Highway

By Rashmi Sah

Life is not predictable at all. Sometime we have to spend whole life under one roof

and sometime getting a permanent roof a dream. We have to take different journey

in our life. Some like it, realise it, enjoy it. Some do the journey without even knowing

that they are on journey. Actually we all are doing the journey only. This life itself is a

journey.

Here is a journey done from one part of country to another part, making it as essential

part of the professional as well as personal life. It gives abundance to get all. It's upto

us to grab.

Day 1

After packing things in car, people and family settled themselves. Before sitting in the

car, my eyes looks at the surrounding, places, building, garden, floor things for the last

time. After saying them bye in the mind multiple time, I sat on the driving sit and

started. With the roar of the engine our journey started. First we came out of the

society slowly coming through the service road to main road leaving place, emotions

behind. Even though the car is moving forward my eyes are stick to the review mirror

where I can still the things which I am leaving behind and there is slight pain for the

leaving the things behind.

Kids and family also have same feeling for the leaving their friends, some part of their

life is left behind. Slowly the car is taking the speed and leaving behind things,

memories and going ahead on the road. It is moving from service road to main road.

Now it is speeding on the National highway 16 leaving behind the narrow and

conjusted roads of city. It left the boundries of the city, sub urbs, district and finally

state. All the memories of the place has been secured in the walt of heart. Mind is

focusing on the roads in front of.

After drive of 2-3 hours, we halted for breakfast at a dhaba. Dhabas are the gems

which beutifies the Highway. The life of the highway are these dhabas which generally

famous for the Punjabi food. These are not only the places where food is serviced and

travellers get relaxed. These are places which give life to highway, gives the courage

to travel. They welcome each and every customer that they are their regular one and

coming there on regular basis, fully knowing the fact that theses visit are only an one

time visit. It relaxes the traveller along with giving the new energy to drive again, cover

the vast highway which in the front of the eyes and beyond. It's not the food which

relaxes the traveller but the warm welcome, homely feeling make them comfortable

and relaxed. These are small energy centre for the travellers.

While the other people's are busy placing the order, my mind is still wants to go back

and have look again for the things which I left. With the call of the son, I came back in

the present and I ordered my meal. We enjoyed the hot breakfast served with warm

smile.

After spending an hour, we all set for a fresh start from the point we left. The car which

likes all the roads and very familiar at first meet only. It seems that car knows the

highway from the long time and knew all of it. It seems that they are meeting with

each other and both are giving comfort to each other. The highway is happy the car is

with him only from this strach to that starch and they can enjoy each other's company.

It is clearing all the hindrance and allowing to free flow like a well wisher.

Highway do not own anything, it only gives. It gives life to the area, pleasure to the

traveller to meet someone who are waiting at the end of the journey. They give love

to travellers throughout the their journey. The some people are in hurry to reach and

some are just enjoying the travel, highway, trees, farms, lanes and life of highway. It

absorb all your tiredness and fill you up the fresh feelings. The fresh feeling is the

feeling of breathing, living and having solace for the some part of life.

Highway gives the courage to see the changes. It shows that the change is beautiful.

It takes you to the journey of changes from a place to other. The rows of the trees

which are guarding the highway from both the sides are like the proud worriers who

gracefully standing to protect the travellers and highway from all the choes and allow

you to feel the beauty with different colours, height, smell of the flowers, fruits and

others. It's gives a peeping view of vast farms, small and big homes settled with their

members and families. All the are Waiting to give the picturious view. All busy doing

their work as they alone and happy in their own worl as if nobody is watching them.

Sometimes there is eye contact for a flash of second which gives the feeling of being

and detached. The houses with the small pond behind, a fruit orchid with varieties of

fruits hanging, colourful flowers are adding a beautiful aroma along with cows and

goats are taking the sunbath. Even before you can take pictures of the same in your

mind, the highway is something other to show.

