A Trip

Bhumika when woke up felt her eyes to be very heavy due to the sleepless long night. The happenings of the previous day had never ever been imagined by her. Her simple straight life was going to take unexpected twists and turns.She had never ever anticipated the course her life was about to take.she was a simple, homely girl. Till 21 her routine had been normal like any other girl of Indian middle class .She had done her graduation and post graduation both from the degree college in her hometown Bilaspur ,a small hill station, a place which was though a part of the princely state Himachal yet was not having the cool environment which is a distinct feature of of the Gods' state. Mostly the weather was dry and warm in Bilaspur. The winter season was not at all a very cold one there.Bhumika had done her post graduation in English from the city college and was teaching in a local private school since last one year.  But her shopkeeper father who realised the importance of professional degree for girls insisted her to pursue the B.Ed course. He had filled forms for her in the colleges of Himachal as well as in the adjoining state Jammu and Kashmir for that very purpose.Meanwhile a distant relative who was quite impressed with the refined mannerism of Bhumika had  suggested a boy for her.

 On one hand while Bhumika's father was trying to get her admitted in a B.Ed college her mother dreamt about wedding her off .Her mother wasn't willing to listen to  any argument of her husband as she reasoned out with him that already Bhumika had entered  her twenties and she felt that it would take them almost a year or two to wed off their daughter, as per her by then she would be able to complete her course.She convinced her husband to allow her to find a suitable boy  for Bhumika and she didn't object to the completion of her studies .Bhumika on her part was neither willing to complete her education nor to get married.Because in both the cases it meant that she would have to leave her parents and would have to stay alone, away from the cherished protection of her family to which she was habitual since she had opened her eyes. During her college time she would always refuse any trip which the students of her age group looked forward to. If it had been in her hands she would have always stayed as a baby of her parents, but she also knew that life was all about change and growth .Therefore, she made up her mind to float in the direction chosen by her parents for her. A day before the previous day had been a defining time of her life as the Almighty, the Mover of this earth had answered  to the prayers of both her father as well as her mother. On one hand she had got admission on merit basis in the Vishva Bharati girls college Jammu on another her engagement was also solemnized with the boy suggested by their distant relative. The boy's family wanted the marriage to take place early but Bhumika's father made it clear to them that first of all she would be going to Jammu to complete her B.Ed education only after that he was interested in the marriage. The boy's father  pleaded that they didn't want their daughter- in- law to work . Their only wish and desire was to have a housewife for their son but Bhumika's father clarified it emphatically to the boy's family that no one has foreseen the future and destiny. In his lifetime he wanted his daughter to have that much of qualification which would help her in future if the need arises for her to cross the threshold of her family to earn bread for herself and her dear ones. Finally it was decided that the marriage would take place after the completion of one year B.Ed course.

 Bhumika was quite pleased with her father's decision because the prospect of marriage scared her more in comparison to the one year which she was going to spend in a hostel at Jammu . She was aware that two of her friends had also got admission in the same college so she had nothing to worry .After a small function where the rings were exchanged between Bhumika and her would -be husband it was time for her to move to Jammu for her B.Ed course. All the necessary items like bedding,utensils, bucket, mug shampoo ,soaps, creams extra whatever was required by her at the hostel were arranged and packed properly by her dexterous mother .Bhumika was quite pleased when her father instructed her to remove her engagement ring and to hand it over to her mother as he did not want her to misplace the precious ring given by her in law family .Bhumika was relaxed to remove that article of gold as then there wouldn't be any need to give explanation to her  friends and classmates who might  get inquisitive to notice a ring on her ring finger.

Bhumika , the following day, with a heavy heart accompanied by both her parents reached Jammu. The thought of staying away from her parents for a year made her cry in silence. It wasn't something very easy for her parents to leave her at the hostel. Her father was convinced to leave her at Jammu just because she had got admission in a girls's college and security at the campus was air- tight.Bhumika shared dormitory with seven other girls out of whom two were her friends.Bhumika soon became favourite of her teachers. She was left gaping when she met her principal mrs. Anita Kaul,an awe inspiring personality.

