by Atul Sharma
Raghav took a round of the villa from inside. The memories of the past were not easy to be done away with.
All the guests assembled near the bus at Him Prabhat but Virender Bajaj was late again.
“He is making us wait again,” the bus driver complained to Sanju.
Virender comes with two packets of popcorn in his hands and the bus leaves for the next destination.
The waterfall from a height of 50 feet made everyone shun their laziness. Water was flowing from a huge rock into a small pond.
“Mumma, we want to go near the fall,” insisted Rajat and Kriti.
“Hey! Come here,” said their father Karan who by now was under the waterfall.
They all made fun in the pond.
Virender Bajaj opened his shirt showcasing his biggest asset, his belly.
“I’ll also play with them in the pond,” Virender said folding his pants.
Splash . . . !!!
It seemed that the whole water of the pond had come out. Everyone looked for the reason. Virender had fallen inside the pond. Amit and Kavita tried hard to pull him out of that small pond where he was fitted in a very fine proportion. Everyone laughed while children danced around him.
“It’s not a very happening waterfall point but still one can enjoy here,” Divya said to Rahul.
“This is the beauty of small places. The nature unfolds itself naturally here,” said Rahul.
“Look how Ira and Ishaan are enjoying in that children park,” pointed Divya. Their laughter and enjoyment has made my day.
“After all this is the reason why we spend a portion of our hard earned money on leisure,” replied Rahul.
Meanwhile, Virender Bajaj was lying on the ground to get some rest and looked like a sumo wrestler. His wife was busy getting his clothes dried up.
After spending a bountiful of time there, they moved to the last tourist spot. Vihar Vann, a wildlife sanctuary which was a major attraction of Devpur.
Only the registered guides were allowed to take the guests inside the sanctuary. Sanju introduced Rajan, their guide, to the guests.
“Please take your tickets from the ticket counter and don’t forget to take the camera ticket if you want to click pictures inside,” Rajan said to his new group.
“Which animals are there in the sanctuary?” asked Juhi.
“You all please assemble here first,” requested Rajan. “I’ll then take you to every portion of the sanctuary.”
Everyone obeyed and the contingent moved to the first segment.
“These are barking deers and they are very common in
Himachal. They are fed grass only,” said Rajan.
“My husband is also a barking deer but he needs many other things to feed himself,” Kavita joked as Virender Bajaj was busy in eating popcorns.
Everyone laughed, including Virender himself.
“There are sambars also, a common animal of Himachal,” informed Rajan. “The next segment has cheetal.”
“Are these black bucks also found in Himachal?” asked Rahul.
“No,” replied Rajan. “These are brought from the sanctuary of another state.”
“Tiger, tiger!” Ishaan shouted misjudging the snow leopard.
“This is not tiger but snow leopard,” informed Rajan. “It is found
in the upper regions of Himachal, especially in the snowfall zones.”
“Can we watch them from close?” asked Karan.
“Maintain appropriate distance from their cage as these snow leopards don’t want their quietness to be disturbed,” advised Rajan.
Everyone got busy in capturing the beautiful animal in their cameras. Amit Goyal ignored the warning of Rajan and put his hand, holding camera, inside the rods of the cage to get a clear snap.
“Aah!Uh!Hush!No!” Amit shouted.
Amit’s loud cries stunned everyone because a snow leopard had jumped to attack an unwanted guest in his zone.
“Help! Save my husband!” Varsha cried loudly.
Rajan ran towards the cage. Amit was fortunate that the leopard pounced on the camera only while his hand got minor scratches.
“I had warned you not to go near them but you still acted smart,” an angry Rajan shouted loudly. “You could have lost your hand.”
Amit was almost breathless while his crying wife was being calmed down by other ladies.
“Are you all right or do you need some medical help?” asked Rajan.
“I am fine. There isn’t any injury on my hand,” replied Amit.
“Thank God! The leopard took your camera only and not your hand. Otherwise, instead of you clicking him, this leopard would have clicked your photo,” Virender said to his friend Amit.
Virender’s joke eased the tense atmosphere and brought smile on everyone’s face.
The animal trainer in the sanctuary got the camera out of the cage and the group moved to the next portion where black and brown bears were roaming around. The sight of the bears, relaxing and playing among themselves, was a good enough reason for everyone to forget the incident and enjoy.
“Which bird is this in that pheasantry?” asked Michael.
“This is Monal Pheasantry,” informed Rajan about the beautiful and colourful bird of Himachal named Monal.
The advent of the darkness reminded them of going back to the villa.
“It was an eventful day today,” Ira said to Raama when they reached back.
“We explored Devpur from every nook and corner,” said Divya.
“My stay in Devpur is for two weeks and I’ll surely visit those places again,” said Michael.
“Send someone to our room to take the dinner order,” Juhi said to Pratap.
Raghav enquired Amit about the incident.
“It was my fault but thankfully nothing serious happened,” said Amit.
Rahul and Divya sat with Raghav in the lobby.
