AFTER a long time we embarked on a family drive. It was not a pleasure trip altogether; we had a part intention to buy a few saplings from the nursery. If we plant them now they would bloom during the winter months. While pushing off, I took a few CD’s of Hindi film songs from the bygone days which bring back memories of my charming youth. After crossing the toll plaza of Katol road, a lush green vista opened before us. The road has moved like an Amazonian serpent; bejewelled with luxuriant vegetation on the sides. Every turn of the road looked green due to the leaning branches of trees. Once the car crossed the city crowd, I pressed on the accelerator. The emerald forest with its flowering hues started running back. We crossed the Gorewada zoo which had recently been renamed after Balasaheb Thackeray. The window glasses of the car were kept open so as to enjoy the freshness of the morning breeze. Not only hairs, my mind was flying too as a soulful song of Rafisahab was playing in the CD player. I could see my better half tapping her feet unmindfully.

 

Daughter was, however, busy with her smartphone and appeared nonchalant. Wasn’t she enjoying the long drive? As I asked, she said: “What type of songs are you playing, dad? Those are so slow and monotonous, I feel sleepy!” I literally fell from the sky. The tunes that still make us ecstatic seemed boring to her! Perhaps that is Generation Gap. I could have mentioned that I miss the lyrics and souls of yesteryears in today’s songs, but preferred to remain silent. Switching on the FM channel, I concentrated on driving. Within next few kilometres, the car would touch Kalmeswar town. It is a satellite township of Nagpur wherefrom one can proceed towards Dhapewada Vithoba temple or Adasa Ganesh temple. The small town, surrounded by its fertile agricultural lands, has a wonderful road network. However, because of the continuous rain, the main road had developed a few potholes. I slowed down the car upto the town limit and then picked up again. Here the road did not possess the lush green borders like the Gorewada reserve forest. However, newly sown fields with their vast expanse greeted us from either side.

 

The odometer showed that we had already traversed 47 kilometres away from Nagpur. I parked the vehicle on one side, walked a bit to free the joints, and then began a return journey. At this juncture a quirky decision to try an un-ventured thoroughfare put me in trouble. The car turned to leave the main road and forayed into a branch road. After driving along another 10 kilometres, a gut feeling told me I was moving in a wrong direction! Daughter rescued me by consulting her Google maps. She smiled and quipped: “Dad, this road would have led us to Katol town instead of going back to Nagpur!” On our way back, wife snapped a few picturesque photographs of Gorewada forest that was all dressed up in vibrant foliage. Stopping at the roadside nursery, she desired to buy loads of flower plants. I somehow restrained her by mentioning the space shortage in the house. The long drive exalted three of us in three different ways. Daughter was regaled by the rhythmic music, wife by her saplings and I was lost in the pristine wonders of the monsoon.