JUST HAPPENED YESTERDAY

When I began my career, I used to a representative of a biscuit company. I was working Salem. When one my colleagues, who worked Pollachi, resigned from the organization, I had to work his territory also, for some time as a stopgap arrangement.

On one such visit, I had to go to Valparai. We used to go in a van, with ready stocks. We had a van driver, and two boys to help with the billing, and to unload the heavy biscuit tins from the van.

Valparai is a hill station, famous for its tea estates.It is located 3,500 feet above sea level on the Anaimalai Hills range of the Western Ghats. There are 40 hairpin bends on the way to Valparai.

The entire way was, decorated with trimmed tea shrubs, on either side of the winding roads. The climate was growing colder on the way up; it was so chill and delightful. I was feasting my eyes on the green neat scenery, and felt thrilled at each whiff of cold air. I had a smile on my face, throughout the ascent.

There is a magic about hill stations. They open up your senses. You become aware of the beauty of nature. You enjoy the smell of nature. You also long for hot steaming tea, and the pleasure of a cigarette.

We finished our sale for the day. Before darkness could descend, we checked into a wayside lodge, know as Taj Mahal Hotel.  Why the owner named it “Taj Mahal,” was beyond my comprehension.  The name was so out of place. I mean, the place was in TamilNad, about 2374 Km from Agra, where the Original Taj Mahal was;  the owner was a Keralite; maybe  this hotel was in his lover’s memory. In 1979, that was the only hotel in Valparai. It was actually a restaurant, which had three rooms in the first floor.

I was staying alone in one room. The other three were in another room. Since I represented a Company I had to stay alone. I visited their room. They were having so much fun, playing cards, talking loudly, having jibes at each other. I could not join them, as there was a difference in status. I had a lonely dinner and retired to my room. Night fell, bringing with it an impressive quiet.  The lodge had a single bulb in each room. I switched off the light, and fell asleep, watching silver moonlight cascade into my room.

I must have slept for an hour. I woke up to hear the wailing of the cold wind, as it blew through a small opening in the window. I shut the window tight. I looked out. The tea estate was, bathed in white light. It was so peaceful. The entire mountain range seemed to be sleeping peacefully. There was no sound. For the first time in my life, I had heard such deep silence. Soaking in the stillness, I could my own breathing. I fell into a deep sleep.

The next day dawned, with mist. We had a typical Kerala breakfast, 

Kola puttu, nendram banana and tea.

We winded our way down, to reach the warm, noisy and dusty plains. 35 years later, today I am still able to enjoy the memories, of the Valparai visit. It looks to me like it just happened yesterday.