The Fall

quasiLog 2005 05 18 - day one, Konkan Trip


the fall


At Murud, we had no idea where we would sleep. It was our first night of stay and our idea of sleeping on the veranda of some mandir had not worked. There were no large mandirs in Murud which we found. And the spaces where there was empty space was not allowed to be slept on. Generally all tourists found hotels for themselves. We talked to a local for space in his courtyard. He was very helpful till he asked for Rs.200 for the four of us - to sleep outside his house. He would also provide a bucket of water he said with grace. The beach front hotel where we were resting and eating charged Rs.450 for a room for the night. We did not want to start the trip with such expenditure, so me and Mama decided to check out the ST stand, to see if it was clean enough.

On Mama's bike, like two intrepid adventurers we travelled the darkened street's of Murud. The ST stand was nice and clean and desolate. We were happy about our saved money and headed back. The narrow road was arrow straight, dark and empty. At the far end a minor hotel, on the left, threw light on a few stray dogs sitting in the middle. We were travelling slowly, talking over our night plans as we neared the hotel. It came about that, as we were passing, one of the dogs took it in his head to suddenly get up and run straight into the engine of our motorcycle. What prompted him to do so is not very clear. But what was very clear from my sudden situation on the tar top, was the pain in my right knee. I had landed on it.