"How was your sleep? You are awake just in time for dinner", I told a partially awake Veer. I continued, "Did you know? You sleep talk. A lot."
"I know, my friends have taken videos of it. They would show it to me the next morning and laugh about it. I am used to it as a fact, now", he replied as he washed his face and continued, "I guess I am not troubling you by staying here tonight?", asked Veer with a smile on his face. He was very young. What was he doing here, all alone? Is he lost? His mysterious eyes and smile made me think, otherwise. I had to ask him.
I served him rice and pickle. I looked up to check the time, it was 9pm. "Are you not eating?" he asked me. "I had my dinner while you were asleep. Do you want all the rice?", I asked him, as he looked quite thin for a young man of his age. He nodded. "What brings you here, Veer? Where are your parents? Are you alone, or lost?" I asked him as I cleared the rice from my bowl to his plate. I passed the pickle jar to him. "I am travelling from Kerala to Mysore Hills. I left Kerala, 3 weeks back and I am travelling on foot. Its all for the beauty of nature and the peace it gives you, which humans cannot. I travel and when I feel the need of some rest, I stop-by to stay with localites of the place. Like currently, for example, you. You would be amazed to realise the trip has not been harsh on me. Yet", he chuckled. I continued staring at him, as I expected him to continue talking. When I realised he has finished, I asked, "Nature gives you peace which humans cannot? On what basis are you telling me that?". He continued eating, and he seemed to enjoy the food. He asked for more pickle, as he spoke,"Well, I have my own reasons. I destroyed every evidence of my existence in Kerala, when I left. My name is Veer. Veer Deol. And, this definitely is not my real name. *chuckles* My dad was a businessman who believed in extreme comfort and fighting with my mom regularly. When I was in college, they divorced each other to live alone. Those were the worst days of my life as questions of custody of me and my brother were raised. I decided to live alone and independently, I was mentally upset. My brother stayed with my dad while my mom shifted to Mumbai and married an another man. I was not at peace, not one bit. My brother used to frequently call me telling how drunk my dad got the earlier night. I pitied my brother and I loved him. I wanted him to break free and live his life, rather than disturb himself with my dad's issues. I decided to leave Kerala for a peaceful existence. I did not want anyone to know where I was leaving, so I burned my passport and ID card. I took all the cash I required for the travel and decided never to come back. I started walking, and here I am in front of you. I want to live in Mysore, and experience the nature and our heritage. I want to be alone", he said, as he stood up to wash the plate. I sat there, amazed by the courage this young man had.
"Are you sure about all this? I mean, walking all the way till Mysore would be tiring and exhaustive. Have you decided where to live? Have you decided how to go? Being very clueless can be dangerous." I told him, as he returned after cleaning and wiping his hands. I thought he would have a plan. A guy who can leave everything behind must have a plan. But what he said next, denied it.
"Do you see this?", he said and showed me a bruised knee. It was aided, yet it looked bad. "I left Kerala on a bike. Half way out of Thirussur, I met with an accident. I decided to walk as I was not ready to spend my money on repairing the bike. It made my travel better, if you ask me. I admired everything on my way. I admired the never-ending lines on the black-tar roads, as it made me wonder how it was managed to be painted so straight, even though a road surfacing marker machine was used. I admired the greenery, which I felt as I walked. Greenery is the best scenery. indeed. The colours used by the nature were so inspiring and beautiful that I could not take my eyes off them. I admired every person I met on my way and I am very sure, as each of them were as different than the other. So much humanity still rests in the deeper parts of our nation, which we refuse to consider in the whole picture. This is what I wanted to see. We all say we our humanity is falling apart, but then, even a bit of pure faith can help us save it," he said that and he stared at me. I agreed to his point and gave a brief nod. I understood, we ourselves should be and must be blamed for the actions for tension are initiated by us. "I can understand your boldness, Veer. If you are doing this for you, I suggest you continue. Never give a chance to regret." He smiled. "You can sleep in the same room, I will sleep in the backyard. Are you feeling cold?", I asked him as I saw his rubbing his hands for heat. "I would smoke some cigarettes if you have." I laughed, "I have a shop, son! Come."
He took a chair, sat against the fence and smoked his cigarettes. "Goodnight! By the way, I was thinking. Do you want an extra hand to help you at your chores at the shop? I mean, I can work here for sometime if you want to. I don't mind." I looked at him and I smiled. He had already made a huge impression on me. "I will think about it. But then, you need to sleep now. I will talk to you tomorrow morning. Take care!" I told him and walked to my backyard to sleep. I need to clean this place for an additional person to stay here, for sometime now.
