I was against the memory Test. I had already made up my mind that I was not going to appear any examination. so I can delay further things a bit. (This may sound very stupid idea) but that time my mind was full of such weired things. I was having four time experience to running away from home. Initially with taking money from home and latter almost without money.
School just started and within first week. School declares the whole year time table for the weekly examination and other details. Everyday I was having company of my junior friend Sameer Sapte from my home to school. so parent were not worried about me. I wanted to avoid the weekly examination so I had plane.
Our school is running morning batch for 8 to 10 standard. In month of June one fine morning I went to school as usual. Our weekly examination was held during last period. before starting of the examination. I came down for washroom. The boys washroom is on ground floor. I taken brisk walk after attending the washroom. Our school was not having proper security as such. even on duty security asked me where I am going?. I told him that I left home work book at home so I am going to bring it other wise I had to face the punishment. He didn't stop me for going out.
Once out of the school I started running as fast as I could. I was wearing the new rainy Sandals. I got immediate Sandal bite. I had to stop running and started walking fast. I was little bit scared that some one from school will follow me. It was end of June but monsoon was not started in full bloom. I don't have single money in my pocket. But I had carried my Scout Identity card with me. I had learned from previous experience that without identity card police can catch hold of you and send you in jail.
I reached crossed foot over bridge of Andheri and reached to highway. From western express highway up till Santacruz and from Santacruz via Vakola bridge headed towards Kurla. The Andheri Kurla east Distance is around 12-15 kilometers. It took me 6 hours to reach Kurla. Due to Sandal bite on foot the walking speed was limited. I left the school around 9 or 10 am I was able to reached Kurla by 4.30 pm. I was wearing the school uniform. white shirt and blue pant. To the safer side I had removed my school batch. I had taken rest for while and continued my journey towards Vashi.
The Andheri Kurla stretch was very tiresome. Bright Sunlight and Sandal bite was challenging my journey. But I over ride it. The vakola and near kurla area was new for me. It was all scrap metal market. I was wondering to see small kids younger than me was working at this scrap metal market area. It was very ugly site to look for. I was seeing so much dirt in first time. I was about to vomit to see such dirty place. but I control myself.
I just manage to cross Trombe (Turbe naka by 9:00 pm) I was aware of the fact that nobody is allowed in night to walk from the Vashi Mankurd connection sea bride. I was looking for getting help. I just dared to ask one Truck driver who was just passing the weighting machine to insure that his truck in not overloaded. I explain him that I want to reach Panvel to visit my Grandmother. I don't have money to buy a ticket for bus so could you help me out. He just told me to hop in. He told me that he is not going to Panvel but will be giving me lift up till Juinagar.(one of the railway station before Nerul ) I said fine. I boarded the truck. He further told me that Octroi clearing paper will take overnight so we have sleep inside the truck. This truck was not having National Permit.
I had no choice but to spend night inside the truck. He parked the truck before bridge. There was huge trails of trucks. One side of mind was afraid but other side was happy that I was able to avoid the polices check point at entrance of the bridge. I tried to sleep inside the cabin but lots of mosquitoes could allow me to sleep. The driver offer me to sleep on hips of Gonnies. I had to accepted his offer. It was the month of June but sky was very much clear. I was able to see lots of bright stars in the sky. It also reminds me the starts I have seen in Ghats during my previous runs. I was so tired that I sleep for hours together.
Early morning cold breeze wakes me up. almost by 8:00 am we started our journey. I get down from the truck near Juinager around 8:30 am. I was again on foot. I walk and walk for many hours finally reached to Panvel. It is very difficult to remember minute details about my adventure on foot after 15 years. I had taken rest for while on Panvel S.T. stand. wash my face. I visited the hotel Datta Krupa near S.T. depot. at the cash counter I dared to asked for the help. I told him that I am regular visitor of your hotel my bi-cycle had been stolen and I had to return to Lonavala. so could you help me. I had given the reference about the television set kept near the cash counter. That day the television set was not present at the cash counter. The hotel owner was convinced with my story and he given me 30 rupees in cash. I thank if and told him that I will return the money while my next visit.