“Where have you come from?” Raghav asked Rahul.
“We belong to Delhi,” replied Rahul. I work as a General Manager (operations) in a publishing house and Divya is a Professor of English in Delhi University.”
“Which publishing house do you work in?” asked Raghav.
“Sandal Publishing House,” replied Rahul. “The owner of our publishing house, Anant Balaji, has a flourishing sandalwood business in southern India. He is very intellectual and has opened up this publishing house not for monetary benefit but to provide a platform for budding writers.”
“How did you plan to stay here?” asked Raghav.
“It is vacation time in Delhi. So we decided to get rest and enjoy our holidays in a hill station. We were searching for a hotel near Shimla on the website where we found information about Devpur and your villa,” said Divya.
“We read that your hotel will be opening soon and reserved a room through your agency in Delhi as there is a natural charm in being part of anything new,” said Rahul.
“Moreover, we like quiet and serene places and Shimla now has become one of the popular getaways from Delhi,” said Divya.
“I feel happy to have you as the first guests of our hotel,” said Raghav.
“I promise that we’ll keep visiting here,” said Rahul.
“How far is Naldera from here?” asked Michael.
“It is 15 kilometres from here. There is a golf course in Naldera. Are you planning to go there?” enquired Raama.
“Yeah. I would love to play my favourite game there. Do you play golf?” asked Michael.
“Yes Sir. I play a bit of everything,” replied Raama.
Innocent Raama considered himself the Jack of all trades but in reality he was master of none.
Virender Bajaj and Amit Goyal sat in the garden to enjoy their drinks.
“Bring cutlets, finger chips and masala papad for us,” Virender ordered Sa
nju.
“Serve soup to our ladies in the rooms,” added Amit.
“Give two bottles of soda and ice cubes to us first,” said Virender.
“The view from here is breathtaking,” Amit said looking at the beautiful lights in the hills at night.
Drinking whiskey in a beautiful garden under the full moonlight made them enjoy as well as discuss their business matters.
“The side business of property dealing is taking its toll on me as well as on my relationship with Kavita,” Virender said about the enterprise he had started with Kavita’s brother Surjeet.
“I was apprehensive about it from the beginning. That’s why I didn’t join your venture,” said Amit.
“I have lost huge money and my predicament is that I can’t be stern with my brother-in-law,” said Virender.
“Try to get out of this business as soon as possible and concentrate on your spare parts business,” advised Amit.
“Tell me how’s your hosiery business going on?” asked Virender.
“My business is doing well,” replied Amit.
“Is anyone here?” a man said knocking the reception counter.
Pratap came out from the kitchen.
“There is a couple in my cab. They want a room. Do you have one?” the cab driver asked.
“Ask them to come and see the room,” replied Pratap.
A south Indian couple enters the villa and Pratap directs Raama to show them the room.
“Where do you belong to?” asked Raama.
“I am from Sournur in Kerala,” came the reply.
“Sournur! My sister is married in Sournur while my home is in Palaghat,” Raama said gleefully as if he had found a relative in him.
“I am Murlidharan Nair and she is my wife Sangeeta,” the man said.
The couple was equally happy to find their state mate.
“We’ll stay here only,” Murlidharan told the cab driver.
“Sir, they are from my hometown. Please give them ten percent discount,” Raama requested Pratap.
“What food do you have for dinner?” asked Sangeeta.
“Indian, Chinese and south Indian food,” replied Raama.
“Do you cook south Indian food?” asked Sangeeta.
“Our chef Maharaj is an expert in all types of cooking. You’ll surely like all his cuisine,” said Raama.
“Sir, please fill in the registration form in the reception,” Pratap asked Murlidharan through intercom.
Murlidharan came down to the reception to fill in his details.
“You are heavily drunk. Let’s go to our rooms now,” Amit said to Virender after a long whiskey session.
Virender Bajaj in his drunken state of mind mistakenly entered Murlidharan’s room instead of his own room and lay on the bed.
Sangeeta who was in the washroom was scared to see a pot-bellied man on the bed when she came to the room.
“Ae tenu ki hoya Kavita (What happened to you Kavita)?” asked drunken Virender when he saw a dark complexioned woman in place of his fair wife.
“Aeeo Murli!” Sangeeta screamed loudly.
“What aeeo and who Murli?” a puzzled Virender asked as he still could not understand the situation.
Murli and Raama came to the room.
“Who’s he?” asked Murli.
“I don’t know,” a horrified Sangeeta replied.
“What are you all doing in my room?” asked semiconscious Virender.
“Infact what are you doing in their room?” questioned Raama angrily.
Virender was then taken to his room. Kavita was furious and apologetic.
“Is your hotel a safe place?” asked an agitated Murlidharan.
“Don’t worry. It happened by mistake,” Pratap calmed him down.
“How’s papa?” Raghav asked his mother when he came back to his home, the guest house,.
“I have given him food and medicine. He is sleeping now,” informed Neha.
“How was your day in the hotel?” asked Neha.
