transition  evident : seasonal outbreaks,

 the  Holy month sets in : as the  Faithful Submits ...

...The Cobbled  streets  ,  the  beaten  track , the  long stretches : time  for  being  meaningful to  a  purpose  of an  existence ,of  a  much  needed  service  here  ....

Day  in  &  day  out  the touch & reach , a  heart    , sick  perhaps  the  rhythm  , loaded  perhaps  the pain  , tensed  perhaps  the  outcome  ....a  flicker  of  hope  , a  helping  hand , a  rustic  service ,  a remote  setting,  donning  the garb  of  being  Omniscient  ,  Omnipotent as  thr  r  no alternatives  in  stark remoteness ....

The insurmountable  deep  blue ,  the rain  soaked  palms , a direct  connect  with  quietude , a  time  to  fathom ur bearings , as u dive down deep, a rainbow of  a shoal, out  of their natural habitat in the Corals ...

As  constant  the Northern star ...veritable  ,  unspoilt the Archipelago  ....!!!!

The parting Repertoire ...

 Have  to  part  now , the year  drawing  to a close , though  its  business  as  usual , as  breckneck the  speed  that  was  in  the  initial  mnths  , just as  same  as  the year  end...but Time  flies as  a quicksand  shift, deluging us with hordes of events  the  year  offered  ...Humility....  tht  Good Lord gave  me  the  strength  for a much needed  Service  here , season  after season ,  a  steady  flow  , a  steady  accrual  of Good  wishes , Blessings   & Solace  ...!!!....an  Old table  , an  old Chair , a  much  jaded  flooring withstanding  the ravages of  time  :  the Service  rendered , a   happiness  elicited  ,  a  hope  generated  , &  Life's Flow unabated  ...!!!   Pure  , Holy  ,  Hallowed as   the Soul bereft  of  Gloss  or  external  paint  ,  the  Jaded  floor  , a  mute testimony  , the footfalls  unabated  ....!!!...The  flt  back  home  as Immigration  is exited is a severance  akin to  tht  of  the  Umbilical  cord  ...U belong  whr U  serve  ...!!!....U  belong  whr  Ur  needed ...The   many  seasons  of  "Hulanghu  &   Iruvai " :  Monsoon  &  retreating  Monsoon , generating  tht  sprightly  gait  as  ur  drenched , of  being  a  part  of  the  Blessed system !!!! 

....Close to the Earth , even Closer to the Heart ....!!

The Zipline carrying  Arnav  first  followed  by  me  over  the Tegallalang rice terrace  enthused  us  into  more  daring  River  rafting  amidst  rain in  an 11 km stretch  in Ayum River  with sharp currents  ,  eddies     and  rapids  ,  as  we  negotiated  with  both Archana & Doel  pedalling    upfront  and  both  of  us  behind :  the river  flowing sharply  in  the gorge  dotted  with waterfalls ...the  tropical  jungle bordering the  gorge  :  rife  with  high pitched sounds  of    insect cicadas    : a  crescendo  first then decrescendo : all  in  unison ...the  remoteness complete  with  overcast  conditions  & a   steady  drizzle  adding   to  the  thrill  ,  as  we  hurtled  downstream  the  current  even  stronger  ...8'S  latitude  Lesser  Sunda  Archipelago  is  a  gem  of  Indonesia .... the  Pacific ring  of  fire ...the Volcanoes  and  its Lava  fields  of  Mt Batur ....the  fertile  volcanic  landscapes  with  Dragon fruits  ubiquitous &  so is  the aroma of Durian fruit ...the  vulcanic  ash  ,  the  hot  water  Geyser  from the  underground  a  soothing  balm .....the  rains  greeted  us  copiously  as the Jeep  snaked  its  way up  hill the  vulcanic  landscape ...as we inhaled  the  cool  moist  ,  breeze , partially drenched  ,  the  Huge  water  body  of  the Lake  visible  downhill now , as  the UNESCO GEO  Site welcomed us  : a  Lava  field , : mute testimony  of a massive eruption of yesteryears , the  Sunset  point  at  our feet  ....atop  Mt  Batur ....

By  default  we  reached  here  as a stopgap arrangement  in  lieu of Swiss Alps  first &  Drakensberg Ranges  of SA both  of  which  eluded  us  for  delayed  visa  approvals &  had  to  be  kept on  hold   ...August  Sept Zurich  Interlaken sector, followed  by  the fabled Jungfrau region in  the Swiss Alps  with Matterhorn peak  high  on agenda , to  be followed  for  a finale  to St Moritz  , in as  much  the  Villa booking  in Sarnen near Lucerne went abegging ...Let  down  but  not  to be  rundown  !! the RSA  trip finalised with The  Garden & Panorama Routes high on agenda , but Lo ! and behold gets scuttled  due  to  inordinate delay  in  Evisa  approval  which landed  in  the  Inbox on the Day  of Departure !!  , a near impossible  proposition and  further  heart  break ...