This is never ending and flows like a beautiful story to see, feel and preserve. From the

house, pond, farm, cow, rivers, bridges, lakes, sees it has all to offer with open heart.

It never restrict you to anything and allows you to have all as per your thirst for view,

thirst for travel, thirst for relaxation, whatever you wish for, the same is there to offer.

The freedom to stop whenever you feel is only offered by the highway. It rejuvinates

with the fresh masala chai, coffee, lassi whatever you want. With this thought, the

urge of coffee called me and we stop at a dhaba again to get welcomed.

After having our craving satisfied, the wheels of the car are crushing the roads under

and talking to winds. Slowly we have crossed borders of the state and entered into the

neighbouring state and getting socked in the culture, language of the state. Slowly all

the road side signage has changed their language which is impossible to found from

where the change has started. The shops, dhabas, houses, building, markets are

depicting the architecture change and telling the stories of the states. Generally

borders divides the boundaries of the state, country and official honourgram for the

cultural and architectural change. However the same is actually not divided by the

borders. Cultural changes get mixeds with each other and borders always enjoys the

presence of both.

Slowly, the sun which was following us or we can say it is traveling with us got tired

and it's rays and hang. The day is calling for its rest today, we also paused our journey

and took a break for the night at Tampara lake near chahatpur, Odisha. We get an

accomodation in a decent resort which is ornamenting the beauty of the lake and

peacefully feeling for the travellers.

After dinner, I made myself comfortable at the balcony of the hotel rooms whereas

other people choose to relax and take rest. I sat with a book with a intension to read

but for my surprise, beauty of the lake and surrounding does not allow me to have

anything else except to drink the mesmerizing beauty of the lake.

Tampara lake is big late situated in the river bank of Rushitulya river. It is a narrow

shaped lake with runs beside the road or the highway. This area is not densly

populated, thus, offering the calmness along with beauty, away from the choes of the

city. It has wast area and multiple habihats who mostly fall asleep in the own nest. The

water of the lake is calm and dancing with comfortable breeze. The rising moon in the

sky is the solo suppoter of the lake which is not allowing the lake to sleep. The moon

is playing with lake and it's water. It is promoting as the solo owner of the lake and

making every drop of the water to shine, gliter in the whitish golden light of the moon.

The lake has absorbed the mood in every bit of it. The way the both are there and

playing with each other is so phenomenon that anybody can fall in love with place.

Not only with place but with anybody who are to enjoy this masterpiece of the nature.

The slow breeze passing through the trees is creating beautiful melody which is so

smoothing to the ears that travellers will forget their tiredness, tension and fall asleep.

The tune is god's own tune played by his own fluid. My eyes lashes are laden with

sleep and I bod goodbye to the the night, lake, moon, music, gliter and everything

which my senses can feel and came to the bed. Within seconds I slept a peaceful sleep.

Day 2

Morning breeze are the sun light all spread in my room and waiting for me to open my

eyes. I forget to pull the curtains in the night and slept the lap of moonlit bed. They

knew that I must be in some beautiful dream, so they patiently Waiting for me to live

my dream and then come into the open world. This motherly patience can only found

in the mother and the nature is the mother of all. After getting up from the bed I found

out that children are already in the garden enjoying their swings.

The green lush garden and surrounding areas are healing energy. Birds has already left

their next and taking bath in serene water of the lake. Till the far where eyes can see

are rows of beautiful and colourful trees. Some are standing tall, some are taken shape

of big canopy, some are struggling to find a way to see the sky and some are happy by

wrapping themselves in some other trees and going high.

There are hundreds of sheds of greens. Tree tops are covered with various varieties,

shapes of colourful flowers. Some flowers are dancing the group while some are solo

attraction. Some trees are having yellow dotted flowers which is very common in this

time of the summer. Some trees are garlended by the reddies new leaves giving the

message soon they are going to bear the fruit. Some has already started bearing fruits.