“I met new people,” said Raghav. Everyday will bring new people and different experiences.
“Get our bill ready,” Amit asked Pratap who was surprised to see the late risers early in the morning.
“Sanju, bring the luggage from our rooms,” said Virender. He had come to his senses after last night’s drama.
“I feel sorry for the unwanted scene that my husband created yesterday,” Kavita apologised to Pratap.
“It’s all right. I hope you enjoyed your stay here,” said Pratap.
“Our husbands want to stay in Shimla. Otherwise we would have loved to stay here for another couple of days,” said Varsha.
Virender distributed tip to the staff showing the generous side of his heart.
Michael Henry and Taneja family left for Naldera while Karan’s family departed from the villa.
“Has he gone?” Murli asked about Virender Bajaj.
“He has checked out,” informed Raama.
Murlidharan and all the new guests were taken for the
sightseeing trip.
“I hired a local guide for the sightseeing trip of our guests. Sanju is needed here to do the housekeeping work,” Pratap informed Raghav.
Raghav called Pratap and Maharaj in his office.
“It is difficult for you to manage the kitchen work
single-handedly,” Raghav said to Maharaj. “I feel that we need another cook and a kitchen helper.”
“Don’t worry. I have managed it before and won’t let you down in future,” assured Maharaj.
“I appreciate your commitment but our villa has become a hotel now. Guests will be coming round the year. If any staff member goes on leave, the work won’t suffer if there is additional staff,” opined Raghav.
Maharaj and Pratap saw merit in Raghav’s suggestion.
“Give an advertisement in the newspaper and shortlist two people for the job,” Raghav told Pratap.
“Is there any room available?” a teenaged boy asked at the reception.
“There is a super deluxe suite available. Its tariff is three thousand rupees plus taxes,” said Pratap.
“Don’t tell me the tariff. Show me the room,” said that boy who was accompanied by his girlfriend.
“How long do you want to stay here?” asked Pratap.
“We’ll check out by evening,” replied the girl.
“Isn’t it looking little awkward?” Raama asked Pratap after the couple had moved to their room.
“Why?” asked Pratap.
“They don’t seem husband and wife,” said Raama.
“It’s a hotel now. We’ll see many such things here,” said Pratap.
“Deepak has come to meet you,” Pratap informed Raghav in his office.
“Send him in,” Raghav said while closing the paper work he was doing.
Deepak was the captain of Devpur cricket team. He wasn’t a close friend of Raghav. But they talked whenever there was a
cricket match of their team. Their conversation used to be short and cricket-centric.
“Hi Deepak! You have come after a long time,” Raghav asked him to seat.
“The time wasn’t appropriate to disturb you. I hope everything is settled by now,” said Deepak.
“There must be a cricket match somewhere,” guessed Raghav.
“Yeah, I have come to invite you for a match,” said Deepak.
“When is it?” asked Raghav.
“This Sunday,” replied Deepak.
“Where? And against whom?”
“Annadele Cricket Ground. We will play against Shimla XI,
40 overs each.”
“Is the same team playing from our side which played the last match?” Raghav asked.
“Yes.”
“How much money do I have to contribute?” asked Raghav.
“We’ll contribute rupees 300 each,” Deepak said about the expenses regarding match fees and refreshment.
“At last something to cheer me up!” Raghav thought as he was a die-hard cricket fan and missed no opportunity to play a match.
Raghav was strolling in the garden next morning when someone arrived in the villa.
“Do you look after this hotel?” asked a Sikh man in his
seventies, who even in his old age looked as elegant as any young Sardar would look.
“Yes uncle. How can I help you?” asked Raghav.
“Can I get a room for some days?” Sardarji asked in a broken voice.
“The rooms are being cleaned up. Please have a seat till the room gets ready,” Raghav said to the elderly gentleman who had arrived very early in the morning.
“What’s the tariff?” asked the Sardarji.
“2000 rupees for a deluxe room,” replied Raghav.
“I am alone. Will you offer me some discount if I stay here for a month or more?” asked the Sardarji. He looked sad and disturbed.
“Uncle, I can give 25 percent discount to you now and if you come again during the off-season you’ll be offered 50 percent discount straight.”
Harvinder Singh Dhillon, Ex. Superintendent Engineer, Punjab State Electricity Board, Patiala. These were the details Sardarji put in the entry register.
“Why are you bringing the luggage? You should have asked me instead,” Raama said to the Taneja family who were about to leave.
“It’s not our last interaction,” Rahul said to Raghav. We’ll come again in our next holidays as this is the kind of place we like.
“Do visit us if you come to Delhi,” said Divya.
“Sure and we all will wait for you as well,” Raghav said bidding goodbye to the first visitors of the hotel.
“Very nice people,” Raama said to Raghav after they had left. We felt as if they were our own guests.
“Please get me a cup of cold coffee,” Michael requested Raama in the lobby.
“It’s getting hot outside now,” said Michael who till now was busy writing his thesis in the garden.