Scary Manjunath

Manjunath, that was the name of that lorry. I saw it approaching at considerable speed this morning. I could barely read its number plate which clearly indicated that it was first introduced on road while I was still wearing half trousers and no moustache. Dents and bruises all over its body, not inch of it could be identified as valid part of a lorry. Thick, black smoke was emanating from its side quite similar to the steam locomotive engines which I would like to see with admiration only in archaeological museums, that too in a defunct condition. This was one vehicle I thought which did not need an explicit horn, its engine made enough noise to scare and drive away other vehicles and jay walkers like me.

I had an opportunity to look at the driver. He was trying to hold the steering wheel tight and steady. Either the hangover from his previous night’s activities made his hands tremble along with the steering wheel. Or the sheer vibration of the whole vehicle made the steering wheel dance and his hands just joined that art. In either case, it was pretty clear that he was struggling hard to keep the vehicle straight, while all its tyres were trying to go in all four different directions! It was also clear that I needed to jump onto the footpath and stand in an angle with least risk of hitting me in the likelihood of Manjunath runs into the footpath. And I just did that.

To my surprise, Manjunath just stopped, not sure it stopped exactly where the driver intended, but it did. Then I heard a cracking sound as if something broken inside, just to know later that it was the result of a herculean effort by the driver with both his hands to put the vehicle in reverse gear. The driver suddenly made a decision that he had to go exactly in opposite direction, he wanted to change direction by reversing and getting into one of the side lanes.

Those few seconds of its reverse were the most pleasant ones for me. The deafening noise it had been making so far died off followed by a lovely background score of movie song from “Mungaru Male”,( Pre-monsoon rain in English)  a major hit in Kannada. The best romantic Kannada song I had ever heard and seen, that too in a movie theatre, that too on prime time show, that too when there was no compulsion on watching only local language movies during prime time! Apt song to cool me further in a summer morning after good pre-monsoon showers overnight.

So even rough and tough, scary Manjunath who always drives forward with its noise threatening all on the way, can also present some pleasant moments. Though only when he decides to reverse a bit, though it is only for a short span of time.

We too have a long journey of life like Manjunath. Sadly that journey cannot be a pleasant one throughout with melodious background scores. There are going to be bumpy, smoky rides with scratches and bruises. Many a times we will be stressed out more while stressing others out. The art lies in stopping and reflecting once in a while and try to create “Mungaru male” environment. It would definitely help self or at the least bring in relief to others around. 

However I still wish Manjunath had that lovely music with less noise all times, which is definitely possible – whether it moves forward or back! Which would indicate that our country moved in the right direction. And we could start anticipating fewer bruises on the way. I am sure it would.