DREAM CATCH

DREAM CATCH

Anand was in high ecstasy, when he got a mail declaring him to be the winner. His joy knew no bounds. A local magazine had conducted a pictorial story contest, for which he had sketched a few strokes. Wonder of wonders, his entry was adjudged as best and he was declared as winner. The prize was ‘all expenses paid for a trip to Coorg with a two day stay at a Resort meant for two persons.’ Actually, the prize offer was the major attraction and source of inspiration for his participation. He had been otherwise also, wanting to go there. Staying in a resort was an added luxury. It was as though a jackpot had fallen right into his hands.  Before things could go wrong, he wanted to grab the opportunity and get-set-go. He phoned his friend Puneet, to join him, who was quite willing to join. Once in lifetime such an opportunity turns up. For Anand, it was okay, he was rewarded for his participation, but, for Puneet, it is sheer lucky draw.

Very next day, early morning, they both set out on Zoom-Rental car and headed towards Coorg. The very name Coorg…. suggested a lot …a lovely place in Karnataka, steeped in coffee gardens, mountains clad with dark clouds, silver streaks rippling and gurgling around, valleys, rivulets, springs, greeneries… enchanting views, added to that the serpentine winding hilly roads… they both were frantically looking forward to this trip, with great expectations. They had not even left the main city of Bangalore, the car started giving problem. A passer-by alerted them saying that the car was leaking, another one, said ‘oil dripping.’ But Anand kept going. He knew nothing about car mechanism nor repairing. Till they could find a mechanic shop, they had to drive on. At the mechanical shop, the mechanic opened the bonnet, looked into it and simply told them to leave the car behind and take it after two days. The car developed a major repair which could not be set right immediately. Anand felt bad. Should his prize catch end up in a tame draw! They called the Car Rental Service office and banged them and asked the mechanic himself to explain the problem. Between the two, they discussed the issue and finally, it was decided that the company would send another car. Loss of time, loss of money in the deal…. Above all, dampening of their enthusiasm was the greatest loss. While the two were waiting for their second car to arrive, they saw a lady in a car, coming towards the mechanic shop. She lost her way and wanted direction to proceed. She was looking for guidance. The mechanic promptly replied, “First go right 500 metres then take left, then, immediate left, go ahead straight and…and...”. She abruptly, cut him and said ‘too complicated’. She turned to the guys and politely requested to navigate her. Puneet was ready to go and said yes. “I have GPS to guide us.” Anand had to control him. “We are on a different agenda. Not for a noble service now. Our Zoom car will come anytime. We are already losing time. Our two days’ trip to Coorg will be reduced to a mere one- day picnic. I don’t want that to happen”.

The lady felt happy, as she too was going there and was willing to take the guys along. Only snag was, she had to pick up her niece, Ambaa, on the way, who was residing somewhere nearby and that location was a bit confusing, -- due to recently enforced one-way route in the area and hence messed up and lost direction. Puneet was willing to take the offer of going with her, but not Anand. What about the car they had already booked; even if the car deal was to be cancelled, what about their return journey from Coorg, more than anything else, why accept favours from unknown people, particularly when his trip was already a sponsored one. Puneet then suggested that he would go with the lady and Anand would bring his rental car as and when it might come. It was agreed that the lady had to drop Puneet at the resort only and nowhere else. No more problems! Already, the car-repair problem had dampened his spirits and now this lady – by taking away his friend with her. Anand had to be alone in the long drive now. Anand regretted for having chosen Puneet, a known drooling party, weakness for the weaker sex - but one thing, he was nevertheless harmless.

Anand finally, reached the destination, worrying all the while that Puneet or the lady should not create any further problem. Actually, in any long tour, the journey stands out to be a greater attraction than the very destination. As he was preoccupied with imaginations of ensuing problems, he hardly enjoyed the   greeneries beckoning him. Moreover, he was conscious and alert on the curvaceous serpentine road. Driving on hilly track was far different from normal driving on plain roads. As he reached the resort, Puneet was waiting, leaning on the car and busy talking to a young lady… must be Ambaa. Anand thought this trip was meant more for Puneet than for self. Lucky guy! What to say, when Ambaa was a pretty damsel.

Anand said, “let me check in first and then meet you all. Please wait.” The receptionist, on completion of formalities, demanded his credit card details. He simply said his stay was a prepaid one and showed the documentary proofs. As the resort was not aware of such a tie up, she called the manager. He had to contact his higher-ups and confirm. Things were sorted out. They were happy to have a winner with them as guest. The winner, naturally became an instant celebrity. Some took selfie and some autograph! He was taken as if he was an ambassador for the resort. Indirectly a campaign done by the magazine. The instant popularity blew off all his blues and brought him back his vigour and valour.  

