Madhu's Car

The conference call with our client from Israel would be on every Thursday evening. And the same day I would leave for Salli after 5 pm and would return to Naddi on Monday morning. Our project was receiving more work every week, making it more challenging to manage within 5 people. We started hiring more people keeping in mind that Or would be leaving soon for Israel. Still, we hadn't found anyone who could fit into Or's shoes. We were struggling to train new people and manage the project at the same time. Kaku was then skilled enough to train new people. So we would ask him to shoulder the new responsibility to which he would happily reciprocate. Kaku had the raw material of becoming a manager. We just needed to guide him and sometimes push him towards his hidden talent. We were lucky to find someone like him to build a strong and functional team.

I would wait for Thursdays eagerly so that I could go to Salli. My bags would be packed in the morning only and the only thing that would hold me back would be the clock not ticking 5 pm. Or had joined me a couple of times for Salli. I would leave as early as possible after the office due to the 2 hour-long drive through the adventurous roads of Salli. The last patch which was the most dangerous one would be usually driven in the darkness. Madhu preferred me reaching Salli before dark as she would keep worrying about the bad roads. I would buy vegetables, fruits and other household things on my way to Salli from the roadside village markets. Doing so would make me late reaching home, further escalating Madhu's wait and worry. All my valid explanations would go in vain in front of her anger when I would reach home late carrying those heavy grocery bags uphill through that jungle in the darkness. It took me quite a while to understand that: Women Are Always Right.

Madhu's family had given us their Maruti Zen car which was lying in the dust without anyone using it. Salli was a secluded village in the middle of the jungle and having our own vehicle was a necessity. Zen was considered a sports car of its time that would talk with the wind. The first time I drove it, I felt like driving a brand new car. They had kept the car in great condition, probably with a single-handed use. Life became easier with the car when we had to go to places. It was mostly used by me only to drive to the office. My driving became better while practising on the mountain roads. The one who was used to drive on the straight roads in Maharashtra was now making his way through the adventurous winding roads of the big mountains. I loved driving that car. Life and Himachal had given me more than enough that I deserved. I was grateful to everything and everyone who was supporting me.

Life Was Driving On The Sports Mode.