The squirrel was basking in the sunshine. My hands were tightly tied to the body. The chill was nail-biting. The time was 7 in the morning. I called all and gave a enthused GOOD MORNING.
I was waiting. There were multiple points and the Tempo traveler (TT) was doing its round. And it was a long wait because with one smart move I had to further wait till 8:40 to get into the car that was carrying a family for the visit. We went out using the NICE road that exited on Tumkur road. The TT was left behind.
We had tea and nariyal-pani at roadside dhaba and coasted along NH4.
After crossing Dabbaspeth we saw a tractor with trolley and our entourage romping up and down on it on seeing us. We reached the host house and had a unique form of rice item as breakfast.
People were inter-mingling and getting to know each other. We began our eco-walk through village. There were curious onlookers and a nice group followed us too. We chatted with few on before reaching the place where capsicum grew.
We took a long halt at school premises as most of us played gilli-danda, kanche/goli, chauser and the rope broke in tug-o-war.
Another temple visit and some more historical insight into the village, we chatted along and plucked fresh sweet beans from fields and had coconut water without straw. The host mentioned he required no money and that it was due to love (preeti). Another halt at a temple and there sweet songs and melodies before we came to host house and had lumpsome lunch.
The host was coming back from the field with a bundle of dried ragi sticks and a cow and a calf in front and behind. We thanked him for hosting us as he smiled. We allowed the TT to take us to the hillock temple and get a view of tank.
We returned singing and having fun as one by one they all found their way and walked away. I could only thank them for having spent a day of their life experiencing what we promised to be a memorable experience.
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