Puneet, as per his nature was talkative and rained all praises for the two ladies, more so the younger one. A beauty contest was being held in a popular star hotel and aunty was one of the judges. Must be a popular lady in her elite circles. It looked like Puneet would have been happier with those ladies than with Anand. Missing heavily the visual treat of bevy of ladies in funny and fanciful costumes… Anand wanting to put a full stop on his babblings, drew his attention to listing various sightseeing and choicest places in the valley. Certainly not possible for them to cover all places. They might have to choose a few. They were discussing what to take up and what to give up. Manager called Anand. He wanted to introduce Anand to the customers and esteemed guests of the resort. Anand agreed, but that was for next day as he was already tired and exhausted. However, he shared his biodata.

Puneet suddenly exclaimed, ‘Hey! Anand, see this!” He showed his mobile phone which flashed a photo of Ambaa clad in a beautiful silk saree, declaring her as Beauty Queen. No doubt, she was beautiful. Immediately, Anand asked Puneet to use his contacts and invite her for tomorrow’s function. If possible, she could be made the chief guest. Most obediently it was carried out by him. Puneet spoke to manager and asked him to make the event more colourful by taking the two ladies on dais. The same was gladly agreed upon. Anand had his own misbeliefs... why fashion shows, beauty contest, etc., giving undue importance to silly young ladies? Why not simultaneously hold similar shows for men too? Why gender bias? Shows having ‘only ladies’ and giving prominence to them, gave a feeling as though the women were mere sex symbols or baby dolls and hence an object of staring and drooling. Of course, whenever they adorned the stage, they were showstoppers.

Manager arranged for Anand’s sight-seeing, covering many highlights, like, Abe Falls and a few silver cascades falling enroute, Nisarga, an ecological stretch of bamboo garden… there he was thrilled to see a rabbit taking feed straight from the hands of a small girl, a small crowd and among them, an awestruck boy, watching a peacock showing off its full stretched feathers… rustic boys in their  loins, jumping into the fast flowing rivulet, etc.. a boat ride, an elephant ride, vast stretch of coffee gardens and spices, clouds clinging to mountain peaks, ---picturesque scenes …all awesome sights, never to be forgotten. Anand thought, “Blessed are those who live here.”

On return from the heart filling local sightseeing, both Anand and Puneet got ready for the evening. Puneet was waiting at the entrance to greet the guests of honour. Manager too joined him. All set for the programme. People had gathered. Stage was well decorated. Colour ribbons and balloons swinging and hanging. Manager’s crisp welcome address and the following introductions took off spontaneously and kept the audience and their curiosity in good ethos. Aunty spoke first. That she was to be a judge for the beauty show was a pre-planned arranged one, but not her niece’s. Ambaa had come to Coorg for the sake of Aunty. But her participation in beauty pageant was sudden and last-minute patch up. Some of the girls who were to participate, could not turn up. Ambaa had to fill up the gap. Nobody expected that she would be chosen as queen. But that was had happened. ‘Plan something, happen something else.’

Ambaa too spoke on same lines. When they left Bangalore, least did they imagine. Overnight, she became a celebrity. Now they were made to decorate the stage as dignitaries. They never dreamt that the very same people whom they met as co-passengers, would be on the stage as very important personalities, VIP of the day. Kudos to us all. Anand stood up amidst strong applause. He described how he developed a hobby for drawing, then showed further interests in taking hints and tips from stalwarts and occasionally participating in contests. This time it was a big win. All he did for ‘story in picture’ contest was, to draw few pictures, --- in the first one, two guys having a dual for winning the hands of a girl, then another one the girl in question not caring for them, and the next one she walking gleefully with third one, a man of her choice and the last one showing the heavily wounded dual fighting guys staring and blinking at the girl walking away with her man. Not a word from any character but the picture spoke all. My entry was adjudged as best. Just as this young lady got chosen as best entry in her contest and crowned as queen, I admit that even mine chosen as best. While attempting, both of us had no expectation, but we ended up as victorious. Strange coincidence.!

Puneet sprang onto the stage and spoke. It could be a stranger coincidence if the two victorious VIPs got along well and proposed to each other, as they shared similar wave lengths. There was a non-stop thunderous applause from the audience. “Come on, Anand, come on Ambaa”. Both Ambaa and Anand looked at each other in a daze, “What is all this?” Aunty said, “No, no. It was not pre-planned. Here too, now too, ‘Plan something, happen something else.’ Anyway, not a bad idea. Puneet and Aunty shook hands. Anand and Ambaa still stood bewildered. But not for long.

