Hark! The rhythm

Hark! The rhythm. The pellet drum rattles. The dance begins. The creation, the annihilation, the fleeing in-betweens, and beyond these appar...

Monday, August 27, 2012

Routes blocked!!!


“Roads blocked!”
“WHAT????”
And then they all started laughing.
I closed my eyes and breathed. And in my mind, I undid all the planning those two words had triggered.
They find it fun, telling me such things.
They trick me every evening.
And like every time, their trick works.
But then my fears are not totally misplaced.
Why, the other day, the route had broken down at three places. And it had taken 7 hours to get a green signal. And then, one day, I had reached the office late – having braved a caving road and a minor transshipment.
But this last Saturday, topped them all.
The route was slippery through and through.
The Beas roared, fumed and swelled.
The clouds thundered and the lightning crackled almost all day long. A mighty tree broke down. And with it came down, many temporary shops that had nestled under it in good times.
The stretch across Thalout looked beautiful but intimidating with the water about to rise up to the road and the Rainsh Nala imitating a smaller version of the Niagara Falls.
The black mounds of rocks, now, mere rubble, greeted us at every corner near Hanogi Mata Nyaas.
The Jogani Mata stretch was crossed under heavy torrents of water dripping from mountains looming over the road. People crowded the temple, their eyes locked on the cracks, watchful and warning of the final collapse. The muddy debris was sliding down, fast, furious.
Between Pandoh and Dayod, the PWD and JCB people were working hard, to keep the debris off the road. Salute to their spirit.
Sambhal was the nightmare. Two monstrous rocks had fallen and the route had been blocked off completely. JCB’s had failed. And drilling machines were already sweating.
And, here my writing fails me.
All I remember is a rock pierced our car from one side, muddy debris hurled towards us from the other side and ardent, loud prayers filled the air around me.
I later heard they blasted the dinosaur.

Linking up with Trifecta: Week Forty

19 comments:

  1. And, here I thought I had the ultimate traffic obstacles with two avalanches and and a few ice storms! This is nothing compared to what your narrator has gone through! This is a great story and the geographic references are perfect.

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    1. Thank you Lumdog. Sadly, this happens with us very often in the rainy season. Last year, it was worst. This year, since it has not rained that heavily, the damage too is contained.

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  2. That is some scary driving. Good images here; I particularly liked the paragraph about the Jogani Mata stretch.

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  3. Wow, with a drive like that, I might not leave the house unless it was absolutely necessary.

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    1. I can totally relate to this feeling. These thoughts come to my mind every alternate day.
      Thank you Janna.

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  4. That was very tense, I found myself on edge hoping for the best. Your descriptions were so vivid.

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    1. Thank you Tara. I am glad I could maintain the tempo throughout.

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  5. Oh what a discription, and I am astonished at what you go through during the rainy season! Praying this rainy season will not be as hard!

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    1. With rainy season stretching, we might face some extended inconvenience but overall it is better than last year. Thank you for your prayers. They might just help me.

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  6. I love the glimpses into another world that you give us with your stories. I couldn't imagine most of these scenes without imagery like yours to guide me!

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  7. Well described and a good ending.

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  8. I will never complain about my commute again!! ;)

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  9. Replies
    1. It was definitely scary. But all is well that ends well as they say.

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  10. I liked how you brought it all home with your closing line. Thanks for joining us again this week. Please come on back tomorrow for the new prompt.

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Since every thought is a seed, I am looking forward to a delicious harvest.