अनोळखी वाटा – भाग ३

( स्वप्न्या आणि मी )

एका कॉफी शॉप मध्ये आम्ही दोघं भेटलो होतो. इतक्या दिवसांच्या गप्पा बाकी होत्या. जवळपास एक-दीड वर्ष एकमेकांना भेटलो नव्हतो. थोडी स्टाईल किंवा वजन सोडता, आमच्यातली मैत्री आधीसारखीच होती. इतक्या वर्षांनी भेटूनही ‘ आता काय बोलू? ‘ किंवा संभाषण पुढे कसं सुरु ठेऊ, असा प्रश्न निर्माण झाला नाही. सांगायला आणि ऐकायला बरंच काही होतं.

” बोक्या तू यावेळी मला मारवणार आहेस. कुठे जायचं याचा पत्ता नाही. कधी जायचं माहित नाही. फक्त इतकंच माहितेय की गाडी काढून निघायचं. घरच्यांना मी असं सांगू का? एकतर आधीच माहितीयेत ना माझ्या घरचे? ” – स्वप्न्या

” तुझ्या घरचे काय, सगळ्यांच्या घरचे असेच असतात. फरक फक्त इतकाच आहे, माझ्या आईने आपल्या वयाप्रमाणे मला समजून घेतलं आणि संमत्ती दर्शवली. पण तुझ्या घरच्यांना ते नसेल समजत तर तुझंही काम आहे ना, ते समजावून सांगायचं. ” – मी

” अरे हो, एवढी चिडतेस कशाला, थंड घे. ” – स्वप्न्या

” पैशांचा प्रश्न आहे का? ” – मी

” वेडी आहेस का? मला जॉबमधून चांगली सॅलरी मिळते आणि तुला खरं सांगू, मी कुठेच पैसे उधळत नाही. स्वतःवर पण नाही. कमीत कमी गरजेच्या जितक्या वस्तू आहेत, तितकाच आणि तेवढ्यावरच खर्च करतो. ” – स्वप्न्या

” का? ” – मी

” कशावर आणि कशाला खर्च करू? आनंद मिळणार असेल, मला छान वाटणार असेल तर मी खर्च करेन ना! मी ऑफिस, काम आणि घर सोडून काहीच करत नाही. इथे तुमच्याबरोबर मी यायला तयार झालो कारण मला खूप छान वाटतं तुमच्याबरोबर. नेहमीच. ” – स्वप्न्या

” तू मग शनिवार – रविवारी काय करतोस? ” – मी

” ऑफिसचं काम आणि इथे तिथे काहीतरी. ” – स्वप्न्या

” स्वप्न्या, ज्या गोष्टींनी तुला छान वाटतं त्यांच्यासाठी शनिवार रविवार  ठेव ना! ” – मी

” वेळच नसतो गं. एकदा लॅपटॉपसमोर बसलं की दिवस कसा निघून जातो कळत सुद्धा नाही. बरं ते सोड. जमलं तर आपण निदान सुरुवातीचा तरी प्लॅन बनवूया का? तुझ्या डोक्यात नक्की काय आहे? ” – स्वप्न्या

” चल आता बसलोच आहोत, तर बनवूया प्लॅन. पण त्या आधी कॉफी घेऊयात. तसंही तुझ्याशी या बोअरिंग कामाच्या गप्पा मारून माझा घसा सुकलाय. ” – मी

” अच्छा आता बोअरिंग का? बरं…. ” – स्वप्न्या

” जा चल. उधळ आता थोडे पैसे, माझ्यासाठी मस्त कोल्ड कॉफी त्यावर क्रीम घेऊन ये आणि स्वतःसाठी काय हवं ते आणू शकतोस. ” – मी

स्वप्न्या कॉफी आणत होता तोपर्यंत मी स्वतःच्या डोक्यातला प्लॅन कागदावर उतरवत होते.

” बोक्या ही घे तुझी कॉफी. आता चाट. ” – स्वप्न्या

आमच्या बाजूला बसलेलं एक कपल आमच्याकडे बघून हसायला लागलं.

“काढ, सगळीकडे माझी इज्जत काढ.” – मी

“तू तरी बोलू नकोस. तुझे किस्से लोकांना सांगितले ना तर झालंच. शिवाय बोक्या तुझं नाव आहे म्हटल्यावर तू कॉफी चाटणारच ना! कशी ग अशी तू, अडाणी ” – स्वप्न्या

मी फक्त एक तिरकस कटाक्षाने त्याच्याकडे पाहत होते. अजून एक जरी शब्द हा जास्त बोलला असता तर मारच खाणार होता.