"Roll number 73 Bhumika Singh can you define dreams?" Anita Kaul had asked her on the very first visit of her's in her class.

With a dipping heart , Bhumika had explained dreams in front of the head of the college. Anita Kaul was seemingly satisfied as she hadn't dragged the topic like she was doing with the other students.

Later on their English teacher had told them that the Principal Kaul was having such a strong memory that she would remember names and roll numbers of all students of each and every batch. Initial excitement of the hostel life began to fade once the students realised that for maintaining discipline and to keep the students safe the rules weren't only printed on the prospectus but were rigorously implemented under the eagle-eyed supervision of mrs. Kaul. She expected everything on time. She would raid hostels at night and barred music and dance. Even the common recreation room was regularly inspected by her. She would keep vigil on what should and shouldn't be viewed by the girls. Of course there was a bright side also of her strict behavior as the students in the college were served healthy and tasty meal and their hostel and washrooms were always spic and span.

Gradually most of the girls who had got admission from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal began to feel over-exerted due to the never ending practical work on one hand and on another they began to feel homesick.

Mrs. Kaul selected the student council members. The purpose of the council was to be the link between the teachers and the students. It was supposed to be the messenger of the authorities as well as to report the grievances of the students.

More than ninety percent students were hostelers. Their day time was spent in routine of college . But evenings were spent waiting for calls from their families as only in the evening girls were allowed to receive calls that too only for five minutes. The warden of the hostel was a shrewd  woman. Soon Bhumika and all got to know that the time of call could be extended by gifting something to her. 

The more the time passed the more the girls yearned to be with their families. It wasn't possible for them to satiate the greed of the warden by bribing her regularly as they all had limited means.The hostelers began to envy day scholars who would get back to their safe homes every day. Three months passed somehow and festival of Diwali was approaching. All the girls pleaded with the student council members to initiate a talk with the authorities for the Diwali break for a fortnight.

Mrs. Kaul when got whiff of some thing brewing among students addressed all the hostelers to make her stand clear that there wouldn't be more than four days break for Diwali. All the girls knew that due to belonging to far off places it was next to possible for them to visit their homes for such a short span. 

 Anita mam's decision brought rebellion from the students . Girls refused to attend classes and sat in the corridors demanding leave. For two days mrs. Kaul sent her battalion of teachers to pacify the students and to bring to their notice that Mrs. Kaul couldn't grant leave on her own accord. The girls on strike were sure that mrs. Kaul's heart would melt but they were taken aback when the principal Anita Kaul decided to come on podium to address her defiant batch.Her kashmiri earings, her Pashmina Shawl and her Khadi saree were mesmerizing.

" Dear students, listen to me carefully . You have an hour to join your classes . Don't take me lightly. If you fail to do so l will be sending registered letters, letters of your suspension from the college for indulging in indiscipline to your homes. " Mrs. Kaul smiled towards students as she knew girls had no other choice but to surrender. She knew she had turned the tables as most of the girls were shivering realising that their families would never ever tolerate their indulgence in college politics.

"My dear girls, l know you all are disheartened, you all miss your families but you know it well that no pains no gains. I also realise that a boredom has set in your life due to being bound inside the boundary walls of the hostel. Therefore, l have decided that tonight you all will head to the shrine of Vaishno Devi and will return day after tomorrow.",Mrs. Kaul smiled .

All the girls were elated as most of them had only seen Vaishno Devi temple in movies. Bhumika was perplexed. While all girls got up to pack their bag for the short unexpected trip Bhumika stayed glued in the corridor.

" Roll number 73 do you want me to send a registered letter to your father?  Why are you still here?" Mrs. Anita kaul patted on her shoulder.

" No mam," Bhumika fumbled for right words, " Actually ,mam l have never been to any place without my father's prior permission."