Some of the trees are about to shed some leaf and they have indenfied them and mark

them occur yellow so the world can know that their journey has came to an end and

they are on their way to depart. All the trees are telling their own story. It is upto us

to listen, understand and divein their story.

I took some stories with me and made my way to took a shower to start the day. After

the soul satisfying local breakfast chana ghughani, poha and chena bora, we bid abidu

to the place, lake, trees and surrounding with a wish to come back here once again

and drink the beauty of the moonlit lake.

Once again I am acceplarating my car on the highway heading towards the unending

roads. It is very difficult to decide that roads are never ending or journey is. I am in the

journey from one point to other point or I am living a life of own, it is difficult to

differentiate. The little summer breeze is with us giveing the refreshment. I rolled

down my window to enjoy the sun shocked breeze which has warmth of the sun as

well as calmness of the wind. Sun is our inevitable source of energy and with is all the

time in our journey.

The beauty of the this part of the highway is that it runs parallel to the Bay of Bengal.

This highway is the part of golden quadrilateral of highway for connecting India with

each other and giving people the experience of travel beside the sea. On the our left,

the wast water of Bay of Bengal is there. You can only see the blue, sereve and clam

water till the horizon. Sun is slowly taking its upward journey and sprinkle the light on

the water. The sun shocked water is shining, glittering, dancing giving a wonderful

arome to smell with. I stopped at a roadside to smell this arome to filled my heart. I

got down out of the car and walk few steps towards see. It is slight hilly or upward

land. Sea in down there, we can see sea but can't go down to touch the waters. The

beauty of feeling sea from a upside distance is all together different. You can see the

waves coming with full energy and crushing into the rocky which is stand in front of.

The process of going on continuouly, neither rock is in the mood off back off nor waves

are in the mood of surrender. Every time there coming with more energy and crushing

into the rocks. They both licking the company of each other, rather they both loving

each other. Waves finding the moment of crushing as sereve, that's why coming again

and again. Rocks also enjoying the same that's always ready with new smile and

welcoming the waves as rocks very well know that he can't keep waves with him. He

has to find the everything in the momentary happiness. Even waves knows this very

well, that's why she is coming again and again with new energy to give this happiness

to the rock.

The sea in the far end is calm and indifferent with this connection of waves and rock.

Like a mother, sea knows that feeling and allowing the daughter to go and have a

feelings of love, care, respect. I also allowed them to have their own time.

After clicking some pictures, creating some memories, we all came back in the car to

start again. On the right side of the highway there are more cashew trees or small belt

of forest kind of which is holding the sand which the wind is carrying. On the other

side of the forest the habitat has their house. This lush greenery is very smoothing to

the eyes and they keep going and with us and telling that, they are there forever. Both

the side of the highway has its own and unique view. Left side wast sea and open sky

without hindrance. You can see miles apart from here. The blue sky is changing the

colour in the bright yellowish. Sun is going high up in the sky and ready to give more

light and heat. Slowly we can't open the eyes and see the sun, we have keep are eyes

down in the respect to the king of the universe.

On the right side, full of greenries and palm, coconut, cashew and other coastal trees.

The roads in front of us is beautiful one with just going ahead and ahead. The both

sides of the road never meets and it walks parallel.

We can't miss out the signage and advertised which has filled up forcefully on both

side of the road, putting as mark on the beauty. However, it gives some ideas about

the local restaurant, hotels , schools, hospitals, food, and other things about the place.

This can a taken as a source of information for a new people. Some hording has details

of political leaders , their slogans and their upcoming programme.

Slowing we left Odisha and entered into Andhra Pradesh, third state in this road trip.

Andhra Pradesh has the third largest coastline in India more than 900 kms. It gives its

people the lively hood from the sea. One of the things which stand this state is that it

has coast, mountain, farms everything. East coast mountain which is small

discontinued mountain range located near to sea and NH 16 passes between the sea

and the mountain. It is dividing factor of the mountain range and sea. The small ups

and downs of small hills are there on the right side of the highway. The same is

appearing one by one. One hill is popping up and ending. The other one is coming

automatically. The small and big greens hills, full of vegetations, trees, flowers and

more. The rocky surfice of the mountain is not visible anywhere except some boulders,

which seems like that someone had intentionally left here and there. This is rain raised

mountain which has absorbed that aroma in every bit of it as a true observer. Every

single leave is wet with aroma and fragrance of rain.