Its  often  my experience  , that  unplanned , unscheduled  trips  materialize , and  Indonesia just fitted  into  the  bill with VOA ....!!! : the 12  hr  trip  to  the  Sunda archipelago  from  Mumbai &  Lush green  raw  tropical color  embalmed  us  in  a manner  as rapid  mist  wud  cover u  on a fine  winter  morning in North India ...!!!  

Riding the ATV  bike circuit in the  dense  Jungles with Arnav  in the pillion &  a stellar  performance by Archana  with  Doel in tow  ...!!!...the Circuit was tough  as  the terrain was  rough  with  impediments  strewn as  routine  , the  post  activity Lunch provided  was delicious & we  headed even  deeper & down the multiple Waterfalls  , roaring  &  thundering  under  a  thick canopy of  Tropical lush  ...

This  is  one  place  raw  Nature  is  untouched ; the  Insect  Sound bytes  of  a  crescendo  ubiquitous  ,  a  remoteness  so  much  cherished  far  away  from  the  madding  crowds  of  a  Megapolis  ...!!!

The  Damara  ,  Jonsu &  Emily  Villa  stays  were  fabulous  with entire  villas  to  ourselves  with  a pool  to  relax  after  the days Jaunt , The Grab App  Home delivery a smooth  affair  as  we felt  home  away  from  home  ...

The Moss  laden Ganesha  and  many a  motif in  the  thick  jungles  of  a Monkey Forest , straight  out  of  an Indiana Jones thriller , as we found civilizations  strewn every  nook and corner 

...in  that way  Every  home  in  this  part of  the Archipelago  had  a family Temple first at  the entrance with regular  offerings to  the  deities 

Sea  can't  be far  away  from  us  as we  rode  up  the  cliffs  ,  the breath  taking  Bays with  quaint coffee shops  &  viewing  deck settled  us in  familiar  settings  and  the  sea  activities  including  Paragliding was  the  Icing  on  the Cake  ....!!!! 

A Sea & Lord Hanuman in between .....

 Shubho NaboBorsho greetings  to  all !!!

There  is  festivity  in  the  air  ...the  brisk  walk  back to home  post  Clinic tells it all... there is  definitely a sprightly  gait now negotiating  the  puddles like a striker  with  the  ball , a heart loaded  with  expectancy :  of  a barrage  of  well wishers  wishing : a spl day  in  the  Bongo calendar : Pohela Boishakh :  The Bangla  New  yr ....

...the peace shattered   in  the  wee  hrs  as  the cell  phone   is flooded  with  msgs  from  the  fish  vendor of IIT  Mkt @ Powai Mumbai , the  Choicest Bengali  fishes  are  available ...definitely  for the occasion !!

Alas, the Sea & Lord Hanuman straddling in ur path ....Tuesday  is Lord Hanuman  Day, strictly  Vegetarian will  be  the fare, & the Sea separating the Isles & the Indian Mainland ...

Certain things r diligently  followed since childhood ,part of  ur  upbringing ...."Tuesday"..... to name a  few 

The Customary obeisance to elders in  the  New  year , the fun filled  get togethers & a plethora of dishes from Ma's kitchen laced  with her indefatiguable labour  & Luv....!!!

Not  to  forget  the  rendition  of  Bangla poems  & Rabindra Sangeeth  were the major highlights  of  the  New  year ....!!!

 

A bond Long Established .....

....the daily  walk  to the  Health Unit for sustaining  Morn & Eve Clinic & Subsequent return back to base , comes to a grinding  halt on Holiday  Friday as  the day  is laid back , the  muscles  recovering , the  routine  broken ....

The Holy  mnth of Ramadaan is closer to  its  culmination , as Eid festivities will  pervade the isles : a pearl in  the  Indian Ocean ...

The Mercury  soaring as Closer we  come  to  the  Sun , unshakable is the faith  of the  faithfuls ....the  Evenings relaxed as the Sun Goes  down , gentle sea  breeze sweeping  the  Isles ....

Thr is a flurry of activity socially , as  ,  we  frnds  reunited  recently  in  the  Centennary  celebrations of  Alma Mater and the online interactions now even in real time ....

