Journey to Pathways (Amrendra Kumar)

February 08, 2009

By the way let me tell you guys about yesterday 07-02-2009. Three of us – Hemant, Harry and myself this time took a right turn from the Espace gate and once again took a right turn towards Sohna Road (remember we took a left turn on 06-02-2009 towards Golf Course). In the beginning I had announced that today we will go to Pathways school which is 10+ KM. Luckily for me both Hemant and Harry had no idea where Pathways was so it was easier for them to agree, and off we went on the new trail.

Fog was dense but it was visible enough to ride a cycle, a honk from here or there kept us alert and slowly we reached Sohna Road “T” junction from where we took a left turn towards Badshahpur. From the “T” junction the Badshahpur intersection is around 500-600 meters from where we followed the signage to Pathways School, which shows 12 Km from that point. Spirits were high, fog was intense and people clad in huge turbans and wrapped up in thick blankets were around and we were piercing them all in our bikes. I told everyone that we will be crossing two main villages – “Tikli” and “Bas” on our way to Pathways. Here I also disclosed that Pathways was on Aravlis. After the first Kilometer or so, we had wheat fields on both sides and the Sun was struggling to fight the fog, though without success. The fog was such that we could barely see each other if we were separated for more than 10 meters. At two intersections we again followed the signage towards Pathways and on reaching “Tikli” Hemant expressed his desire to have hot tea and Harry seconded. I told them that there should be some shop here but if we do not find it I promised them tea on the top, near Pathways. Hemant said it would be paradise if we would also get Omlette and I nodded. After crossing Tikli there is a good 4-5 KM of straight stretch with fields on both the sides and you could vividly see the Aravlis in the front and on your left from where the Sun was still struggling its way through. We stopped for a moment to enjoy the view and started again till we reached “Bas” which is on the foothills of the Aravalis. As we started negotiating the turns on the foothills, both the Gentlemen realized what was in store for them, it was an “uphill” task in the literal sense. They would not ride they decided and started walking with their bikes, I was also to follow the same thing after about 30 meters (those 30 meters really took a toll on my knees and my back the following day !).

Finally there was light through the tunnel and we reach the entry point of “ Aravali Retreat”, where Pathways is situated. From this point Pathways is 2.5 KM. The road from here is quite interesting with its ups and downs and serpentine curves. I enjoyed it and so did Hemant and Harry. We could hear the birds chirp, the air was fresh and the atmosphere was serene. After such an intense trail it was a paradise. Hemant reminded of my promise and we took a right turn just 300 meters short of Pathways school for a tea break. We saw a college style canteen with tea, biscuits et al… We first tool some water and ordered for three cups of Tea and Krackjack biscuits. While we were having our Tea the local caretaker spotted us and I knew that Hemant’s dream was going to come true. I knew this guy from before and after exchanging pleasantries I requested him to organize for some egg omelletes at the club. He immediately followed my instructions and in 20 minutes we were enjoying bread omlette with another round of tea. Hemant borrowed his phone to call Meenakshi and inform that we will not be back before another two hours(we do not carry our mobiles!). This was coming out to be quite a picnic for all of us and with being at centre of attraction with the “gear wali” cycle we were at the top of the world in real sense. After taking a little walk in the woods we were now to head back. I will not deny that a thought at this point came to hire a tractor and load the cycles and ourselves on to that. But the better sense was to prevail and we started our backward journey.

The downhill ride was quite an experience for us, each one had a different one though. We had all decided to meet up near the big old tree near the temple and shared our experiences and decided that we will now meet at the intersection. The coming back journey was more pleasant and we could see the hills on our right and the fields more clearly as the Sun had the last laugh and was wide in the open. At the intersection some villagers were sitting and talking loudly and the moment Harry came in one of the villager came towards us and before he could come the smell of alcohol came (mind you that the time was 11.00 AM), we already knew that we were in for a nice conversation and off we started with how much this guy loved Punjab and that whenever he saw a Punjabi all his love began to pour from everywhere. He tried to pour all that on us and Hemant at this point said that I was from Russia and here we started discussing the geopolitics, Russia, Pakistan, America – wow. This was an ex-serviceman and very soon he started to count the number of missiles we had the number of Guns we possessed and if we had a war with Pakistan, it would not be with Pakistan per se but with China actually. Hey guys, this was getting serious! Thank God another guy approached us and rescued us! Off we went from there but I was left pondering that the problem of alcohol was not peculiar to Russia alone, it persisted here too. As they say back in Russia – If you had alcohol in the morning you would be free the whole day!

After the intersection we stopped at the Badshahpur crossing where all of us had a glass of Sweet Lime juice each, forgetting about hygiene for a moment. A cycle shop nearby tied some nuts for Harry’s cycle and adjusted the pressure in the tyres. He did not take any money for that saying that this was his way of helping the passersby and that he was blessed by sitting under the old “Peepal” tree. Heavy stuff in the morning! We shook hands with him with our eyes wide open in surprise and proceeded towards Nirvana.

And to end this rather lengthy travelogue let me mention that we could not see Pathways School this time but I think we will do it next time!!!!!!!!!! (Remember the right turn we took just before Pathways school, while coming back we never took the right turn to go and see the school, we took left turn and vowed that we will see the school next time!)

Welcome Guys!


With Best regards,
Amrendra