Disconnect to Connect (Leh Ladakh post 3)

As we boarded the plane and took our seats, I had a strange feeling inside my heart.

"Finally, here we are! Off to Leh Ladakh!" I said to my best friend, who looked at me and had a big smiled glued on her face.

As the plane took off, I started telling her about Punjab, the culture and how they talk. 

Unknowingly I had a Punjabi accent while talking at which she kept laughing all the while.

2 hours and 10 minutes later, as we reached nearer to Chandigarh, my heart started pounding faster.

Punjab! Mitti di khusboo, the people, gurdwara!

Koyal kooke hook uthaye
Yaadon ki bandook chalaye
Baagon mein jhoolon ke mausam wapas aaye re
Ghar aaja pardesi tera des bulaye re

The song from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge played in the back of my mind.

As we landed at the Chandigarh airport and got down the plane, I looked around, took a deep breath and smelt Punjab. The familiar smell hit my nostrils and a big smile spread across my face. Nostalgia!

As we entered the airport lobby, I asked Sujata to call Manav and check for the cab so we can move towards the hotel. Manav had sent her the captain's (driver) cellphone number and told her that he is already waiting for us. She quickly dialed the number and before she could ask him about the car, hastily handed her cell phone to me.

"Oye! What the hell is he saying? I can't understand a word! He's babbling something in Punjabi!"

I took the cell from her, shook my head and spoke over, "Hello ji, Sat Sri Akal. Kithe ho aap? (Hello. Greetings. Where are you?)" and he said that he is waiting in the parking area.

"Gaadi da number ki aa? Hum aa jaana wahi (What is the car's number? We'll come over)" I blabbered. I had a limited knowledge of Punjabi which I knew from Bollywood songs/movies and a couple of Sardar friends. He said he has recognized us and would come to receive us at the exit door and hung up the call. 

Still unaware of who this captain would be, I looked around and checked for a turban tied Sardarji. A few moments later, a fellow of medium height who was not wearing a turban came and greeted us and took our luggage.

Sujata, who was still shocked with the whole Punjabi talk happening around, said nothing and followed me and the captain towards the parking.

We loaded our luggage in Scorpio and took our seats.

As the car started, I looked out the window, still breathing Punjab!

My best friend who had got busy in her cell by now, I asked her to keep the phone aside and look around.

"It's Chandigarh! The best planned city." I exclaimed.

She kept her phone in the bag and looked outside the window.

I gave her few details about my visit to this city as a kid and that there's no open sewage!

As we drove past the smooth roads, I saw a Gurdwara amidst a huge green patch of grass and silently bowed my head down and said the Mool Mantra (Ik Onkar).

The captain was driving the car pretty well and I thought of having a small talk with him and getting to know if he was a localite and how far the hotel was from the airport.

Sujata looked all lost because she understood nothing but the few English or Hindi words used during the conversation.

As we reached near our hotel the captain did not take the required exit and took the straight road ahead. We saw the hotel on the left and I thought there must be another exit. But instead the captain drove past Zirakpur (where our hotel was) and we reached Panchkula.

"You know, my maternal uncle when he was posted in Punjab, he used to stay here in Panchkula," I said looking at Sujata. She just nodded, and whispered, "Where the hell is the captain going? The hotel was left way behind!" I looked at her, nodded, and said, "Hmm.. Let me ask him."

But before I could say anything, he got a call from someone he addressed as Kaka, and he spoke in heavy Punjabi and was talking about the current location and he understood that we were in the wrong place and the hotel was left way behind.

He took the next exit and within 10 minutes we reached Hotel Shagun.

"Manav has told us to look for some Paramjeet around the reception. Oh god, another Sardar!! I can't even understand what they talk. And who's this Paramjeet by the way? And how am I supposed to remember these names!!" Sujata said, as the helper from the hotel and the captain unloaded our luggage.

I took a deep breath, and said, "See, it's pretty simple. Add ji to most words; like Hello ji, how are you ji. Second, add jeet, meet, preet, to most names and there you go with remembering the names! About Paramjeet, even I don't know who the hell he is, look for a guy with a turban. He would be the one!" I laughed and continued, "And lastly, take a chill pill. I am not a pro here and just know the basics. You'll get a hang of it pretty soon!"

We could not find anyone named "Paramjeet" near the reception area and hence decided to go and rest for a while in the room and call Manav to understand what needs to be done next.

After a few hours of rest we booked an Uber cab to go and see the famous Rock Garden.

As we received a call from the captain, Sujata received it and voila! The captain again was a sardar-ji and she understood nothing he spoke.

I had to work as a translator as we went downstairs and took seats in the cab and drove past the roads to Rock Garden and also while we were on the way back to the hotel, we could not find a single good restaurant in the area, and hence decided to go to the mall and hog on a burger from McDonald's. 

The weather was super hot and we were tired of roaming in the scorching heat. As the clocked ticked 6.30 p.m. we decided to make our way towards the hotel so we can freshen up and wait for the fellow travelers to join in. Instead of taking a rick or uber car, we decided to walk as the hotel was less than a kilometer away.

When we reached hotel, we checked-in, got freshened up and in no time, I drifted off to sleep. I woke up an hour later, as was informed by my Sujata that we have to be there in the dining room around 10-ish.

Punjab has always been my favorite - Sarso de khet, makke di roti, smell of ghee and butter, the paraunthas, their language, culture, their helping nature, langar, bhangra, the beautiful lohri festival... And being the kind of filmy person that I am, so many Bollywood movie scenes!

The list is too long to describe my love for Punjab. As a kid, when I had visited Punjab for the very first time, I had fallen in love with the people, to know how humble they are. I wanted to marry a Punjabi munda back then and settle in Kanedda (Canada) and worship Waheguru and have cute kids. Now, when I look back I still laugh at it.

The Day 1 of the vacation was nothing less than memorable!