“Do we go for a cup of tea?” Kale suggested. Kumbhar readily agreed.
“Shall we?” I was undecided, whether to stay back and spend another half an hour or carry on with Boss.
As we got down from the local train we met on the platform at our usual point. We saw boss hurrying into the crowd that moved out of the train. The crowd was slowly exiting the station.
I decided to stay back with my other colleagues. Perhaps due to peer pressure or I thought it better to be in a group rather than moving alone.
As we waited, we watched the crowd slowly disappear from the platform making it empty. It felt like no train had arrived in this station for ages.
The atmosphere is so beautiful. Only if you decide to spend a few minutes and do not hurry, Nature presents itself in a completely new Avatar.
The place is a suburban town of Pune city or better to call it a village.
On one side of the station is the Indrayani River flowing. Next to the river is a vast expanse of croplands with many greenhouses which grow exclusive flowers; mostly exporting to foreign lands.
On this side of the river is the railway track. As you move out of the station, there is a narrow road leading and joining the National Highway #4.
So we have a river, the railway tracks and road all running parallel. Farther away beyond the croplands, are the mountains of the Western Ghats. The mountains change colour at different times of the year.
But man has made their presence felt in these far off mountains by installing windmills to trap the natural wind resources to generate Electric power.
5 minutes gives you a great deal to watch nature and hear the sounds of the chirping birds. We three did not talk much.All were enjoying nature and the space we have suddenly got hold of.
We were slowly moving towards the exit gate as the natural clock was ticking loud at the back of our head.
“I am feeling hungry,” Kale spoke breaking the silence. “So am I,” Kumbhar joined almost immediately. “I had two chapatis and I do not object to having something more”, I gave in.
As we moved out, the outside ambience seemed quieter than the other days. Most of the crowd has dispersed. Perhaps 3 six-seaters have already left after over-filling their capacity. The shops around were doing their usual business.
You will find most food shops and stalls. But there are other shops as well. Grocery, General store, Fashion store, Hardware and more.
We have our selected shop that offers excellent mood-boosting tea. And apart from that, it offers the deliciously spicy and appetite building Misal Pav.
Tea is only an alibi to gorge into the Misal Pav with repeats of the Sample and Pav.
Misal is a low viscosity curry with different pules and peas with a lot of spices to make it hot. It is served hot with Farsan or Bombay mix (a type of snack) on top along with Pav (country bread).
4 Pavs and a saucer full of Misal with the extra sample (the liquid component of Misal) is a sumptuous breakfast. The hot fuming cup of tea arrives as soon as you complete and your whole mouth is on fire.
As you take a sip you feel the urge to light a cigarette. And it is allowed to smoke in this food joint.
I loved the food, the tea and the puffs. It was neither peer pressure nor the fear of moving alone that prompted me to stay back. But this experience.
“Shall we rush now?” Kale reminded us that we have come here for our daily work and not on a tour.
We hurried to the Six-seater stand.
It has been hardly about 20 minutes late from our usual routine. But it made a lot of difference to boost our spirit.
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