Close encounter of First Kind. Chapter 1

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Sometimes, it seems like we've been living for so long... it seems like life has got saturated. But have you ever come across a moment when the whole life flashes before your eyes and you realise that the life is so short. You realise that you have done nothing, acheived nothing. There are pelthora of things to be done, lots of things to be said... you suddenly recall those golden words "... miles to go before I sleep" and realise how true they've always been.

One such moment came in my life last Friday. Friday being Labor Day was an off from office, making it a long weekend. Living away from home has its own implications। I remember when I was at home, no weekend was long and even longer weekend went past before we know. But not now. Now every holiday, every weekend and especially every long weekend, brings, along with joy, a strange tension. "Three complete days at home...!!", "इससे अच्छा तो ऑफिस ही था " and many such feelings start to play on your mind. So, we had to go out. And we did.

Bandipur is national park, one of the 15 forests selected for the (in)famos Project Tiger in India. Forest department allows camping and many government and private tour operators organise camps. And what's more... if you are lucky you may even come face to face with the King, the Tiger. Situated at about 220 km from Bangalore and some 80 km from Mysore, this national park cought our thoughts. The quetion now was HOW...?? trains and buses were running over croweded, and though we could have gone hanging in one of them, one of us had a bad backache. Then out of nowhere originated the idea of going by bikes. Boy, this DHOOM series of movies and reading about the Royal Enfeild's Himalayan Odyssys, surely has its impact. Everyone owing a pair of two wheels now wants to burn the highways. Despite being a bike enthsiast, I was somehow not convinced by the idea. I insisted for public transport, train or bus. But in a country where even government succumbs to majority's pressure, how could I withstand. I too agreed for a 3 day bike ride. Though there was something in my mind, someone in there saying DON'T. Was it the last warning....??

Discussing on the mode of travel took a good part of Friday. By the time we decided that it would be bikes, it was 2:30 pm by the time we packed and got ready to go, it was 3:15. And if I thought that "something" in my mind was the last warning... it was not. A very normal sunny day suddenly turned into dark cloudy. A few rain drops on the window pane declared that the dogs that bark, may bite also. But we ignored this second warning as well and decided to go ahead even if it rains. Then came the final signal from that 'someone' deep in (or maybe high up) there. One of the pillion rider insisted that we should have helmets for the pillions as well. We tried. Asked everyone we could for extra helmet. Didn't get any. Should we go without helmets for the pillion riders then...?? "Hell yess..!!" was the unanimoust answer.

And voilla... here we leave. 2 Bajaj Pulsar bikes, 4 people, Bangalore-Mysore Highway and 3 days on a trot... things never looked so pleasing before. But remember... we were riding not just the bikes, but our lucks as well... we had willfully and whole heartedly ignored not one, not two but three clear signals... looks like we were destined for this, destined for the Close Encounter of First Kind...!!