I have been trying to post this blog ever-since I returned back from Kurnool (Sathiyama thirumbi poga maatan!!) but the initial days went for recuperating my-self from the sickness I developed because of the trip and rest of the days I was occupied one or the other way. Ok, here comes the unforgettable experience...
I started for kurnool in feb end to attend one of my close friend Sree’s wedding. Eventhough there is a direct train from central to Kurnool; I took the Mumbai mail to reach Guntakal. Reason being, the direct train reaches Kurnool by early morning around 3.00 am which I felt was inconvenient. Also I was told by Sree that it would take just 1 hrs 30 mins to reach Kurnool from guntakal with good frequency of buses. So I started from chennai and reached guntakal on Saturday, Feb 28th around 9.15 am. Hoping that I should be able to reach Kurnool by 11.00-11.30, I didn’t have breakfast and had just one tender coconut (even otherwise, didn’t find any decent hotel).
In guntakal bus depot, I saw lots of APSRTC buses lined-up (all are “dabba” buses) but the name board was written only in “telugu”. First sense of fear started to creep into my mind and I was trying to get some sort help from people there. Unfortunately, due to communication gap, I didn’t get a proper response. With little telugu I know, I was able to sense that there is no direct bus to Kurnool (First let down by Sree) and everyone was constantly saying the word “Gutty”. Ultimately after spending 15 odd minutes there, based on someone’s advice, I boarded a bus without knowing where I am going to go!!
When the conductor came, I asked for Kurnool and I got the reply @##&$£ (nothing bad. Something in telugu) followed by “gutty”. In the meanwhile, Sree called me and I briefed him about everything including “gutty”. He told me that it’s “gooty”, a place from where I can take another bus to Kurnool. Adding fuel to the fire, my battery became low and I had to cut-short my conversation and turned-off my mobile. Knowing that my destination is “gooty” and I am on track, I felt better and comfortable. Hold on for a minute – Is this the same “gooty” where mumbai mail stopped for couple of minutes en-route to guntakkal?? Undoubtedly YES (second let-down)
Under scorching heat, I reached “gooty” by 11.15 types and boarded another “dabba” bus for Kurnool with some conductor’s help. By reaching “gooty”, I thought I have reached 3/4th of the distance and it would max take 15-20 mins to reach final destination and casually checked with a co-passenger as to the time it would take to reach Kurnool. The reply was a shocker – “Close to 2 hrs” (third letdown) in broken English and the ticket fare of 50 odd rupees seconded his reply. While I chose the last but third seat, others preferred to sit in the front inspite of the seats at back being vacant. The reason for the same I came to know only when the bus traversed through the roads (are they?) full of bumps and potholes and I was literally going up and down.
Finally around 1.00 pm, I reached Kurnool amid burning heat. Being a chennaite, hotness is nothing new for me but with certainty, I can say that I haven’t experienced anything like that even during the peakest of summer in Chennai – horrible to say the least. Chuck it, worst is over since I have reached Kurnool and I am just 5 mins away from reaching Hotel Royal residency where a room has been booked for me and srik, another ex-ramcoite (srik from Bangalore already checked-in since he arrived in early morning train).
I located the place and knocked room no. 103 in 3rd floor waiting for the cool breeze of AC to hit my face. Srik opened the room burning like oven with face full of heat rashes - room without AC (fourth let down). By this time, my gastritis started to trouble me and I badly wanted to finish my lunch as soon as possible and called sree to enquire about some good restaurant nearby (hotel royal residency is just lodging!!) He recommended “geetha lunch home” at walkable distance. At 40o C, walking for couple of meters, we located the place but our good luck continued and the hotel is closed some for some unknown reason!! We never had the energy to scout for another good restaurant. The need of the hour was to fill in something to regain some strength. So based on some locale’s advice, we finished a below-average lunch in a mess (eventhough they call it as a hotel) and came back to the oven. But for the heat, I guess srik was feeling ok but I was feeling terribly weak and had all symptoms to get cold and fever – Thanks to the heat and the tender coconut I had at guntakkal. In the midst of the hotness and suffocation, I slept for a longtime (In general, I can’t and I won’t sleep during daytime) and when I woke-up around 6.00 pm, I got caught of severe cold and headache. Rest is history and in-spite of being unwell, attended both the reception & marriage, never turned back and started for Chennai…