"I know, my friends have taken videos of it. They would show it to me the next morning and laugh about it. I am used to it as a fact, now", he replied as he washed his face and continued, "I guess I am not troubling you by staying here tonight?", asked Veer with a smile on his face. He was very young. What was he doing here, all alone? Is he lost? His mysterious eyes and smile made me think, otherwise. I had to ask him.
I served him rice and pickle. I looked up to check the time, it was 9pm. "Are you not eating?" he asked me. "I had my dinner while you were asleep. Do you want all the rice?", I asked him, as he looked quite thin for a young man of his age. He nodded. "What brings you here, Veer? Where are your parents? Are you alone, or lost?" I asked him as I cleared the rice from my bowl to his plate. I passed the pickle jar to him. "I am travelling from Kerala to Mysore Hills. I left Kerala, 3 weeks back and I am travelling on foot. Its all for the beauty of nature and the peace it gives you, which humans cannot. I travel and when I feel the need of some rest, I stop-by to stay with localites of the place. Like currently, for example, you. You would be amazed to realise the trip has not been harsh on me. Yet", he chuckled. I continued staring at him, as I expected him to continue talking. When I realised he has finished, I asked, "Nature gives you peace which humans cannot? On what basis are you telling me that?". He continued eating, and he seemed to enjoy the food. He asked for more pickle, as he spoke,"Well, I have my own reasons. I destroyed every evidence of my existence in Kerala, when I left. My name is Veer. Veer Deol. And, this definitely is not my real name. *chuckles* My dad was a businessman who believed in extreme comfort and fighting with my mom regularly. When I was in college, they divorced each other to live alone. Those were the worst days of my life as questions of custody of me and my brother were raised. I decided to live alone and independently, I was mentally upset. My brother stayed with my dad while my mom shifted to Mumbai and married an another man. I was not at peace, not one bit. My brother used to frequently call me telling how drunk my dad got the earlier night. I pitied my brother and I loved him. I wanted him to break free and live his life, rather than disturb himself with my dad's issues. I decided to leave Kerala for a peaceful existence. I did not want anyone to know where I was leaving, so I burned my passport and ID card. I took all the cash I required for the travel and decided never to come back. I started walking, and here I am in front of you. I want to live in Mysore, and experience the nature and our heritage. I want to be alone", he said, as he stood up to wash the plate. I sat there, amazed by the courage this young man had.
"Are you sure about all this? I mean, walking all the way till Mysore would be tiring and exhaustive. Have you decided where to live? Have you decided how to go? Being very clueless can be dangerous." I told him, as he returned after cleaning and wiping his hands. I thought he would have a plan. A guy who can leave everything behind must have a plan. But what he said next, denied it.
"Do you see this?", he said and showed me a bruised knee. It was aided, yet it looked bad. "I left Kerala on a bike. Half way out of Thirussur, I met with an accident. I decided to walk as I was not ready to spend my money on repairing the bike. It made my travel better, if you ask me. I admired everything on my way. I admired the never-ending lines on the black-tar roads, as it made me wonder how it was managed to be painted so straight, even though a road surfacing marker machine was used. I admired the greenery, which I felt as I walked. Greenery is the best scenery. indeed. The colours used by the nature were so inspiring and beautiful that I could not take my eyes off them. I admired every person I met on my way and I am very sure, as each of them were as different than the other. So much humanity still rests in the deeper parts of our nation, which we refuse to consider in the whole picture. This is what I wanted to see. We all say we our humanity is falling apart, but then, even a bit of pure faith can help us save it," he said that and he stared at me. I agreed to his point and gave a brief nod. I understood, we ourselves should be and must be blamed for the actions for tension are initiated by us. "I can understand your boldness, Veer. If you are doing this for you, I suggest you continue. Never give a chance to regret." He smiled. "You can sleep in the same room, I will sleep in the backyard. Are you feeling cold?", I asked him as I saw his rubbing his hands for heat. "I would smoke some cigarettes if you have." I laughed, "I have a shop, son! Come."
He took a chair, sat against the fence and smoked his cigarettes. "Goodnight! By the way, I was thinking. Do you want an extra hand to help you at your chores at the shop? I mean, I can work here for sometime if you want to. I don't mind." I looked at him and I smiled. He had already made a huge impression on me. "I will think about it. But then, you need to sleep now. I will talk to you tomorrow morning. Take care!" I told him and walked to my backyard to sleep. I need to clean this place for an additional person to stay here, for sometime now.
