IN LIFE IT IS QUITE STRANGE FOR US TO WITNESS the unexpected things rolling out right in front of us. It is very difficult to drive into the depth of what the life has designed for us. We never are sure of what might happen in future despite our indomitable will of optimism.
And it is same with the sort of journey we take in our life. We never could for sure tell how our journey would go by especially if we have to depend on others for the long journey. We cannot foretell in what sort of vehicle we would board and who do we accompany during the course of our journey.
One morning early at around 7 am I was near the Gelephu Check Post to catch a vehicle moving to Panbang. The trucks, buses and small cars were lined up waiting for the Indian SSB armies to escort them. Some drivers and passengers are out into the tea stall savoring momos, puris and fried rice, and sipping tea while the police on duty were registering the vehicles moving out of the town. I strolled up and down the lined vehicles looking for the one heading to Panbang. I even requested the police to check whether there was any vehicle moving to Panbang. To my dismay, out of about scores of vehicles lined up, there wasn’t any moving to the place of my destination. I was disappointed initially but consoled myself considering the state of the place Panbang was.
Soon it was 8 am and an army blew the whistle and the engines of the vehicles grated and in line the vehicles surged forward leaving behind some patches of cloudy smokes through their silencer pipes.
As I was about to turn back to the town with the hope to journey the next day, the police on duty suggested me to hold on and wait for some hours that there might be few vehicles after the escort time. This gave me some ray of hope and I took my luggage near the check post office and waited there. Before that our former ADEO Choeda currently transferred as Principal of Buli MSS informed that the Dungkhag Accountant was there in the town. I was little hopeful that I would be able to catch one vehicle and would successfully reach Panbang.
With the flash of cars and labourers crisscrossing the border in front of my eyes I waited patiently with my rear resting on a log kept for the people to rest. About 45 minutes past and still no vehicles arrived that I was beginning to lose patience. Just then a motor bike arrived and the biker came towards the counter to do entry of his bike. When I stood behind him to check where he would be heading, he registered his bike stating that it was moving to Panbang. I thought of grabbing the opportunity right there but it was not quite comfortable for me to be on his bike. He had his backpack on his back and some stuffs hung on a side of his bike. I wasn’t alone either. I had a backpack and a small luggage bag. He was willing to offer me a lift despite the condition of the bike and stuffs it had to carry. I informed him about the accountant and he called him but the former wasn’t sure of his journey.
Thinking for a while he suggested me to go till Chakpaiguri and comforted me that from there I would catch a vehicle coming from Phuntsholing. Picking up my stuffs I agreed and greatly regarded his kindness. Upon introduction he was a RNR staff at Panbang Dungkhag and knows some of my colleagues in Kagtong. Through the bumpy road backed by potholes we journeyed. He was very frank that he shared everything about himself. He was up for the registration to opt for further studies. I wished him luck in his endeavour. The journey was refreshing and breathtaking while plying through the well paved road and journey through the unpaved road was just contrary worsened with the clouds of dust when we had to follow the heavy vehicles.
In the moment of chatting and sharing, we reached Chakpaiguri where almost all Bhutanses vehicles stop for lunch. We parked the bike in shade and waited for some time to let the vehicles coming from Phuntsholing to ply in. we had our lunch in the Hotel Himalaya. My new friend ordered special curry of spiced eel. In addition there were various savories of salads and dhal and vegetables. We savoured to the fullest of our delight.
In the meantime while we were out resting and chatting, we encountered a driver known to my friend introduced us to his malik who was heading here at Panbang. The driver requested a lift on our behalf and the contactor was happy to have one as his friend.
From Chakpaiguri I had a comfortable drive in Japanese Prado. The contactor was up for his visit to his contact of construction at Panbang.
Upon enquiry about each other, he asked, ‘are you from Paro?’
“Yes from Jabana”
“your accent talks all.”
”Most of the time I travel alone. Today I’m happy to have you as my friend”
“Me too especially for the comfortable ride.”
The journey went on with sharing about each other in the midst of fast speeding trucks and cars.
Away from the furry pulse of Barbeta town, we stopped at Bansbari checkpost for registration and fees. As I stepped out of the car I was mesmerized with rows of marigold and dahlia in great line in the garden in front of the checkpost. I turned back to the car and took the camera to capture the beautiful pictures. The partial rays of sun filtering through the dust laden clouds glowed the flowers. They were awesome.
From there the journey was filled with the talks about the animals available in the Manas Park. “We often encounter elephants, buffalos, languors, and some deer apart from some birds darting through,” the contactor shared the animals he had sighted with location and time, “the best time to travel is in the morning and evening if we wish to see more animals”
The mild sun was on and the road went through the jungle arched with tall tees. The tall grasses were cut and burnt that we could get some clear pictures of the roadsides. The orange flower bearing trees were highlights amidst the leave less tall trees. Further there were also some purple flowers blossoming on the some trees alongside the road.
Reaching Mathanguri, the majestic Manas Chuu was clear and there was a boat lying rest at the bank of the river. Few people were sailing in a boat while elephants were resting in the bushes few miles away from the river bank.
Indian tourists cramped in the cars were returning to their home. Some tourists were getting full of their excursion with clear view of everything from the car rooftops.
Finally the Panbang greeted me with its new shape. The town structure has changed with a road deliberately making its way down to the river just below some main shops here. New buildings were built and new people arrived in. I bid bye to the contractor with loads of thanks.
After all every journey is worth cherishing despite its hurdles.
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