Engine
no 46608
rolled into rain soaked New Mal station, with no much shelter to dither we
headed towards the cab stand.. after little bit of healthy bickering with the
cabbie a lad of just 20 something, the Maruti van sprinted and we had to think
that there was no tomorrow.
Thought
Rakesh
deeply wanted to dive into the vastness of serenity, leaving the eatery joint
at Chaalsa
Bazar we ferried through some of the unparallel long stints of ever
juvenile freshness. Mid September happens to be the best time just after
monsoon for Dooars gateway. Lonely chirping over abandoned roads, heavy bushy
trees almost falling over. The Queen of Dooars is guarded by two impregnable
natural fortresses, (Chapramari and Garumara) the long standing trees by the
majestic national highway reiterates that you are far off from the ubiquitous buzz
and with receding phone connectivity you are nowhere to be found.
Dhar out of
many snaps the one with smoke billowing out is just fav; after few rapid pics again
we packed ourselves in the van and this time there was no stopping till Jhaldhaka.
Jhallong River Camp, we hopped out from the van and saw somebody waving
at us from the camp, yelling with directions………….. We were standing right
across the camp and had Jhaldhaka sweeping everything contemptuously.
Mangal
the
camp caretaker explained how the make shift bridge which used to be a perfect
picturesque element for the camp went missing on a scandalous night. The gaudy
red carpet with pristine white bed sheet, attached with an English Loo, and the
natural squander palpable from inside but guarded by the camp veil would surely
raise cosmic shuttle of thoughts. Had never seen such natural lavishes with so
much of leisure where you can only indulge and indulge….the misty aerial trees still
pampering overnight slumber. Jhaldhaka River all across was
nothing less than a non- scarlet battle strip, water pouring out as if some
eternal force up there has decided not to stop weeping and the rock studded agile
path mustering in all possible challenges to stop it somewhere down.
We decided to witness the battle closely, choose
one big rock must have been sitting there for some quality years; all 4 of us
climbed it, and now it was time for a budget toast, but we left the water
bottle back in the camp and now somebody will have to trace back and get it, nobody
was ready but can the Toast wait??? unified NO from all 4. So……Dhar as
usual jacked up a superb nonchalance way. Why are we waiting for just a bottle
when it’s flowing all over. So on the rocks like never before.
After
few rapid shots now we wanted to taste the chill and Bhaskar straight away
accepted his appointment as the lens man; Dhar,Rakesh and myself was now hanging in between the voracious
flow, holding each other tight and some real balance from Dhar while making those high
Chinese potions. Some jaw dropping but awful stripping; we were struck by high
voltage; even tried lifting some of the rocks as if they were pebbles. Mangal
caretaker came for the 3rd time asking us to climb up for lunch and it
was also time for the high tide, means that eternal power will sob like
anything. Rakesh bhai yes we left the empty 1 liter bottle down there. Cheers!!!!....
Figure
out a scene where the hero of the movie is chased by the cops and its late
evening into the forest, and he spots a faint light and a small hut downhill, I
am pretty sure Jhallong River Camp would evoke similar look and feel from some
uphill. With zero connectivity we were just plugged off from mainstream nature
of life.
Next
morning was damp, sogginess everywhere. After checking all possible and could be
possible places we decided; said yes to Darj. Jhallong had every little bit in store but
Darj can be planned.
Oodlabari:
Since
some donkey years I was never told but perhaps my Dadu’s stint with Jessop
Company in Oodlabari and his only visit to Burma now Myanmar, always made me
wonder and how connected they are, also tried angling Maa as Mongolian several
times which she never accepted. Now I was crossing Oodlabari o yes very much part of Dooars……… was elated
as if I have grounded in some Phoren exotic destination, hypothetically
I strongly feel adulteration is the word which would never find its way to this
place. Peerless personification of quintessential touch over Oodlabari.
Planters
Club, Remember those hawkers on the way up hill to Mall…..precisely
opposite Bata, Weekenders and all, selling larger than life umbrellas, warm
clothes, dedicated souvenirs….. now they are off the road, Planters would
convert the space into car parking.
Got a
room at Bellevue with a small ante – chamber, looping right on Chowraasta
facing Kalimpong Emporium. After
a quick round of the mall, seeing off the ponies for the day, peeping into Oxford
book store, Nathmulls stands as graceful as ever, Hawa Ghar the cultural
point of Darj got a fresh look……….
We had
a filling thali lunch at Hasty Tasty…..and it needs no
special description as well. Time for flavor filled evening tea in tamed brass
pot. I got my cup ready but surely not without some puffs and pies. The articulate
dimness with neo – classical décor, the red English telephone booth makes it a
café of penchant. (Glenarys). Dhar, Rakesh….Bhaskar …u mind
changing party…will u guys stop laughing on the tea ever….. it was on me … ha
ha ha ha……..
In between Rakesh bought his first D&G
jacket……from Weekender…the girl in the store just could not stop
blushing …… she even tried her charm with luscious Bangla to top – up the bill
a bit further…….. but lady that was more than enough… We strolled down till Rink
Mall…. Who can guess this??? …… Joey’s looked better…….fresh coat of
paint and some remodeling of interiors............. Met Joey’s father behind the
bar with his cowboy sideburns, he has not been keeping well of late. An ardent rock
guy of his time… with no power the pub was gleaming with candles placed on
empty soda bottles…….a English flag pinned up making the pub a perfect collage of
some dingy motel in Wolverhampton…..
Last Day: After a much needed long intoxicated
night with my 3 AM friends it was time for an authentic English breakfast
facing the rich but de- glam clock tower. Kev - serving for more than 100
years now, Santhi ( working with
Kev for more than 40 yrs). Crispy toast anointed with butter, golden brown
sausages, some heavy meat loafs, baked omelets and some more toasts. The open
terrace area basking under the intermitting rays offers wide view of the
mountain range from the left and Planters on the right; you can overlook the
whole of Neheru Road. A complete English breakfast is like a brunch which means
you need to skip luncheon.
Every
nook and corner of Darj was smelling Baarrrrrffffiiiiiiii……….every scene was
cheered by the audience. It was just couple of days after the release and Baarrrrffiiiiiiii
had become a small town rage which was spreading fast all across. The skewed
twist and turns of Pankhabari Road was like free falling to plane from where we
would again start afresh …….and we also start counting from here for the next……..
Dhar,
Rakesh, Bhaskar……. Lets Bookmark this new chapter. We will come back Darj.........