To cut long story short, while returning back to Bangalore, Puneet went with Aunty in her car so that Anand could go with Ambaa in his Zoom car. Double bonanza for the victorious duo. Even if they lost the way, no problem. No one need to navigate them. Longer the journey, better it is. An unforgettable sojourn at the resort and unforgettable visit to Coorg, his PRIZE catch. No, no, it is his dream prize.      DREAM CATCHAnand was in high ecstasy, when he got a mail declaring him to be the winner. His joy knew no bounds. A local magazine had conducted a pictorial story contest, for which he had sketched a few strokes. Wonder of wonders, his entry was adjudged as best and he was declared as winner. The prize was ‘all expenses paid for a trip to Coorg with a two day stay at a Resort meant for two persons.’ Actually, the prize offer was the major attraction and source of inspiration for his participation. He had been otherwise also, wanting to go there. Staying in a resort was an added luxury. It was as though a jackpot had fallen right into his hands.  Before things could go wrong, he wanted to grab the opportunity and get-set-go. He phoned his friend Puneet, to join him, who was quite willing to join. Once in lifetime such an opportunity turns up. For Anand, it was okay, he was rewarded for his participation, but, for Puneet, it is sheer lucky draw.

Very next day, early morning, they both set out on Zoom-Rental car and headed towards Coorg. The very name Coorg…. suggested a lot …a lovely place in Karnataka, steeped in coffee gardens, mountains clad with dark clouds, silver streaks rippling and gurgling around, valleys, rivulets, springs, greeneries… enchanting views, added to that the serpentine winding hilly roads… they both were frantically looking forward to this trip, with great expectations. They had not even left the main city of Bangalore, the car started giving problem. A passer-by alerted them saying that the car was leaking, another one, said ‘oil dripping.’ But Anand kept going. He knew nothing about car mechanism nor repairing. Till they could find a mechanic shop, they had to drive on. At the mechanical shop, the mechanic opened the bonnet, looked into it and simply told them to leave the car behind and take it after two days. The car developed a major repair which could not be set right immediately. Anand felt bad. Should his prize catch end up in a tame draw! They called the Car Rental Service office and banged them and asked the mechanic himself to explain the problem. Between the two, they discussed the issue and finally, it was decided that the company would send another car. Loss of time, loss of money in the deal…. Above all, dampening of their enthusiasm was the greatest loss. While the two were waiting for their second car to arrive, they saw a lady in a car, coming towards the mechanic shop. She lost her way and wanted direction to proceed. She was looking for guidance. The mechanic promptly replied, “First go right 500 metres then take left, then, immediate left, go ahead straight and…and...”. She abruptly, cut him and said ‘too complicated’. She turned to the guys and politely requested to navigate her. Puneet was ready to go and said yes. “I have GPS to guide us.” Anand had to control him. “We are on a different agenda. Not for a noble service now. Our Zoom car will come anytime. We are already losing time. Our two days’ trip to Coorg will be reduced to a mere one- day picnic. I don’t want that to happen”.

The lady felt happy, as she too was going there and was willing to take the guys along. Only snag was, she had to pick up her niece, Ambaa, on the way, who was residing somewhere nearby and that location was a bit confusing, -- due to recently enforced one-way route in the area and hence messed up and lost direction. Puneet was willing to take the offer of going with her, but not Anand. What about the car they had already booked; even if the car deal was to be cancelled, what about their return journey from Coorg, more than anything else, why accept favours from unknown people, particularly when his trip was already a sponsored one. Puneet then suggested that he would go with the lady and Anand would bring his rental car as and when it might come. It was agreed that the lady had to drop Puneet at the resort only and nowhere else. No more problems! Already, the car-repair problem had dampened his spirits and now this lady – by taking away his friend with her. Anand had to be alone in the long drive now. Anand regretted for having chosen Puneet, a known drooling party, weakness for the weaker sex - but one thing, he was nevertheless harmless.

Anand finally, reached the destination, worrying all the while that Puneet or the lady should not create any further problem. Actually, in any long tour, the journey stands out to be a greater attraction than the very destination. As he was preoccupied with imaginations of ensuing problems, he hardly enjoyed the   greeneries beckoning him. Moreover, he was conscious and alert on the curvaceous serpentine road. Driving on hilly track was far different from normal driving on plain roads. As he reached the resort, Puneet was waiting, leaning on the car and busy talking to a young lady… must be Ambaa. Anand thought this trip was meant more for Puneet than for self. Lucky guy! What to say, when Ambaa was a pretty damsel.

Anand said, “let me check in first and then meet you all. Please wait.” The receptionist, on completion of formalities, demanded his credit card details. He simply said his stay was a prepaid one and showed the documentary proofs. As the resort was not aware of such a tie up, she called the manager. He had to contact his higher-ups and confirm. Things were sorted out. They were happy to have a winner with them as guest. The winner, naturally became an instant celebrity. Some took selfie and some autograph! He was taken as if he was an ambassador for the resort. Indirectly a campaign done by the magazine. The instant popularity blew off all his blues and brought him back his vigour and valour.  