I was hungry but I don't want to spend money. I had just took some Parle biscuits and ate it. I was having the choice either get into the S.T. and travel up to Lonavala but I choose to walk.
I started to walk towards Khopoli. I was having Scout note book with me. I saw lots of yellow color butterfly dead and lying on the side of the road. I started picking one by one keeping inside my note book. I had never seen so much butterflies together. I almost collected around 50 butterflies. It was sort of fun. I was having blister on my foot due to Sandal bite. I tried to use leafs of plants side of the road to cover my sandal bite and relieve pain from it.
Just before 3 kilometers away from khopoli one truck stopped by me and truck cleaner asked me to hop in. I just look inside the truck there were many other people were seating. These are those people who used to travel by trucks due to not having sufficient money for S.T bus or availability of the mode of transport. I just hoped in. Evey one was observing me but nobody asked me a single question. within 5 minutes we reached to Khopoli everybody was giving money to the cleaner. Even I offered money to cleaner but he refused to took money from me. I was surprise but giving thanks in return to both driver and cleaner I got down from the truck.
Once again I was on foot. I was too much hungry. I had eaten at Maharastra Khanaval in front of Khopoli S.T. stand. I spent 12 rupees on that. I was calculating the amount after taken my lunch. I had spend some 4 rupees on the biscuits at the Panvel. The local ticket from Lonavala to Pune was around 10- Rupees I was knowing this info from my previous visits After taking proper meal after so many hours latter. I was feeling little bit sleepy. But I have to continue my journey.
I started climbing the Ghats. Its was my second time on foot. I was trying to use shortcuts to climb up. Ghat is almost 8 Kilometers. I was half the way from Lonavala. One multi axial tanker was passing by. The driver and cleaner saw me walking on foot. The speed of my walking and tanker speed was almost the same due to the steep slop. I was walking with the tanker for 2-3 minute. Once tanker had cross the steep slope its stops and cleaner signals me to hop in. I was happy. I just get inside the truck. This truck was not carrying any other passengers but previous two truck ride had given me confidence to get inside the truck. somewhere in mind I was feeling safe about this truck driver and cleaner.
It's was totally new experience for me. Due to liquid in the tanker. The truck was vowelling from inside. at such slow speed It was quite shaky inside the truck. I realized that it needs different skill to drive the tanker. I enjoyed this part of the journey. Truck drop me at main road lonavala outside the S.T. depot. I thank them both driver and cleaner.
I got down from the truck and marched towards the Lonavala railway station. I purchased the ticket and able to get evening local around 6:30 pm from Lonavala to Pune. In between I tried to clean my self as much as possible. I reached Pune around 8:30pm. I was wondering what to do next. This time I decided to went to mothers sisters home in Hadapser. I was not so much familiar with road from Pune to Hadapser. It almost 8 kilometers away from Railway Station. I was again on foot.
looking for the Road sign boards I started my journey again. I walked almost for 3 hours to reach Hadapser from main road relatives home was 2 km away. I just stop at one hotel and drink lots of water almost 6-7 glasses of water I had drank. I was not amaze that my body able to consume so much of water due to previous experience.
Almost by mid night I knock the door of my relatives home. They saw me but didn't questioned me much because news of missing from school was already reached to them. My mothers sister gave me some cloths to change and served the food. I ate some food and gone to sleep. I was so tired that I wake let in afternoon next day. I was telling the same story every time once I reached to place (relatives) that I am not recollecting the events How I reached to Pune. I only recollect that I am at so and so location and could not recollect anything before that point.
We have lots of relatives in Pune. Having joint family from mother side and having business relations make lots of contacts. Most of my relatives come to see me. while checking my belongings they found the Scout notebook from my bag. They was shocked to see so many yellow butterflies inside the scout notebook. They were wondering where did I get time to catch these all butterflies. The collection of butterflies during journey added more mystery to my escape form home and reaching Pune.
