Journey of Another Kind

This was 1962 maybe. My father had to go to Hyderabad in South India for a meeting. He decided that he would go by his small Standard Herald car, the likes of which you never see nowadays. He was taking a driver and mummy and I were to accompany him. As we started to get set and loading the car, both, Vikram and Pankaj, 12 and 11 at the decided they were not to be left out. So, we all ventured out, six of us in the tiny car, one sitting on a small cushion in between the two seats. in the front bumping over the hand brake. It was already eight in the evening and getting dark and the journey was to be for seven hours. We travelled, together, squeezed, but all in good mood. And guess what happened? We lost our way. There was no GPS then. Relying on the signs in the dark was not the best thing to do. We landed in Auragabad towards the east instead of Hyderabad in the South East.

What should have been a disaster, actually became the best family trip of our life. We did not do anything like that ever agin in the next ten years before papa passed away.

We decided to stay n Aurangabad and visit the most famous Ajanta and Ellora caves, next morning before we left. We did go to Hyderabad thereafter but we were now in such a travail mood, we did not return home. We went to Bangalore and Mysore, visiting the beautiful Vrindavan gardens, enjoying being together, fighting over the limited space in the car, taking turns to sit on the cushion above the hand brake. The flash point came when papa decided we should go up several miles, to a hill station, Ooti. No way, said mummy. NO way, said Vikram, the car will never reach us. We are going said papa and we went. Some black flag perched on the small car, gave us entry to a Plush government guest house, costing very little. The taste of fresh crisp dosa for breakfast still lingers in my mouth.

The four day business trip became a ten day family holiday and so grateful for my father’s spirit. Bordering on recklessness at times with its own consequences, I am still grateful for all the fun times and travel we had with him, even when money was dwindling. His love for music and entertaining led to an open home, a culture that continues in the family.