Puneet, as per his nature was talkative and rained all praises for the two ladies, more so the younger one. A beauty contest was being held in a popular star hotel and aunty was one of the judges. Must be a popular lady in her elite circles. It looked like Puneet would have been happier with those ladies than with Anand. Missing heavily the visual treat of bevy of ladies in funny and fanciful costumes… Anand wanting to put a full stop on his babblings, drew his attention to listing various sightseeing and choicest places in the valley. Certainly not possible for them to cover all places. They might have to choose a few. They were discussing what to take up and what to give up. Manager called Anand. He wanted to introduce Anand to the customers and esteemed guests of the resort. Anand agreed, but that was for next day as he was already tired and exhausted. However, he shared his biodata.

Puneet suddenly exclaimed, ‘Hey! Anand, see this!” He showed his mobile phone which flashed a photo of Ambaa clad in a beautiful silk saree, declaring her as Beauty Queen. No doubt, she was beautiful. Immediately, Anand asked Puneet to use his contacts and invite her for tomorrow’s function. If possible, she could be made the chief guest. Most obediently it was carried out by him. Puneet spoke to manager and asked him to make the event more colourful by taking the two ladies on dais. The same was gladly agreed upon. Anand had his own misbeliefs... why fashion shows, beauty contest, etc., giving undue importance to silly young ladies? Why not simultaneously hold similar shows for men too? Why gender bias? Shows having ‘only ladies’ and giving prominence to them, gave a feeling as though the women were mere sex symbols or baby dolls and hence an object of staring and drooling. Of course, whenever they adorned the stage, they were showstoppers.

Manager arranged for Anand’s sight-seeing, covering many highlights, like, Abe Falls and a few silver cascades falling enroute, Nisarga, an ecological stretch of bamboo garden… there he was thrilled to see a rabbit taking feed straight from the hands of a small girl, a small crowd and among them, an awestruck boy, watching a peacock showing off its full stretched feathers… rustic boys in their  loins, jumping into the fast flowing rivulet, etc.. a boat ride, an elephant ride, vast stretch of coffee gardens and spices, clouds clinging to mountain peaks, ---picturesque scenes …all awesome sights, never to be forgotten. Anand thought, “Blessed are those who live here.”

On return from the heart filling local sightseeing, both Anand and Puneet got ready for the evening. Puneet was waiting at the entrance to greet the guests of honour. Manager too joined him. All set for the programme. People had gathered. Stage was well decorated. Colour ribbons and balloons swinging and hanging. Manager’s crisp welcome address and the following introductions took off spontaneously and kept the audience and their curiosity in good ethos. Aunty spoke first. That she was to be a judge for the beauty show was a pre-planned arranged one, but not her niece’s. Ambaa had come to Coorg for the sake of Aunty. But her participation in beauty pageant was sudden and last-minute patch up. Some of the girls who were to participate, could not turn up. Ambaa had to fill up the gap. Nobody expected that she would be chosen as queen. But that was had happened. ‘Plan something, happen something else.’

Ambaa too spoke on same lines. When they left Bangalore, least did they imagine. Overnight, she became a celebrity. Now they were made to decorate the stage as dignitaries. They never dreamt that the very same people whom they met as co-passengers, would be on the stage as very important personalities, VIP of the day. Kudos to us all. Anand stood up amidst strong applause. He described how he developed a hobby for drawing, then showed further interests in taking hints and tips from stalwarts and occasionally participating in contests. This time it was a big win. All he did for ‘story in picture’ contest was, to draw few pictures, --- in the first one, two guys having a dual for winning the hands of a girl, then another one the girl in question not caring for them, and the next one she walking gleefully with third one, a man of her choice and the last one showing the heavily wounded dual fighting guys staring and blinking at the girl walking away with her man. Not a word from any character but the picture spoke all. My entry was adjudged as best. Just as this young lady got chosen as best entry in her contest and crowned as queen, I admit that even mine chosen as best. While attempting, both of us had no expectation, but we ended up as victorious. Strange coincidence.!

Puneet sprang onto the stage and spoke. It could be a stranger coincidence if the two victorious VIPs got along well and proposed to each other, as they shared similar wave lengths. There was a non-stop thunderous applause from the audience. “Come on, Anand, come on Ambaa”. Both Ambaa and Anand looked at each other in a daze, “What is all this?” Aunty said, “No, no. It was not pre-planned. Here too, now too, ‘Plan something, happen something else.’ Anyway, not a bad idea. Puneet and Aunty shook hands. Anand and Ambaa still stood bewildered. But not for long.

To cut long story short, while returning back to Bangalore, Puneet went with Aunty in her car so that Anand could go with Ambaa in his Zoom car. Double bonanza for the victorious duo. Even if they lost the way, no problem. No one need to navigate them. Longer the journey, better it is. An unforgettable sojourn at the resort and unforgettable visit to Coorg, his PRIZE catch. No, no, it is his dream prize.