Nothing  changed ....Nothing  has changed ....Nothing  will  change  ....the  fundamentals  of  a  foundation  too  strong ....Lucky  to  be  in touch  with  old  folks & even  more  lucky  to  meet newer people  day  in  &  day  out  professionally ....wht an  opportunity Gud Lord  Provides , a fulfillment , a treasure trove of  Experience of a Life time : ever expanding & 

growing  ....the  Health  Post a High altar : a bond : long established .....!!!!

Centenary & Reunion Patna Medical College

February 1985 we sailed into PMCH . The sailboat, of a young heart, throbbing and beaming  with enthusiasm and a feeling of accomplishment well writ on our faces....A premier institution and an alumnus of formidable  repute...

Feb 25 th 1925 Sir Henry Wheeler ,Governor of Bihar & Orissa innaugurated the College ,to commemorate the visit of  then Prince of Wales Edward .

Yesterday , we celebrated the Centenary . & those young hearts  with dream laced eyes met again , having reached  their milestone, of a whale of a career,  that  of  the  Medical doctor  ...!!! 

24 the Centenary eve : the 1984 batch met  , of  which I was a proud stakeholder....

The batch met at Kautilya hall of  the  famous Maurya Hotel  for a Luncheon : Reunion 

As I was onboard , AI 0673, with Archana airdashing to reach  on  time  from Mumbai to Patna , a cascade  of  thoughts deluged  me : the entry  into  the  haloed Institution & Exit  upon Pass  out ...the time slipped  out  thru  our  fingers , the memories stronger  than  before  ....as  if  it  was  yesterday ....

The  flt delved deeper after a momentuous height, the  thought  process  shattered  by  the announcement  for  securing  ourselves…the Cup of Tea delayed  now   &  the  wait to land  agonising  ....

Did I  inform  them  that I was  coming  with Archana  in tow  ? ...Yes  I  did  inform my Boarding status 

Did I tell them to  wait  for  me ? .....the  intervening 33yrs an impediment ....Yes  I did  inform ...thn why I am so anxious , a slight shudder engulfed  me momentarily ....The slumber  of  Rip  Van  winkle  is  finally  over , lots  of  water  have  flown  thru  the Ganges  ,  the  Ganges  receding  further from our Alma Mater , What if I am unrecognizable ?...Wht If I cant recognize a few of us ? ...Wht if I am not Endeared by all ?

The thoughts  shattered  again  as the  Landing  Gear  hit  the  tarmac as I am back again in  the Chosen Land   !!!

The Baggage belt was a gem of a Tortoise and my regular glance  at the  wrist watch  & Archana's countenance aggravated  matters  further ....then Gunjan Called , Arun Singh called & the cab driver with my name board flashing was right  in front....A sense of belonging to  this good  old  city  of  mine  seeped in  quickly  into  my  veins , a city where I spent two decades of youthful Life....the Islander in me , so used to remoteness & now loneliness ,missed a beat or two ....a sense of gratitude engulfed me as I am not forsaken or forgotten ...

The Patna traffic   put a spanner near Maurya as we scampered post Checkin into Chanakya whr  we were lodged and a brisk usher into Kautilya hall of the fabled Maurya Hotel with fine strains of music emanating wherein the batchmates had congregated....I thought , paused , pushed the door gently as for a moment  which appeared like ages I was transfixed as a pure Foreign entity , but only fleeting seconds I guess , & as the Holy river  merges  into  the Sea ,I immersed myself in the camaraderie of Long lost frnds : the Rejuvenation was so rapid &  fast , as I met everyone with equal zeal & fervour .....the Lunch was just a prop : the attention rivetted:  as Rip Van Winkle  brushes  his  dusty  coat  , donning  the  shinning armour of  the  infectious  smile .....gliding seamlessly onto the  vortex  of  time , striking the right cords  and  notes ....

Amazed at the seamless interactions as if  nothing  had  changed , the quick acqueisance to the music corner where  Shyam  had  so  nicely  arranged occupying effortlessly  the  position & the voice flowed in  abandon....tht sealed  the uncertainty to a Certain Confidence of  being  amongst  your  own frnds whose round of applause definitely  is  the Elixir of Life.....!!!!

As  we  shifted to nxt level of a River Cruise in  the Ganges   with  High Tea & Snacks : it appeared  to  be  the  icing  on  the Cake  ....the  gentle breeze , the lazing around  in the river , music  & dance , a grand finale  to  the  Reunion where  we promised to meet again  ....!!!