The Great Irony

"Is there something that bothers or preoccupies you?"

Read on...
http://sonic200.com/others/tuongphan.htm

(Image courtesy http://www.henrygeorge.org)

One day at Mysore

Started on Saturday evening to Mysore... It was kind of unplanned visit.
Started at around 3PM from Diray circle to Mysore. There were some confusions regarding the mode of transport.
Initially we planned to take the train, which is at 2.15PM from Majestic. Another option we thought of is going by bike. Since there were only two travellers, I felt it may not be good idea to travel in bike... Bike travel needs atleast 4 people and 2 bikes.

Finally decided to go by bus from Majestic. Cousin (Viju) joined me at Majestic. There was no advanced booking since there were busses frequently. Lots of people were waiting for volvo. So we decided to take Rajahamsa bus. Within 5 mins, Veerajpet bus came, which travels via Mysore. Got front seats. Tickets per person costed around Rs. 85.
The road was really good and the i did not waste much time and started off to sleep. After sometime, i was awakened by the smell of roasted groundnuts, which Viju bought at some place on the way. On the way he was also taking photos from inside the bus.

Bangalore - Mysore Highway

Overtaking a car...

Rail beside the highway

We reached Mysore around 8 PM and checked into Nandini lodge beside suburban bus station. Kept the bag there and started roaming around. The whole city was decorated for the Dussera festival. Took lots of snaps.

Mysore clocktower

Viju crossing road

Statue near clocktower

Palace view and Gaanamela

There were lots of people, elepahants and horse carriages with traditionally dressed people.
Some events were going on. Ganamela was there infront of the palace. Colorful fireworks from Chamundeshwari hills marked the starting of festival. The entire city was decorated with golden coloured lights.

Me infront of palace...

Full view of Mysore palace

Palace in Lights

Palace Again.. and horse too

Another angle of Mysore palace

Temple

Decoration on road side

Around 11 we went back to lodge, had food and slept like a log.
Next day we had planned to visit Dineshettan. Around 10 we started to his place that was around 3 kms from city. Met Dineshettan. He has a shop at Kalyangiri Nagar. Roamed around with him in nearby places till evening. Understood that lots of infrastructure things are cominng up in the city.

Dineshettan & Friend

More friends of Dineshettan

That's me

Signboard

The city is a small one. Dineshettan is there since last 15-20 years and said that lots of changes are happening since last 1 year. Dineshettan is extremely helpful and never we felt that we were meeting him for first time!
After saying good bye to Dineshettan, we started to city. Went straight to St. Philomina's church. Took some fotos, bought some momentos outside the church and then went to lodge.

St. Philomina's church

Bhoomiyude avakashikal

Keychain art!

Kerala SRTC taking rest in Mysore

Simple art

Viju sparing a moment in between bargaining

Boy selling watermelons

It was around 5 PM by that time. After checking out from the room, went straight to bus station and got into the first Volvo waiting there. Got back seats.

Kaveri river

Inside Volvo

Once the bus started, they put some Kannada movie. Sleep conquered me without much delay. After sometime, i got up.
The movie was still going on. The cold atmosphere inside the bus somehow kept me away from sleep. Patiently started watching the movie. It seemed to a relatively old Kannada movie (90's). Heroine was Sunita (who acted in some Malayalam movie).
The movie was proceeding in an unexpected manner (no proper storyline). Somehow the movie finished after sometime.
By that time we were in Majestic.

Majestic - the end of journey!

Got down there and caught next bus to Diary Circle. Reached room at around 9 PM. After having food, slept peacefully.

An escape

I was a small kid may be 8-9 years. During that time we had a big pond infront of our house in Nadakkav. The pond was surrounded by agricultural land and was around 20 mts away from the house. After rainy season, the pond will be full of crystal clear water. Lots of fishes will be there. This will be time for me & cousin, jitheshettan to do all sort of activities, catching fishes, playing in water etc.
The clothes also used to be washed there by geetechi. One day in afternoon, while geetechi was washing clothes in the pond, me and jitheshettan were playing in the water. Towards the edges the pond was shallow and we were given strict warning by geetechi not to go beyond some point after which pond becomes deep.

After sometime jitheshettan said he will go to house and get a plain cloth so that we can catch fish using it like a net. He left the place.

I was enjoying the light sunlight and playing in water. Also I started making some noise by splashing the water. There were tall grasses towards the edge of the pond. I was getting bored playing in the edge of the pond.

I looked at geetechi, she was washing the clothes facing the other side. It was best time for me to do the experimentation. I caught hold of the tall grass, which i felt to be strong enough. I started walking towards the center of the pond.
Everything going perfect, no issues, the pond is not so deep. I became more confident, i took few more steps, made sure that my grip on the tall grass is strong.
"Blum"

Without giving an option me to send an "SOS" call, I was now in deep water. I was struggling for breath. I could see blue sky for a moment and fishes swimming in water... I dont remember what i did and how many times i saw the sky.
Suddenly, i felt somebody holding my hair and dragging me, i was experiencing in semi-concious state. After sometime, i was outside the pond my mouth facing the sky.

Geetechi asked me "ninakkenthengilum prashnam undo?"
I dont remember what i replied.
Jitheshettan was near me and he pumped water out of me pushing my stomach.

After sometime I was back in my sense.

After sometime everything was told to me like a flashback...
<< Rewind

When jitheshettan was coming back from house, he saw something like a small coconut (my head) coming out of water for a second and going into water. Then he realized I was not there. Geetechi was busy washing the clothes.
Realizing the situation, jitheshettan cried loud "vipu vellathil mungiyeee...", as soon as geetechi heard this, she jumped into water. By this time i was almost in the center of the pond. She is a good swimmer and she pulled me out!

My parents were told about this only after a year or so!
I am grateful to geetechi for saving me :)