‘A Drive in the Dark’

4th july 2013

It was 8.00 pm when we reached the check post in the state border of Kerala situated on the top of the hill between Anairankal and mathikettan solai reserve forests.

A big breath from the four as we successfully crossed the border after the check up with some energy drinks from TASMAC(TN) loaded in some secret places.

“Stop” A voice raised. It’s me.

Harish parked the car on the left. That’s the first village on the way. POOPARAI

A warm welcome from the tea shop owner and a guy works there.

We ordered four teas.

“Where is the rest room?” asked Vijay Prakash and went in.

The people were friendly and had a chat about the film stars sipping the tea.

They asked us to get some drinks from their village as there won’t be any liquor shop post that time.

We said “We don’t Drink.”

They mocked.

We giggled back.

Harish gently asked the route to munnar in Malayalam as he knows Malayalam well.

After he asked I realized its Tamil with Malayalam accent starting “Cheta”.

The shop owner was telling us the route.

A man from that place asked “Are you going to travel by this time?”

“Yes” “What’s wrong in it?” I said.

“What if there is a wild elephant in your way?” he asked.

I sipped the tea to the bottom.

My eyebrows expanded a little bit.

A stout man from the right, sitting on the bench said

“You can’t do any thing before an angry elephant.”

Two other people joined the conversation.

“There were 12 people killed by elephants in this area last year” said the tea boy.

Harish started sipping the tea which was ordered for the guy in rest room.

Our relaxation turned serious.

We came to know that we are going to cross the homes of elephant.

Its already night. So people gave us some tips

1)      “If there is an elephant in your way, not to irritate it by blowing the horn or switching the lights to Dim and dip.”

2)      “If somehow the elephant broke your car and tries to kill you people, run down hill as it can climb faster than human.”

3)      “Go behind a big vehicle. So, they will be killed and you will be back safely.” Said the shop owner.  

We felt the third option suits well but didn’t express to each other.

Harish ignited the engine and we left the place.

As we moved it started Drizzling.

It looked dark immediately after leaving the village.

After half a mile, it’s my turn to drive.

Harish lowered the volume of the Audio system.

I gently opened the door and got down.

“Beautiful” “Forests are Beautiful in nights too” my mind voice.

It was deep woods with drizzle surrounded by tall trees and visible until the rays from the high beam lights of the car hits.

I don’t want to get back but we must leave. 

The wipers were switched on.

As the roads were wet, we felt the jerks and skids where ever I apply the brake on the curve.

Uday, My brother’s face is near the wind shield and other two’s face is in front of my seats.

Every one was sitting on the edge of the seat in fear.

The intensity of the rain increased and we can’t see anything in front.
Even we are unable to see where the road turns.

But what we felt is we are moving uphill on the slope of 35 to 40 degree.

Because of fear our heart beats has rose from normal and breathed heavily.

Our breath has formed moisture and formed fog on the wind shield.

I felt like a blind driving the car on a steep hill.

Immediately switched on the heater and removed the internal fog.

Rain stopped.

Not because of the heater. We climbed to higher altitude.

Only the road was visible. We were happy.

We can’t judge how depth it is in the left and right. But we were happy.

It was two sharp hair pin bends I gave a lot of acceleration to go up.

Once I reached the top, we were surrounded by the low clouds passing the mountain.

Nothing is visible. I can hardly see some 2 to 3 meters of road in front.

I stopped.

Moved gently when I got small gaps within the mists.

Clouds loved us a lot. It wants to carry us with, it seems.

I drove within the speed of 5 to 10 KMPH.

I loved the moment.

Driving on the curvy mountain which has lots of bends and slopes surrounded by clouds felt like moving slowly around the ups and downs of a beautiful girl’s hip.

“There is going to be an elephant in the mid of the cloud and we will skid and stop near the grunting trunk” I joked.

Somehow we got a little down from that altitude. The roads were very slippery in the curves.

It was dark again with drizzle.

While going ahead it was a big roar of water fall very close to the road which is not visible in the dark.

After a straight drive, I found some lights lit up on the adjacent hill.

Stopped the car.

Its time to piss.

With the beautiful night view of the village, dark blue sky, Drizzle and the moon hiding behind the clouds with shy.

Pisssssssssssssssssssssssssss……………from the top.

I noticed the audio player displaying time code running as the songs were continuously playing and the volume is in 1 or 2.

Raised the volume as well as the acceleration.

The Travel is my love.

JAIKAR