The hot summer day has lost his charm in front of this rain raised mountain range. Sun

has taken a bow, lowers the harshness of its heat. Mountain Breeze invisible canopy

making the atmosphere relatively cool in the coaster hot summer day. One eatanry is

standing right there in the footbill of one of small hill top. It seems that we can touch

the mountain from terrace of that eatanry.

Suddenly, we feel the hunger in the stomach and an urge to touch the mountain has

forced me to stop the car in front of the eatanry.

We all get down from the car, make ourselves comfortable on the chairs perfectly

placed in the open lawn spread at the wide area outside the small cottage type

structure. We have placed our orders comprising of two three varieties of Dosha and

a chilled water. Slowly it started feeling humid outside. So, we came inside the air

conditioned area and had our meal peacefully. I have walked little outside cottage and

foothill on the green grass which has dried by now.

After a break of more than hour, we started again on the highway. Various other

vehicles are also there on the highway chasing each other, giving ways to each other,

saying hi to each other, also saying bye on the same time by smiling faces.

The whether of the day good with clear sky. Slowly it started changing, some clouds

came and dimmed the sun rays. But sun is also smart, it is trying to peep out from

clouds. The play continues for some time making the drive more beautiful where you

have sea one side, lush greens mountains on the other side and this contradictory

wast sky above you. My son like the whether so much that we are forced to rolled

down the window glass and let the wind all access. My from rear view mirror I can

clearly see that my daughter is enjoying the winds with closed eyes, leaned head and

her hairs are dancing with winds. Her face is calm with happiness and satisfaction. All

the tiredness has just vanished when you see that your childrens are enjoying your

ride.

For a father, thier children are most important and valuable. A father can do anything

for just a smile on children face. Both are world for each other. Father and a daughter

has different bonding all together. For daughter, father is the always hero, like

superman with all the magic in him. This magic can change all the situation in her

favour whatever it is. The feeling and bonding is impossible to penned down. For a

father, a daughter is princess, friend, as well as mother. As the daughter started

growing, they started playing role of a mother which itself incredible. Whereas the

bond between father and son is like buddies, partners in crime, always there for each

other. God has different ways, forms to giving gifts. These emotions, feelings are

valuables to hold and preserve.

While in thoughts, Don't know when I reached nearby Vijayawada town/ city. The day

also tired and sun is about to set. The clear sky has turned red and birds are flying back

to their selter. This has reminded that we should also look for a shelter, I turned

towards city limits for finding a decent shelter for the night. After searching for 10-15

with the help of Google and other app, we found a good hotel for today's break. We

have the paked car and checked into the room and ordered filter coffee. Sun is already

set but the light is still there. This twilight has its own beauty to sea through.

I settled down the couch and others are also settling the preferred location in the

room. The hot filer coffee has arrived with some biscuits and cookies. The good aroma

of Coffee is smoothing taste has again filled with energy.

After rest for sometime, I came down to see the market and know the locality or just

for simple walk. By the time sun is already set and sky had taken its dark colour, stars

are already in the sky and waiting for the moon to come soon.

We all had dinner together, and landed in the bed. The tiredness of the day has taken

on us. I thought of reading a book but my mind and body has requested for rest and I

simply agreed.

