Mes Histoires Voyage...

Oh, did I miss something? Yup, I did... the title means "My Travel Stories". Just in case you didn't know french. Just trying to show off my french skills. (psst... forgot french word for "stories", Google translator helped ;) ).

I have been traveling a lot between cities since second year of my graduation. My parents shifted to ahmedabad and I stayed back in baroda to complete my graduation. Its since then that I got wings on my feet and flew from one city to another. The "getting to know people and listening to their stories" bug got into me since those travels. Here are some stories and fun filled facts from some of my travels from Baroda to Ahmedabad and back. I take these as a first part of many more travel stories to come :) ....

The Prospective Bride

Initially I didn't know what to talk or even whether to talk to strangers sitting besides me in the bus, so I would simply keep to me. Generally ladies or girls traveling alone would come and sit over. On one of those journeys there was this one aunty who came and sat beside me. When she took seat, she gave me a strange smile. As if she was saying "arrey wah, kinni soni kudi hai!!" lol, obviously she wouldn't have thought with this punju accent it would have been in hard core gujju... Even before the driver could start the engine, the 40 something aunty started interviewing me. What age are you? What do you study? Who else is there at home? What caste are you... I was totally speechless, what sort of questionnaire is this! Then came the cloud clearance... dear, are your parents looking for a guy for you? I asked no aunty why? She replied, "beta, I really like you for my son!!" OMG!! arrey baap re! aa to jabri aunty che! Thank god, the journey from ahmedabad to baroda was only 2 hours then else I would have been kidnapped... Gosh, after this brief scary encounter I thought I will always ask first, aunty do you have a single son for whom you are looking for a bride. I will talk to you only if that's not the scenario...

The Gangster Story

This one is the most fantastic and longest one and since the good writer in me is sleeping, I will try hard not to make it boring. I was sitting with an uncle in the bus when someone patted on my shoulder. I looked back and it was again some 40+ aunty. The first thought that crossed my mind, "Oh God!! not again". She requested me to sit besides her and let the man in that place to take my seat. Courtesy sakes I said yes.

I was feeling miserable. Didn't want to undergo one more interview and didn't want to get into trouble. But as usual, the God of stories didn't want it to be a dull journey. So the aunty started talking... The good part this time was she was least interested in knowing who I was or what I did or go into my family tree. She was telling her story.

Here it is, translated into English. "I was very beautiful when I was young. (don't start laughing now, there are loads of other twist and turns coming up). I fell in love with a sindhi guy. My parents were against it but still I dated him. After some time I realized he was over possessive and that I was really hurting my parents so I left him and said yes to another guy, chosen by my parents. Before I could get married, my old lover came to my house with a gun and kidnapped me. (are you serious, do you think I am fool. what a story man!!) He forced me into marrying him. We have two children now. He shows me that gun even after so many years. He keeps a constant eye on me all the time. Doesn't allow me to go anywhere alone." I was curious, I asked how come you are alone? She pointed to another uncle sitting ahead of us saying, "that man is my distant relative and my husband has allowed me to travel alone as he is in the same bus".
She went on and on about her story. As many years have passed I have lost touch to the entire story. But trust me, at that age and with no love experience I was amazed with the fiction coming in from real life. Okay so now time for another one....

The Rich Wife Bitcher

After the gangster story happened, I rarely stayed awake during the travels. Preferred to go into deep sleep even before the bus driver started his engine. But sometimes you are lost in thought and forget whats cooking. A very sophisticated man took the seat besides me. As I was drowned in thoughts I completely forgot my schedule. So this guy started talking. Started with a Hi and all. I never gave out my real name to stranger guys in the bus. So he introduced himself as Mr. Zaveri from bombay. I said, Hi my name is Ami (I love this name). The first thing he said after then was, "wow, you are traveling alone. That requires guts". I laughed it out, the feminine sixth sense in me told that this guy was just being flirtatious. What do you study? I told him was doing my graduation in Physics. Another compliment popped in, "Oh that's great, girls doing Physics is unheard of" (Pata nahi kaunse jungle se aya tha) I thought now this is going to keep constant. I am going to get compliments in KGs. But thank god that ended when I inquired about him.

He said (I wasn't interested actually), I just got married a couple of months back. I thought aloud, how come you are not at home and if not why are you traveling alone. Hey wait, before you think that this thought was not necessary, let me remind you I was in graduation. Life's harsh truth were not much out yet for me. Okay back, he replied and I was shocked to hear that - "I don't like traveling with my wife, She is too dumb". My reaction got jammed totally!! Now started the process of wife bitching. She is not as smart as you. Does not know how to talk to people. Has very poor English. Cannot handle my business clients. Does not like to come to the pub with me... blah blah blah... All that I saw in TV serials was going on live out here.

He was sounding as if he is going home and going to give her a divorce. I felt sad for his wife. There was no one at that moment that could defend her or show her side of the coin. I told him a couple of times to stop and think before expressing but he didn't. I simply slept off, without worrying what he would think. When we reached ahmedabad, he gave me his card saying - Please come to my home in mumbai and teach my wife the smartness you have. I was so angry that I took the card and shred it to pieces (in my thoughts :D ) Didn't take the card, told him - I would not like to keep in touch with you. Thank you.

Rest of the stories are not actually stories they are more about strange personalities that I bumped into. Like there was this guy who was like, wow I like your personality... hahahahaha, why don't you come to our place. He gave me his business card as well as home address. :D
Then there was this family, who practically adopted me on the journey.

Whatever they were, it was great time traveling. And I thank god for all the good and if not good not bad travel companions. I wish my travels continue and so do the many stories that I could gather from my co-travelers. Finally, long time since I wrote a blog, so I guess it might have got boring and as usual at places the story continued in my mind then on paper...

Okay I cant end this without a quote :- "I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move. "