The Gates of Heaven - Part-IV

‘The Gates of Heaven’ & My Close Encounters with Peter

(These chronicles are dated May 2011)

Peter has great concern towards underprivileged children living in the slums. He organises picnics for them apart from constructing schools, toilets, donating food and clothing. He loves to see the cheer in their faces. What a great Soul! To those children he was more than Santa Claus, they have all the fun that the privileged children have in the lap of Mother Nature. Ideologies are good to speak and listen, but when we see a person practicing what he believes in; it’s like seeing God or a Mahatma. Peter believes that all children of the underprivileged also have the right to enjoy the luxury and experience the beauty of nature.

The Picnic Pool

That night when we arrived at the Picnic Pool, our only shelter was the massive skyline; so it is to all living creature on the Planet. Peter named it ‘The Picnic Pool’; but I have every reason to call it ‘The Gates of Heaven’. It was a destination everyone was eager to reach at the end of the day. It is the resting place after a hectic ordeal of trekking. It had a celestial touch as if in the mythological story. High above, a steady water flow dribbled silently through a meek cascade without much noise which should be because of summer, and such water flow in mid-summer at this range was unbelievable. I hoped Peter would agree with me for re-naming the locale as ‘The Gates of Heaven’.

The description could be from pages of a mythological script as I indicated earlier, for it fulfilled an artist’s imagination which anyone would reckon as only conceived and not factual. It had the poet’s imagination for its description could run to reams. The location was bowl shaped, water falling from two ends and wide platforms of rock which could accommodate not less than a hundred people, and the pool occupying almost half the area. The excess flow from the pool spilled through the rocky platform dividing it into two.

As I moved forward from the bank to the small rocky platform I noted that it had been partitioned by the stream in between from the main platform-like rock. I saw that whoever reached earlier was busily involved in unpacking their backpacks and settling at places occupied for their night rest. Members reserved their resting areas like berths in a train and spread their things to send a message that it is occupied. I started looking for a comfortable area on the main rock.

Some members already jumped into the pool which was the best of all until now. It was considerably deep which can be known by its colour and already a few wasted no time in going for a plunge. I finally located a flat platform having the nearest proximity to the main falls. It was a little lower to the main rock as if chiselled purposefully for a night rest and having the right dimension to accommodate me for the night. As Brijesh reached earlier, I took charge of my backpack and slowly started to organise for the night. First, I changed to dry clothes, hung the wet ones on the branch extending to my spot from the nearest tree, I also placed my shoes upside down for them to dry beside the corner of the bed. Then I checked my camera which clearly indicated a static red rejecting further more snaps, and cursed myself for the umpteenth time for not having charged it. Anyhow, I knew that once we return many participants would post their photographs through CTC. I compromised and returned to prepare my bed and the air pillow. “Hello” greeted a member who occupied the spot near me but it was at a level above on a higher platform. “Hi” I responded, “I am Prem”. “I am Radhakrishna” he continued “I know your name,” he said. “How is it so?” I asked in surprise. “Everyone speaks of you” he smilingly revealed. “Nothing adverse I suppose” I asked awaiting an embarrassment “Not at all. They speak high of you”, he continued “Everyone is shocked by your participation and eagerness, considering your age”, “what is your age” he cautiously asked. “I am fifty five” I informed him, “and my childhood passion has brought me here, and I dared it only after a gap of forty five years. I should have done earlier”. “I am fifty” he said “I too have this hobby from childhood, inculcated by my father” he further narrated, “I am a regular trekker since 1994”, “But you despite a long gap are doing fine” he concluded. “Thank you” I said.

The dog which was following all along came near me and squat in a pose as if I was its master. I took out the carry bag in which I dumped the food stuff, removed one of the cream buns and ate a portion and the balance I shared with the dog. It did not gesture me for more but silently slipped into the crowd that who have started settling.

The Night

It looked as if all had arrived, and Peter called for firewood to prepare dinner. It had become almost dark but for the silhouette at the top of the mountain edge. It should be nearing 7 pm as per my estimate, my watch and other belongings were with Peter and I did not want to trouble him in the dark. Two of the volunteers were given the charge at the beginning of the trek to carry two vessels for the food preparation at camp. “Soup Packets please!!” someone called in the dark, and everyone retrieved the soup packets from their packs and delivered them to the person who volunteered to be the chef for tonight. Within twenty minutes we all queued up for the soup with our bowls. It was very refreshing and tasty, especially because we were in the middle of the wild and have no menu card to choose any other recipe. I laughed to myself remembering how much time we spend at the restaurants trying to make a perfect choice, or at the multiplexes trying to finalise our choice from the enumerable stalls offering a variety of food. But none of those soups ever tasted better than today’s. The human ‘want’ does not have limitations; and the satisfaction today has no degree. “Noodle packets please!” another loud call came and quickly everyone passed those packets collected as their share of ration at the beginning of the trek. Naveen came by and advised, “Please have soup and noodles which will give you energy by tomorrow morning”. Actually, I wanted to avoid noodles because I had a feeling that the soup had already done the job, but I did not want to face any problem the next morning due to under-nutrition and contribute unwanted trouble. Tomorrow we need to return in the same route and the same quantum of calories to burn as today. After having noodles, I felt I had more than enough for the day, but in comparison, I have consumed less than a third of what I usually have at home. At any point of time during the day, I did not feel hungry and most of the ration I had picked up was still available except for the Chapattis which I ate during lunch and shared with others. I also made sure I had an orange before every meal. I wondered that even after such a hectic physical exercise, there was no hunger or eagerness to consume more. I chatted with Radhakrishna for some more time and then we decided to rest; bidding each other good night. Finally, at around 9 pm I decided to lie down to retire in my luxurious accommodation in the middle of the wild.

The Starry Sky

I inflated my air-pillow which I packed at the last minute and it was really comfortable. I carefully sat and stretched myself on the thermo bed, my legs not so flexible and in control. I lied down and rested on my back hoping to slip into a dreamless slumber, but I could not avoid gazing at the clear sky where the stars shone bright like sparkling diamonds and it was the light that illuminated the entire camp in the moonless night. What a luxury! The camp was silent as everyone went stone dead exhausted from the hectic expedition. The only sound that we can hear was the water falling from the two sources into the pool. The dribbling from the main fall was more melodious than the other one which was farther in the corner of the bowl, it’s sound slightly audible. It sounded like a lullaby mesmerising everyone into a deep hypnosis, making them amnesic of whatever they have dealt with today.

My thoughts did not travel far, for the present was more enjoyable and nothing can capture my imagination beyond the beauty before my eyes. I have visited many places in my life and enjoyed many moments, more exotic and more intoxicating, but now I searched my mind why this could dominate all. After hours of research within my own, I found the answer. It is like the farmer who harvests his crop and a portion of it used for his own granary. It would taste the best for him. We have earned this pleasure by negotiating the tough terrain all by ourselves. We have not used jeeps, horses or mules, nor have been relocated by ropeways. The pleasure is self earned and cannot be at all compared with the pleasure of seeing even the mother-of-all falls in the Northern Americas from the famous ropeway or a vessel. This is multifold in rating.

My thoughts consumed most of the night and I started to wonder what could be the time then. A draft of cool air passed as I sat up to locate my mobile in the pack. I switched it on to find out that it was almost 2.30 am. Alarmed that without any physical rest, I might strain myself the next day, I forced myself into sleep with the help of the cool breeze acting as a catalyst.