[14:41, 26/7/2025] Rashmi: Day 3

My daughter woke me up with hot bed tea and a smiling face. I got up and sat on the

bed for 10 mins trying to sea the garden area which is little visible from the bed. It was

a lazy morning rather lazisure morning. I slowly got up and walk around the room,

then I went to the balcony and standed there for more than 20 minutes, looking

around the small garden, neighbouring buildings, some of which are hotels. Some are

residential buildings, apartment. On the right side, down the street there was local

market which he visited yesterday. It has big fish market which is the favourite food

of locals, having the different varieties of sweet water and sea water fishes. Local

market was dominated by lady shopkeepers trying to make their own remark in the

fish market which is basically a male dominated market. Apart from the fish other

things are also available in the market.

Few yards after that school is there where students started coming. It seems that it's

co education school as both boys and girls are coming from all directions. Some are

coming parents, some with friends, some are with happy faces, some are calm and

some are having little tension over their face.

Others people already ready by the time I was in my own world. So I came out and

went for a bath.

We all came down to restorants attached with hotel to have our morning food. A small

buffet was arranged with two three fruits, idly, upma, vada, puri sabji, boiled eggs,

toast, two sorts of juice. Dosha is order based. Apart from the tea and coffee are there.

We all filled our plate and sat on table. On the nearby table one newly married couple

was sitting and having their juice. On the other, one family with kids and elderly

parents are having dosha. All the speaking in low voice in their own language and

enjoying their food.

We started from there 30 mins part 10 am when sun in almost of the head and

summer heat is there in the environment. The sky is clear with presence of cloud. The

milky white cloud is adding colours to the blue sky. A small ring of rainbow colours are

fencing the sun, making the presence of sun is more beautiful, trying to restrict the

sun light to go outside the right. However, the ring is not successful in keeping the sun

light inside the ring. The sun rays are also playing, even after putting a fence, they have

spread all throughout like spinkle with presence of air.

As we came out of the city and took the highway, the rows of buildings, shops has

been replaced by the trees and flowers bushes. There is no wind, so trees and it's

leaves are standing still without disturbing each other. The leaf are getting dried in the

sun and morning dew has already evaporated. Sun and it's outer red coloured or

rainbow coloured ring is easily visible is you look straight to the sun. The car in

speeding again leaving everything past by. It is crossing bridges, railway tracks, toll

gates, small market places etc. The above sign boards in the way are showing the path,

giving information about the routes, distance etc. my son plays some song,which of

which is smoothing to the ears. I kept myself into the music and keep controlling the

streeing on the road.

The roads are going through farm lands, small hills and habitation. It has said good bye

to the ocean and taken a right direction. We had a good and heavy breakfast in the

morning, thus not feeling hungry. We stops somewhere to grab a cold drink and some

juice. We reached Tirupati close to 5 pm. The sun was already there in the sky and it's

warm sunlight are there to keep the spirit of the day. We parked the car in a decent

hotel and checked in. Weather outside is humid with hot winds. The body was signing

the sign of tiredness. I made myself comfortable on the sofa. After sometime I got up

and went for a shower. A hot water shower is a solace after a full day of drive. It melt

out all the tiredness of the body, the sweat of hardwork and being the sun and restless

of mind. The water pouring on the head and keeping it cool when the actions reactions

are going inside. The water passing down through hairs, finding a way to down is

taking all the fatigue with it and leaving behind clean and calm mind, body etc. The

fresh and serene U.

Tirupati is situated at foothill of tirumall parvat where lord Venkateshwara has its

home. The place is having moderate population. Most of the people are having

independent house with one or two floor. In between there are multiple hotels of 4-5

floors. The town is clean with narrow roads and multiple flyovers. This tire 2 city has

all the brands and multiplexes, hospitals, schools etc. people are comfortable in their

way of line. Most of the independent houses are having a small garden and one or two

parking lot. One of the speciality of here is that almost all the house building are having

embralem of Lord Venkateshwara, the tikal sign, either engrossed,coloured or any

other form. This is like this symbol is having the house of evil eyes.

The day is meeting with evening. The light evening breeze is mixing with the days hot

summer wind giving an effect of the hot Breeze. I walked around 2 kms and observed

the surrounding. People are there on the street. Some are on their way up to tirumala

hills for taking the auspicious darshan and some has already done and returning back.