“स्वप्न्या लास्ट वॉर्निंग आहे, अजून एक शब्द बोल मग तुझ्या शर्टलाच कशी कॉफी प्यायला लावते बघ.” – मी

(माझ्या बोलण्याला काहीही किंमत न देता सरळ विषय बदलून)

“बरं, दाखव प्लॅन” – स्वप्न्या

“बघ, माझ्या विचाराप्रमाणे साधारण पुढच्या दहा दिवसांनी आपण इथून कार घेऊन निघायचं. कार कोणाला एकालाच चालवावी लागणार नाही कारण आपल्याकडे बरेच चालक आहेत. जसा की तू, विड, कधी कधी फट्टू आणि शेवटी उरले मी. जून महिना आपल्यासाठी योग्य असेल कारण वातावरणात गारवाही असेल आणि पाऊसही म्हणावा तितका जास्त नसेल.” – मी

“कोणकोणती ठिकाणं साधारण तू विचार करतेयस?” – स्वप्न्या

“लोणावळा,कर्जत, भंडारदरा, इगतपुरी, नाशिक, वेल्हा आणि बाकी बघूया. तू सांग” – मी

“आपण नाशिक ला थांबणार आहोतच ना?” – स्वप्न्या

“हो, तुझं विशेष काय काम आहे?” – मी

“सुला….” – स्वप्न्या

“वाह! हे कधीपासून?” – मी

“हल्ली हल्लीच गं, ऑफिसच्या पार्टीजमध्ये” – स्वप्न्या

“मग तर घरी यायलाच पाहिजे, काकूंची परवानगी घ्यायला ट्रीपसाठी” – मी

“बास का! मी केलं का असं कधी काही तुझ्या घरी !” – स्वप्न्या

“तू काय करणार? मी स्वतःच सांगितलंय घरी” – मी

“काय राव, तुझ्यासारखं लाईफ पाहिजे.” – स्वप्न्या

“बरं चल निघू आता. मला उद्या सकाळ-सकाळी रुजूच्या घरी जायचंय.” – मी

“रॅम्बोची परवानगी घ्यायला?” – स्वप्न्या

“हो. बाबा रॅम्बो हो म्हणू दे म्हणजे झालं, नाहीतर तिला घरातून पळवणं खूप कठीण आहे.” – मी

https://wanderingequators.wordpress.com/2018/05/10/%e0%a4%85%e0%a4%a8%e0%a5%8b%e0%a4%b3%e0%a4%96%e0%a5%80-%e0%a4%b5%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%9f%e0%a4%be-1/

(Anolakhi Waataa – Bhaag 1)

https://wanderingequators.wordpress.com/2018/06/28/%e0%a4%85%e0%a4%a8%e0%a5%8b%e0%a4%b3%e0%a4%96%e0%a5%80-%e0%a4%b5%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%9f%e0%a4%be-2/

(Anolakhi Waataa – Bhaag 2)

New Girl in The City – Ahmedabad

This time, our trio was fully set for our next expedition to a cotton city of India on the banks of sabarmati – yes, it’s Ahmedabad. We planned our trip in perfect season of July month, where it was neither too rainy nor too hot. A great weather, the way I like, mostly cloudy but slightly drizzling.

Our journey started with BOM – AMD Air India flight. It was already scheduled at 01:30am, but did you know when it actually fly? 03:30 am. 2 hours of flight delay made us too much exhausted and added more frustration when we just kept awaited to pick our luggage for another one more hour. After the whole night excursion, we finally reach our hotel in morning – ” TREATOTEL HOTEL “. As per hotel policy, we reached early than check in time and they didn’t have any room available, so we slept at reception only. When housekeeping staff made our room ready, they dared to break our sound sleep and handed over room keys. Our tour driver came to hotel to greet us at 10:00 am, so we had our perfect power nap by that time.

Day 01: We started our first day in Ahmedabad with a local breakfast at Lakxmi Gathiya. It was a stall on the roadside, where we got Phaphda, Khandavi, Dhokala, Dalwada, Jalebi. The day plan was to visit Anand, which is popularly known for Amul factory.

