The long and arduous trek was coming to an end. An 8 hour trek on an uncompromising trail for a bunch of amateurs is necessarily not a match made in heaven, but a challenge indeed. Ramesh and his buddies were feeling the ache in their muscles. This kind of weekend get away once a month recharged them completely. The confluence of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, along the western ghats is one of most picturesque places and is sparsely populated. A walk through the nature in the midst of the autumn skies, where the lush green face of the nature smiles through the convoluted path taken by these guys, with the incessant rains as their sole witness, is truly rewarding. With technology left high and dry behind, not by choice, but because of the lack of access for the gadget guys to weave their magic and fill the air with electromagnetic radiations. For about 4 hours they had absolutely no contact with the outside world. Ramesh and his buddies Rahul and Imran are from Bengaluru. Its their common interest in trekking that brought them together. They have been going on atleast one trek a month for the past half year.
Slowly they were coming close to the human inhabitants, ably assisted with increasing levels of network connectivity in their mobile phones. The first village they reached was a very small one. Completely parched, they went on a hunt for a place that could serve them something to eat. After a 10 minute walk through a colony of thatched roof huts and mud roads, they found a small place that was serving hot tea and some associated edibles. The place looked no different than a hut nearby, only distinguishing feature being the board in the front telling about whats being sold there. The shop had a few customers happily munching the bhaji and having their tea. There was a girl, possibly in her early teens, standing and heating up her mini boiler to make tea. Another young boy, possibly older than the girl, was cleaning the space. As our trekkers entered the shop, they were greeted by a warm smile. Since the space was limited, only 2 could have a place to sit. Ramesh, being the only smoker in the group, let the others sit and wanted to go out for a puff. He was only person amongst three, who could speak the local language, Tamil. He ordered food for all three and slowly went outside stretching his aching limbs.
As Ramesh was smoking and checking his emails and messages in his phone, the young boy came out with Ramesh's tea.
"Anna, tea." He offered the drink to Ramesh.
"Thank you" said Ramesh stuffing his phone in his pocket and sat down on a boulder nearby with his tea and smoke.
"Anna, where are you coming from?" the young boy asked Ramesh hesitantly in the local dialect of Tamil.
"From the big town, Bengaluru"
"I have been there once. Its so huge. It must be larger than Kotagiri also. What do you do there?"
Ramesh was pleasantly surprised by the comfort level and the inquisitiveness of the boy. He pointed to the truck near by and said "I build cars and truck. That truck is produced by my company. Rahul works with computers and Imran makes sure we have enough money to do our work." He also introduced his whole group to the boy.
With glittering eyes, he looked at Ramesh and said " Then you must be very well read. What have you studied?"
"I have completed a masters degree in Engineering. Do you go to school?"
"Yes I go to the high school in Kotagiri and I will be writing my 10th standard exam next year! I cycle 12 kms daily and nowadays I am taking my sister also", said the boy proudly pointing at the girl near the boiler also.
"Basically I have studied 8 more years than you as of now!"
Slowly they became comfortable with each other and started talking without any inhibition. The young boy was asking Ramesh all about Bangalore, his higher education and his work. Ramesh to his credit was patiently explaining and answering all his questions.
"Anna, do you have lot of money?" asked the young boy suddenly out of nowhere.
Bit surprised at such a direct question, Ramesh said, " I would like to have more, but I think I have good enough."
"Can I ask you for a help?"
Ramesh guessed what would be coming next. Usually when such conversations happen invariably people want money from him. Though he was kindhearted he usually did not approve of giving money. But he felt bad for this young boy and wanted to give him some money. So ramesh started opening his wallet.
"Ayyo Anna, I dont want your money. Can you please pray for me? Pray that one day I study a lot and become successful like you?"
People, they never cease to surprise.
Slowly they were coming close to the human inhabitants, ably assisted with increasing levels of network connectivity in their mobile phones. The first village they reached was a very small one. Completely parched, they went on a hunt for a place that could serve them something to eat. After a 10 minute walk through a colony of thatched roof huts and mud roads, they found a small place that was serving hot tea and some associated edibles. The place looked no different than a hut nearby, only distinguishing feature being the board in the front telling about whats being sold there. The shop had a few customers happily munching the bhaji and having their tea. There was a girl, possibly in her early teens, standing and heating up her mini boiler to make tea. Another young boy, possibly older than the girl, was cleaning the space. As our trekkers entered the shop, they were greeted by a warm smile. Since the space was limited, only 2 could have a place to sit. Ramesh, being the only smoker in the group, let the others sit and wanted to go out for a puff. He was only person amongst three, who could speak the local language, Tamil. He ordered food for all three and slowly went outside stretching his aching limbs.
As Ramesh was smoking and checking his emails and messages in his phone, the young boy came out with Ramesh's tea.
"Anna, tea." He offered the drink to Ramesh.
"Thank you" said Ramesh stuffing his phone in his pocket and sat down on a boulder nearby with his tea and smoke.
"Anna, where are you coming from?" the young boy asked Ramesh hesitantly in the local dialect of Tamil.
"From the big town, Bengaluru"
"I have been there once. Its so huge. It must be larger than Kotagiri also. What do you do there?"
Ramesh was pleasantly surprised by the comfort level and the inquisitiveness of the boy. He pointed to the truck near by and said "I build cars and truck. That truck is produced by my company. Rahul works with computers and Imran makes sure we have enough money to do our work." He also introduced his whole group to the boy.
With glittering eyes, he looked at Ramesh and said " Then you must be very well read. What have you studied?"
"I have completed a masters degree in Engineering. Do you go to school?"
"Yes I go to the high school in Kotagiri and I will be writing my 10th standard exam next year! I cycle 12 kms daily and nowadays I am taking my sister also", said the boy proudly pointing at the girl near the boiler also.
"Basically I have studied 8 more years than you as of now!"
Slowly they became comfortable with each other and started talking without any inhibition. The young boy was asking Ramesh all about Bangalore, his higher education and his work. Ramesh to his credit was patiently explaining and answering all his questions.
"Anna, do you have lot of money?" asked the young boy suddenly out of nowhere.
Bit surprised at such a direct question, Ramesh said, " I would like to have more, but I think I have good enough."
"Can I ask you for a help?"
Ramesh guessed what would be coming next. Usually when such conversations happen invariably people want money from him. Though he was kindhearted he usually did not approve of giving money. But he felt bad for this young boy and wanted to give him some money. So ramesh started opening his wallet.
"Ayyo Anna, I dont want your money. Can you please pray for me? Pray that one day I study a lot and become successful like you?"
People, they never cease to surprise.
