Friends,
The
3 hours of rest at home rejuvenated the mind and body. After attestation I slowly
got to the highway. It was dark and I was aware of the poor condition of the
road in some places beyond Chertallai. The drive up to that point was just
alright. I was not stepping on the gas, as it were, for fear of pot holes. Just
then, a Ford Icon overtook me and I noticed that the driver was fast paced, yet
steady. I decided to use the Ford as a pace setter and tailed him right up to
Quilon. The move paid off and I was at the Trivandrum bye pass in about 3
hours. I called up Mr. Philipose Thomas, a retired IAS officer and a fast
friend of my father and the family over the past many years, and asked if I
could drop in for a short time. He stays near the Medical College. I used a
link road from the highway to get to his place in a half hour. A hot cup of
coffee was waiting for me as I parked and sought his attestation.
In
another half hour I was in Hotel Leela Venture, Kovalam for attestation. I was
made to wait for quite some time and I wondered if I had blundered stepping in
there. I explained to three different persons my mission and was told that the
head of security would take care of my requirement. As time dragged on I asked
the front office, somewhat curtly, if I should move on. Then action happened.
She got permission from someone in the office to oblige me. The half hour then
proved crucial in the end. I had in mind that my destination for the day is
Chennai, which meant that I had to do 850(the original schedule)+300(the
backlog).
The
next stop for attestation was Kolachel. The road was good, but narrow. While
taking a turn at Kollamcode I realized that Mani has his shop at the place. The
area seemed familiar too. I suddenly recognized his shop and drove in. I found
Mani gaping as soon as he recognized me. I quickly explained why I was there
and took his ‘anugraham’, for he was the one who taught me driving when he
worked for my maternal grandfather nearly four decades ago; my Guru. Till I
reached Kanyakumari he kept on ringing to find if I was on the right track!
That’s a Guru’s concern. Very few places were open at Kolachel due to the Sankranthi
holidays. I got into a margin free shop and explained why I was there. The
manager, with gusto, asked me how he could contribute! I bought some biscuits
and juices for the journey and accelerated to Kanyakumari.
The
railway station at Kanyakumari was crowded. People were coming in by various
trains to take a dip and enjoy their vacation. I almost ran to the Station
Manager’s room. He immediately recognized me from the All-India trip, when I
had taken his attestation. He quickly obliged me and I handed him a copy of my
book, in which an interaction with him was mention. The roads in Tamil Nadu are
fairly good. Even the village roads are well surfaced and maintained. This
helps the farmers to get their produce to the markets as also link up to Universities
and retail outlets for expert help and inputs. I had not heard of the place
Uvari. However, Google Maps insisted that such a place existed! Milestones also
directed me to Uvari, where I landed up at a church after 50 kms from
Kanyakumari. I went in to meet the parish priest. He was away, but the
assistant parish priest took me to his office and attested the log sheet. He
apologized for not spending more time with me as he was busy with arrangements
for celebrating the feast of the patron saint of the church!
I
dropped in at the railway station at Tiruchendur for the attestation and was
received warmly by the Station Master. The next stop was Tuticorin. I had no
doubt in my mind that Vijayarajah would be the one to attest the log sheet
there. An erstwhile colleague in Container Corporation of India (Concor), Rajah
gave me elaborate direction to reach the terminal. Tender coconuts and biscuits
awaited me, with all the employees lining up to greet me. It was an emotional
reunion. I had to leave after a 15 minute interaction, after taking directions
to Ramnad. The 130 km drive was smooth, but the access to the station was not
so. It was already 6.15 pm by the time I stepped into the Station Master’s
office. It took a while convincing him that it was okay to attest the log
sheet. When I showed him attestations from other SMs, he asked me “why we
should attest your journey”. When I asked him the number to call his boss, he
acquiesced! Possibly the man was only trying to ascertain my credentials.
The
sun was going down fast as I left Ramnad railway station. By the time I reached
Kodikkarai (Point Calimere) via Mimisal it was past 10 pm. It was pitch dark
and I was driving through a sanctuary. I wondered who I would find there at
that time to attest my log sheet. Then I came to a forest check post. I
explained to the watchman why I was there. He told me that I should proceed
further at that time only if it was absolutely essential. I told him that I had
to, to comply with the Limca stipulations. I also told him that I would need
his attestation on my return and he agreed. I drove through the wild life
sanctuary and my mind started playing tricks. I thought I saw animals quickly getting
into the bushes as the headlights picked them up. Tricks or truth, could not ascertain.
I kept on driving till the headlights picked up four youngsters talking
animatedly under a small street lamp. They advised that I should turn back from
there, else the car would get stuck in the sand. Who placed them there to guide
me? After spending a few minutes with the four, when I was given directions to
reach the main road to go to Karaikal, I drove back. I also took a few snaps at
a location that said “Kodikkarai 0 kms”. The forest watchman was awaiting my
arrival. He attested the log sheet and he was pleased with the snaps I took of
him. In retrospect, I feel that one needs a strong heart to be in such places
at such hours. The major concern would be a breakdown or a tyre blowout. There
is not a person anywhere in sight for miles on end and it is dark, as dark can
be. If anything happens, the only solution is to wait out the night in the car.
At
the stroke of midnight I reached Karaikal. I saw a couple of policemen on
patrol duty and asked for direction to the police station. The policemen became
inquisitive and said they would pilot me to the station! They did and I found a
super inquisitive station in-charge, who shot so many questions at me that all
thoughts of driving to Chennai evaporated. The policemen even offered to get me
tea at that time! I left a few admiring policemen standing when I left the
station. I had to refuel. I reached an IOC outlet and filled up. Then, I asked
the fuel station attendant if I could rest there. He showed me a place to park
the car and asked what time I wanted to be woken up. What can you say of such
helpful persons? In such circumstances, I also ask myself if I deserve such
help. I settled into a deep sleep in the car by 12.30 am. The backlog remained
at 300 kms and I had driven 850 kms in over 19 hours.
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