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Soumya shares the highs and lows of hitch-hiking in a truck, after a cancelled flight to Delhi, with two men and a lady. Read more about this adventure, in the weekly column, exclusively for Different Truths.
It was the worst trip of my life. My guardian angel was working overtime battling some ancient curse which was determined to end my young life or so it seemed.
I was a marketing executive touring Himachal, when electrifying news from Delhi that my imminent parenthood is getting advanced by a fortnight and if I did not rush back, would miss the most significant event of my life. So, I decided that economising be dammed bought an air ticket to Delhi.
The day dawned with terrible weather and the flight from Delhi, which was to take me back to the most anticipated event of my life was getting delayed. My frustrating visit was shared by two anxious co-passengers, a Punjabi fellow salesman, and a Gujarati realtor.
Mehta Bhai having concluded some business in HP was keen to return to a property deal and delay would cause losses which were like losing a limb to him. To our combined horror, it was announced that the flight from Delhi could not land and has flown back and we should try our luck the next day.
We three then decided to encash our tickets and hire a taxi at whatever rates available, to be shared by us, three desperate people. That way, we could hope to reach next morning.
As we started negotiations, a young lady approached us and requested that we let her be the fourth passenger. Gallantry and economy ensured we agree and convinced a taxi to brave the weather for a small fortune, relieved that we would be reaching Delhi soon. But weather and fate had other plans. A few miles from Bhunter, we were jolted by a crashing sound and saw the horrifying site of the hillside slowly collapse on the road, some boulders narrowly missing our vehicle.
The unnerved driver refused to proceed, offering us a ride back to town and when we refused returned our money and left us stranded by the roadside. The lady too against our advice, threw her lot with us. She confided that she had with great difficulty convinced her parents to bless her engagement with a man from another community and the date set was tomorrow. Missing it she was convinced would leave her no option but to choose between family and beau, a choice she dreaded.
So we waited for the road to be cleared while trying to hitch lifts from the stranded trucks on the road. We finally convinced a very merry gentleman driving a fruit-laden truck who had been making good use of the forced break journey by fortifying himself with liquid sustenance.
On our anxious inquiries about his ability to drive, he assured us he did not intend to but hand over the
But my guardian angel had not called it a day either. Instead of a free fall into the void, the truck stopped with a huge thump. There was a six feet ledge of terraced cultivation, six inches below road level. The truck was stuck, veering crazily in a small field of maize. Shocked out of the daze, we all scrambled out of the driver’s side, shaken and stirred but in one piece and jumped on the road. Other trucks had stopped and people were gathering. We noticed that ten feet ahead, the ledge ended and had we gone off the road a second later, we would be deep down in the gorge and up again towards our respective heavens or hells.
On headcount, we realised that truck owner was missing and feared the worst. But there is a special god for the inebriated and we found him sprawled in the field of maize looking dead. On closer inspection, he proved to be still peacefully sleeping. People really helped, perhaps the presence of the lady inspired
Early next morning, as dawn was breaking, we were at ISBT waiting for our auto, tired, dirty but ecstatic to be almost home. We now had to part ways and go to our respective lives. Having been through hell together was a bond and contacts were being exchanged. The lady wanted to visit the washroom to freshen up, and asked us to closely guard her belongings, as it had all her valuables for the coming ceremony. I jokingly told her, not to trust strangers with such precious burdens, as we just may disappear. She told us – look as I have trusted my most valuable possession, myself, in the custody of three strange men through the day and night of hell, in the most desolate of areas – in comparison this material possession is nothing. I can trust you with them, and you are welcome to them if you so desire. We were left without an answer.
PostScript
A few days later, she came to visit my daughter in the nursing home (I had been present at this most exhilarating and frightening moment when I became a dad) and we three with our family were guests at her wedding a month and a half later. Mrs. Singh and Mehta too are still occasionally in touch.
Years have gone by, but my most memorable journey refuses to fade from my memory.
©Soumya Mukherjee
Photos from the Internet
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The terrible but life time experience described in such a wonderful way Sir.But all well that ends well.
Correct saying :there is a special god for the inebriated. Interesting reading
Didn’t happen to me. Story heard over campfire during a trip to a forest and fictionalised
Sir, Very interesting story. Appreciate daring of lady during night journey with unknown three male.
he has been taking special care of me 😀
so did our protagonists 🙂