Wayanad - A dream journey!

I’m a big fan of being organized, so when it to our Wayanad trip; I kept telling Sil (the silly girl) the do’s and don’t’s . sure did annoy her. Since she respects me a lot (at least I’d like to think she does) she patiently listened to me.. Told her that I’ll not drive in the night, I’ll not drive if am sleepy, I’ll not drive if am this and I’ll not drive if am that.. lol, basically threw my weight around since I was the only driver, Sil said she’ll come by 6:30-7 in the morning, since I wanted to get out of the city before the peak hour traffic that starts by 8. Asked Sil to wake me up by 6 and she did, she also told me she’ll be slightly late and she will call me when she is leaving home. I took another 5 minute nap, got up, had a nice shower and got ready by 7-7:15. No sign of our madam,

I wondered if she went off to sleep as she had just finished her shift at 4:30 in the morning. Patiently waited and our lady calls by 7:45, says she’ll be there in a bit. I was all set, I was looking at the mirror and I figured that I’d look better with a nice shave, so I called Harish (My beautician) Harish was at his parlor, so I carried my baggage to the parlor had a nice shave and waited for Sil to call, she called and she reached the place (Thankfully).

Sil introduced me to Barath, her friend, we exchanged pleasantries and I got behind the steering wheel and also soon as I drove the first 10 mtrs, I could feel the relief on Barath’s face. He said, ”Sil this is how you should drive”. I smiled and we started to move towards Ulsoor, we were supposed to pick up some girl. So Sil and the other girl started talking on the phone. Sil saying “get ready!” “we’re almost there” “where are you?” and she was telling me to go to the temple at Ulsoor. And I went and parked the car..

Sil asks the girl again “Where are you?”
the girl “in front of the temple”
Sil “come on, we’re just outside the temple and I don’t see you”
The girl “I’m standing right outside the temple”
I intervene “Which temple is she at”
Sil “which temple”
The girl “Subramanya Swamy temple”
I smile “This is perumal temple, we will have to go further ahead”

The girl asked us to come near the bata showroom and we went. I stopped and I adjusted the rear to see if I could see anyone approaching and I could see one stylish girl coming. I told the 2 of them in the car, there she is and I open the hood, started keeping all our luggages in order.

She arrived, Sil introduced her as Sukanya, we all said hello.. kept her luggage and we set out for our trip!

Sukanya and Barath were initially (I repeat INITIALLY) quiet and I was getting bored, Barath was directing me so that we get out of the city asap, it was 8:30 something already. Barath asks, can we stop at MTR and have breakfast? I look at him and think “we’ve not started the trip only and you’re asking for a break!”

I told him, “oh sure! If it’s on the way” rather hesitantly.. thankfully the road was a lil crowded, so we didn’t want to stop anywhere until we reached the outskirts of the city.. Sil slowly said, “Manoj we need to fill fuel” I turn around and give a “can’t-you-do-this-last night” look.. “ I said ok and I said there is a Shell and we’ll stop there”

Reached Shell, filled gasoline, the girls went to the store at the fuel station, picked up snack and came, I asked Sil why didn’t they pick up water and Sil said “oh nooo, the water is manufactured in January!” I gave her a W-T-F look, and I asked “So?” she said noo.. it’s old. We’ll buy it somewhere else.. I asked, oh so you want me to stop again?!? We set out to drive again, we spotted Mc. Donalds’ sign boards indicating the distance, Barath proposed that we stop at MCD and the other to ladies too joined. So we stopped at MCD, they all walked in, I parked the car and followed them, as I walked in, I was told that there was a power cut and MCD did not have a back up! Sad but true! I walked in, washed my face, took a seat and the others went in to freshen up! A while later the guy at the MCD crew told us the power will get restored in 30 mins, I was like F-O-R-K! We walked out, clicked some pictures and back we were on the road..

while talkin something, I commented, since the car is new, the spare tyre is all there right.. Sil says “YES” and after 5 seconds.. “M-a-n-o-j… the stepney is punctured, I drove into a gutter and it tore off the tyre, I didn’t bother to repair it” “though I was irritated, we laughted it off and I started looking for a tyre repair shop” spotted one at a fuel station (Mind you this was our 3rd stop at a fuel station in a span of 90 mins”) I stopped, gave the tyre for repair and we started to wait. Barath was thirsty, he went off to get water and I told him to check the manufacturing date!? Lol..

End of Part - 1..