Long Vacation At Bengaluru

After voluntary retirement as Government Medical Officer, my wife Dr Bhavana (Devyani) wanted to have a vacation and I joined her. The long break of 14 days (2 weeks) was starting on date 9th March 2011 and ending on 23rd March 2011. We planned to stay at Rahul’s (our son) residence at Bangalore and return to Bilimora.

Vacation - is stopping the continuous job/work and retire at some place at leisure. We know vacation is a change of activity and we did that. It is a recess, say a break or temporary cessation of routine work.

Is vacation necessary?
The answer is YES because whatever profession one does, life is monotonous and one needs to be away from it for some time.

I will tell the story briefly, to share some of my experiences of -

• Stay at Rahul’s residence with Khushbu (my brother-in-law’s daughter) and
• The journey from Bilimora to Bangalore and return.

Stay

What did we do all these days? “NOTHING” is the only correct answer, adding only a few small activities.

The NO-TIME-TABLE living is a rare experience we took every day.

Dr Bhavana and I have remained silently and physically present with the two (Rahul and Khushbu) young enthusiastic job people, busy all the day and night, observing them, spreading our love without words-expectation-and-demand. Showering blessings is an experience with all the elderly.

While my wife was cooking, I read two books…

1. Creative Living by Harbeen Arora (2009) and
2. The Power Of Now by Eckhart Tolle (2001)

I will post their book review soon.

We were busy seeing comedy movies and internet. I will tell you about few events now.

1. Dinner at Kashmira and Pradeep Jhala's Residence (Rahul’s friends and neighbours)
   One evening, all of four, were invited for dinner. We enjoyed the real Sorathi (Saurashtrian) host for the first time and we will cherish the same forever. Kashmira and Pradeep took great pains in preparing dinner containing so many items at a time. Baigan Bharatha and Roti with Ghee and Jaggery, typical Jetpur-style Kadhi with Khichadi, Bundi Laddu and Rasgulla and what not!!! All of us ate double the quantity. It was one of the best evenings there.
2. Laptop
   Two persons playing with laptops and doing some work in the drawing room is a sight of the modern era - so happening daily for long hours. Rahul and Khushbu were actually doing all their work - job and communication with friends by connectivity on laptop and mobile via internet having Emails, Facebook, Twitter and what not. I joined them as the third partner doing some similar work. Continuous connectivity is the keyword of this age. I found I can contact Rahul and Vaishali (my daughter) more easily than any other way - say phone or mobile.

Reign/Rule:

When parents visit and stay at the home of the son, my other friends have gone in past told, we lose the post of head of the family; because you are just a guest at his place. Well, they may be right in their way, but, I beg to differ. At 60 and after (even before that) the period of the ruling is almost over. I will say one needs not be the ruler of at any stage of life in family issues. There is a big difference in manners of eating, spending and lifestyle between parents and son, but it should not be the issue of ego or dislike. Just love the children, everything else is immaterial.

Bangalore Tours:

1. Movie:
   A half day was spent at Forum Mall. We saw the movie ‘Mannu weds Tannu’ between 2.30 and 5.00 PM. We were so relaxed and happy, we laughed all the time seeing the movie. We realized the importance of the caring company and relaxed mind.
2. Shopping:
   One afternoon, we visited the market for shopping. We were there from 4 to 9 PM. We wandered around Brigade Road, M G Road, Church Street, Kamaraj Street, Commercial Street etc. We enjoyed coffee at ‘India Coffee House’.
   To summarize my observations regarding Bangaloreans, I'd say, most of them are youth, wearing jeans, top and shoes, usually coupled. Liking mobile talks and cigarettes and love using credit/debit cards.
   Rahul and Khushbu joined us for a typical South Indian dinner at ‘Coconut Groove’.
3. One more evening, we all four wandered around the above-stated places again and had Mexican taste at ‘Taco Bell’ after the purchase of a suit Rahul had planned.
4. Playing Cards:
   Saturday night, Khushbu does not like to sleep early – so we had long talking hours followed by a sudden idea of playing cards starting at 11.30 of night lasting up to 2 in the morning. All of us played the cards’ game ‘Judgement’. All enjoyed the game, but Khushbu was to the best of her moods and made us all laugh with her typical nasal speech all the while.
   Sunday night the same cycle of playing cards was repeated to end at 12 with the same enjoyment.

Journey:

1. To Mumbai:
   I started my tour by Firozpur Janta train from Bilimora. The train was 20 minutes before scheduled time. Bhavana joined me at Valsad with eight bags, she had carried from cloak-room to coach with the help of a porter.
   I met an Assamese student reading ‘Matrubhumi Yearbook 2011’ - I had a chance to read the same during the further journey.
   To travel with more number of bags can be done only by parents desirous to give this and that to their daughter and son. All the theories of travelling light fail there and only mother’s love for children wins.
   Sandhyaben (my sister-in-law) helped at Borivali station.
2. Night at Vaishali’s
   Before going to Bangalore, we stayed at Vaishali’s residence overnight.
   We had a long exchange of thoughts over a sip of drinks of one’s choice with food. The conversation and sitting lasted up to 1.30 AM.
   
3. GoAir
   Vaishali arranged for a cab from Kandivali to Domestic airport. Her gesture of paying taxi fare in advance impressed us a lot.
   Entry to the airport makes you cleverer, smarter and more active person than you really are.
   Because of the competitive airfare, they do not offer complimentary drinking water, breakfast or meals. Instead, they wander like train caterers shouting the price. They sell different items giving discounts and sale prices telling enjoy shopping at 35,000 Ft height shopping.
   It surprises me a lot when a plane takes off suddenly without a much longer run.
   Reaching Bangalore travelling 1200 km from Mumbai in just 80 minutes is nothing but a great miracle.
   

Return Railway Tour from Bangalore to Bilimora:

1. I shall start the story of return journey after telling you what Rahul and Khushbu told about this tour.
2. Rahul twitted “Shortest 10 days of my life”; while Khushbu wrote on Facebook “I had a great time with you and Fui. You reminded me of my Papa in many ways.” Usually, I get tears in eyes at the departing time. I could control that, but reading above statements made me weep.
3. The train journey from Bangalore to Pune is slower than that following Pune because trek is single and there is a diesel engine.
4. We were accompanied by a Muslim couple returning from Sri Lanka tour, one medical sales manager up to Lonavala and Sairam Naidu (working at Siemens). Both later youths were so involved with us that we enjoyed their company. I do not know whether our senior person looks, our manners impress the youth or they inherited attitude of such behaviour, we always get desired respect. The last example is Deval’s service from Navsari to Bilimora at 2 AM of night.

Conclusion and Closing Remarks: Love your children… rest will be O.K. automatically.