6th Feb 2020 I left home on a journey across Rajasthan and Punjab covering few unexplored destinations in India. One of the places that I was really excited to visit was Sariska Tiger Reserve. It is a tiger reserve in Alwar district, Rajasthan, India. In 1955 this was declared a wildlife reserve. Stretched over an area of 881 km², as it is situated in Rajasthan mostly it is covered with dry deciduous forests, scrub-thorn arid forests, grasslands, and rocky hills.
How grateful I am – Atithi Devo Bhava is a Sanskrit verse, translated literally it means “The guest is equivalent to God”.
While the rest of the world talks about how unsafe India is and while we also speak about how unsafe India is as we stay in big cities. Let me shine some light upon the experience I have just experienced. I took a bus from Delhi at 9 pm and according to Redbus App, I was supposed to reach Alwar in the morning at about 5:30 am.
After douching crazy traffic at old Delhi with the help of a random elder brother on the road I managed to reach the bus stop. First of all none of the numbers provided from the app worked. Had to keep searching. FYI I’m travelling solo with a backpack which is about 43kg. Anyway – When we finally found and boarded the bus, I got to know that I would be getting off at 2:30 am and not at 5:30 am which I didn’t expect.
Rajghar in Alwar is a small village and that was my stop. There is no transportation available at that hour and it’s a typical village there isn’t any hotel as such to just check-in. I didn’t know what to do. I thought I would just figure something out, something but I didn’t know what. Honestly, I was scared. I decided to give a call at the resort and spoke to the person concern regarding my situation.
Trust me when I say this that I didn’t had to worry about anything after that. It 3:43 am right now. The bus, a public bus waited for me on the highway for 15mins for the resort car to come and pick me up. Everyone in the bus showed concern, all the male got off the bus including the driver and stood right next to me and decided not to leave me alone till the car came. They even asked if that’s the car and if those are the actual resort people and on the other hand, the staff from the resort sacrificed their sleep and came all the way to pick me up at this hour without any hesitation rather I was greeted with a smile.
Just because I was all by myself with my backpack. Everyone, just everyone without any hesitation just waited for me. The manager came to pick me up just to make sure I feel safe. I feel more than just safe currently. I’m overwhelmed. Even tho the resort is completely booked they arranged bedding for me in the library. They didn’t hesitate to ask me if I want to eat or drink anything at this hour. It is pretty chilled, about 12degress they insisted that I drink tea. I said No, to that.. as they did much more than enough for me already. Currently, I’m lying down in my bed in the library and I’m in tears. This is the India I’m proud of, these are the people I’m proud of. This is what I live for, this is the India I want everyone to experience. Even tho I feel guilty for making everyone worried for me but what an I experience I had it is beyond anything I can ask for In life.. with teary eyes I’m going to go and get some sleep but today I experienced the true meaning of “Atithi Devo Bhava”