A 77 km distance from Ahmedabad took us to Anand. Dr Verghese Kurien started a white revolution in India from this place. Timing to visit the dairy is between afternoon 02 to 04 pm which doesn’t require any prior permission. We just have to show our ID proof to get an entry.  they started program with 10 min short film, explaining the inspiration behind revolution the revolution. Do you guys know the full form of Amul? It is – “Anand Milk Union Limited”. Further, during the visit, they explained the functioning of machines. Now their bigger plant is at Gandhinagar. They have Amul parlour in premises where you can get a large variety of Amul products.

The evening was free to visit Sabarmati riverfront park. I found Ahmedabad very calm and peaceful. It was bit humid, but I was enjoying it. You can have a long walk in this park. Bhakti wanted to try Segway in this park but I and Ashu were niche interested. She convinced us a lot and finally she decided to do it alone. But by this time, raining had been started and segway operator boy said, ” It is closed, we can not operate now. ” Ohh no….. Bhakti gave us a very sarcastic look and we decided wherever we find it next, we will buy ticket for her.

It was almost 7 in the evening, that means it was time to taste local delicacies again. We went to law garden road. The street had numerous food stalls on its both sides. Looking out these many options, you would definitely get confused about where to go? Everyone there call you to visit their own stall, so we randomly went to one of the stall. We had Gujrat’s famous Kacchi Dabeli and I also wanted to try for another famous dish pav bhaji, but we wanted to keep more  space in stomach for dinner. Please do not forget to try Ashrafi kulfi & ice cream.

Gujrat is always famous for it’s Khakra and you must visit ‘Induben ni Khakra’, when you are in Ahmedabad. It is hardly 5 to 10min walking distance from Law garden road. It is a big shop having a number of variety khakras. You would get chholapuri, chat, pizza, schezwan, diet khakra, plain khakra and many more. You just name a khakra and you would find it here. Our first day ends with Khakra shopping and we came back to our hotel.

Our hotel experience was not good this time. Room was small and food was so basic in taste. The most important thing is that, the phone in our room was ringing for whole night. We didn’t feel safe and we made complaint at reception on next morning immediately, but they had their framed answers ready. ” It has reported first time. our hotel is safe for girls. We have many solo travellers. Blah… Blah… Blah… ”

Day 02: After the horrifying night, we started our next day with Akshardham temple visit. No mobile phones, no bags, nothing was allowed inside… except your wallet. One needs at least 2 to 3 hours to visit Akshardham temple. It is located in Gandhinagar. I was visiting Akshardham for the first time; so when I entered into temple, it reminded me about the set of Bahubali movie. The architecture of the temple was so amazing. I wished, I could have a camera with me. It is a 3 storey temple of Yogiji Swami. Each element of Akshardham echoes with spirituality. You can explore temple area right from Mandir, Exhibition and Garden. Behind the temple, there is a canteen where you can have your meals. Later we proceeded to visit Sabarmati Ashram. On the way, we visited “Adlaj Vav”, which is a 3 storey well with indo – Islamic architecture and design. No entry ticket is required and it is open from morning 06:00 am to 06:00 pm.

It is the most popular destination on the way from Gandhinagar to Ahmedabad.

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Further we proceeded to Sabarmati Ashram.

On the entrance, Ashram map welcomes you. There is a museum, where you would get information about various moments in Gandhiji’s life.

Further they have library, photo gallery, Gandhiji’s prarthana bhoomi, his personal room where ashram has preserved his charkha, Hridaykunj, Vinoba-Meera Kutir. In the end, they have a museum shop where you can get related books, postcards, fridge magnets, handmade diaries and many other things. Visiting Sabarmati ashram was very inspirational.

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Travelling in Ahmedabad is quite easy. It is well connected via BRT buses. Also auto rickshaw travel is also economical. Our last destination in this trip was Kankaria lake. This lake helps ecotourism of Ahmedabad. The lake has total 8 gates for entry and exit. surrounding the lake, they have well maintained path and place to sit everywhere. Many activities have been operated around the lake. you can well spend your evening here.

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Bhakti finally got her segway here and of-course she did it. There is also a toy train for children, a zoo and lot of street food stalls. You can enter from any gate and take exit from other gate. It is best place to enjoy walk. There is also a water and light show in the evening. This was a last point before we headed to airport for back to Mumbai, but if you have one more day then do not forget to visit ‘Jama Masjid’.

It was a pleasant visit with lot of unforgettable memories. Even though Ahmedabad has emerged as one of the fastest growing city in India as economic and industrial hub, it has still continues its long history with several markets for best fabrics and clothing and of course delicious eateries. Therefore this city, “The Manchester of East” has to be on must visit on your travel list. The city attraction of mine will be continue and I will be meeting you in another city soon.