Some are coming through car, some are through temple's buses. While some are

arranged their own bus. Street is filled with small eateries offering evening snacks

samosha, fries, bonda, momos etc. this mostly a vegetarian zone. I had bought a plate

or samosha and enjoyed the same with hearts content. Sometimes this small things

work as time machine and takes you back in the memory lane where you enjoyed the

same with friends and family. For a moment you are again enjoying the moment. I too

went in the memory lane and revisiting things.

I return to the hotel after sometime. Kids were busy with TV and mobile. After

sometime we went down and had our before time dinner. The tiredness can be visible

on the face of the family. They are enjoying their road trip but getting tired by now.

We went to sleep early to give the ample time to body and mind to rest and heal.

Travellering is very important. It gives you emence of energy on the other hand it's

tells us the importance of rest. It's tells the importance of home or being at home. The

importance of being static. The importance of stability.

Day 4

Today is the last day of our road journey or vacation. We are already in the last leg of

the trip. When we are in the last leg, we have two different feeling. One is the

excitement of reaching home at the earliest where we can just throw out the luggage

anywhere and ourselves anywhere and just relax. No need to put the things back on

bag within time rather putting ourselves in the bag for leaving the next destination.

Home is place where everything fits perfectly without any single complain. It's looks

so amazing that things are made for that place only.

Other is the sad feeling of end of vacation. We don't know when we again the chance,

whether we will be again able to drive the same road, whether we will be meeting the

same person again. So many questions in the mind is also traveling with us. For some

places, we can not say a bye, our heart is sticked to that wanted to hold the place for

longer time or lifetime. It is not even known by our hearts. For me, I am in the second

category. I like the running wheels on the road, peeping out from window, enjoying

the endless roads in front of or you can the road leading to the sky.

While be on the highway, we can see the road in front of us, some are going up and

meeting with sky while some are getting down and vanishing in the earth. Some are

like oasis seems closer but it never is. Our life is also like oasis, we see that the our

happiness is nearby but actually it is not. It is just dragging us for some more and some

more. The highway, roads, trees, mountain, house, monuments all those reminds as

even it seems that they permanent but actually they are not. Life is moving so all of

us. We should be keep moving along with this.

The distance from tirupati to Bangalore is fours only. We have started in the morning

after having coffee. In the mid way we took a break for breakfast. We all are quite,

checking time in the watch. The Google map is showing the remaining distance in blue

which is getting shorter and shorter. Bangalore is going to be the new place of living

or our new nest. It is the capital of Karnataka. Even though the place is familiar with

us, it's new for all of us. Everybody is excited to be part of new place, new city, new

office, new school, new neighborhood, new habits, new foods, new markets, new

locality, new wether etc.

In the mist of the new, the old remains with us, within our heart. Even though we have

said good bye to it, our heart knows that we never wanted to say a good bye. We are

holding the as live as it is for ever and ever and we want it to be remains like that only.

Slowly we have covered all the distance, highway has ended and we entered within

city limits. Everywhere is building and urbanization. Big and huge structures standing

as pride of city. Banglore is considered as silicon valley of India due presence in IT. The

weather is also nice and with less scorching summer and lower humidity. The evening

is comfortable and breezy. The city has expanded in all directions taking the nearby

areas in his lap. The urban population has also increased in last 5-10 years and

outskirts of city has filled with big residential construction. My new address is also

located in one of big high rise offering modern comfort.

We reached our destination at 11 am. We have successfully completed our journey. I

parked the card under one of the building. Everyone got down from the car, took their

belongings and headed towards.

I again sat in the car and thinking whether it is the end of journey or just a pause before

starting another journey. Our life's are a bouquet of various jaurneyes and memories.

It has small, big, colour ful, flowers, leaf adding beauty. The same way the journey add

colour and fragrance to our life. We should endeavour it with grace.

By Rashmi Sah