"That's very nice . But, roll number 73  you will get late for the bus. Don't worry at Katra l will tell your bus in-charge and others as well to give girls ten minutes to inform their parents as there you will find many PCOs around. All will get chance to call." Mrs. Kaul moved forward.

"Thank you mam" 

Bhumika hurried to pack her bag. She knew she couldn't stay back as all the girls were going. Mrs. Kaul addressed the students to send them off. She informed the students about the buses they were supposed to board according to their roll numbers, their teacher in-charge, helper and student monitor in every bus. She made Bhumika monitor of bus number 7.  She warned the students that in case any student strayed away from her group and wouldn't report to her in-charge after every hour would be suspended. She told them that at Katra bus stand they would get 10 minutes to call their parents.

Bhumika ,wished to reach Katra at the earliest so that she could inform her father.

At around eight in the evening they reached Katra. Their teachers reiterated the instructions before the girls rushed into the PCOs. Bhumika along with her two friends also rushed to call but due to their bad luck all the phone booths were busy. One of her friends suggested that they should take a turn and search for some other booth. They did reach one and all of them called their parents one by one.

Bhumika's father already knew about her journey as he had called at the hostel and the warden had narrated everything to him. He gave Bhumika a few instructions and asked her to be extra careful during journey and to stay close to the teachers . All three of them didn't realize that they had crossed ten minutes deadline and half an hour was passed. They hurried back.  A wave of fear engulfed them as they couldn't find anyone from their college. All the girls, teachers, guards even the college buses were conspicuous due to their absence.  They knew that the buses were to be parked somewhere near the bus stop as from Katra they had to walk on foot till shrine.

When the shopkeepers, hawkers and drivers saw three young girls alone approached them to ask where they wanted to go. Bhumika was trembling like a dried, sapless leaf about to fall from a tree. One of her friends warned her in hushed up voice to control herself as she wanted to act strong to protect all of them. While the other one suggested that they should take room in a nearby hotel. Her idea sounded risky to Bhumika and her other friend. They feared everyone around. 

"Madam, shall l take you to a hotel ? If you don't have money you can come to my room." , One cab driver winked towards them.

" What will we do now? Oh God , protect us. I am engaged what would happen if my in-laws would get to know l am roaming on roads at night." Bhumika began to cry. Her friends requested her to conceal her fears in order to avoid inviting any other trouble.

" Madam, come to my PCO. Call your boy friends." another girl hunter spoke up .

" Daughter, are you fine?" Bhumika was startled to hear the words quoted with genuine concern.

They saw it was an elderly Sikh addressing them. Something in that fellow made girls blurt out their plight in front of him.

" All of you mind your business. These are my daughters. You should be ashamed of yourself. ", that father figure first reprimanded the mock viewers there before he continued," Don't worry daughters . You all join us ," he pointed towards his family . Members of all age-group were there. His wife, children and grandchildren all were there.He introduced them with her family.

" Don't worry children Wahe Guru is with you. You come with us. There is only one way to the holy shrine. You will find your mates in the Bhavan. ", The eldest of the Sikh lady spoke lovingly.

Hardly had they moved for a kilometer when they found their teachers and students moving in groups.

" Thank you uncle and aunty. If you hadn't met us today God knows what would have become of us and our family's name. Now, allow us to mingle with our group unnoticed. If they would get to know the truth our suspension would be done for sure.", Bhumika and her friends joined their hands in gratitude.

" Dear girls l understand everything. You can join your group for sure. But before you go l want to advise you one thing that always keep track of time and never risk your life by taking wrong turns in life. God bless you three." , The elderly person smiled.

"Bhumika."

"Yes mam", Bhumika stood attentive in front of her teacher in-charge.

" I hope no one from our bus was left behind. If there is one let me know. The Principal mam would take detail in the morning."

"Of course mam." Bhumika took a deep sigh of relief as their absence had gone unnoticed. This was the trip she was going to remember for lifetime..