Meeting Ruskin Bond
“I
have heard that you are planning to go to Mussoorie this Summer, Shreya.” Arshi
enquired before going to her place for vacation.
“Yes,
you heard it right, from wherever you have heard it.”
With
a giggle she said, “Do you know Ruskin Bond sits in a cafe or somewhere to sign
the books of his fans. Last week, I saw a picture of Mithali Raj (Indian woman cricketer)
with him. There, I got to know about this.”
I
just gave a nod to this, with a ‘hmmmm...” still wondering where did she get to
know about my trip. Then Arshi said,“So, goodbye, meet you after your trip and
please do try to meet and take a selfie also with him”.
I
knew it before that Ruskin Bond lives somewhere in Mussoorie. After coming back
home, I Googled where does Mr. Bond live in Mussoorie, which helped me to know that
he, lives in Landour, which is not exactly in Mussoorrie, but near it.
In
the evening when papa arrived home, I jumped over him and nearly knocked him
off. “Can we go to Landour for one day, during our three days trip?” I asked
papa.
“But
why”, he asked me. I searched that Ruskin Bond lives there, I replied.“Let me
think” he replied; the best dialogue, any humankind can make to avoid
conflicts.I knew it was not going to happen at all. We were just going to roam
in Mussoorie like every other person.
So,
the day came when we had to board our Delhi to Dehradun Shatabdi Express. I
settled down in my seat with Harry Potter
and the Chamber of Secrets. Though I started reading the book but couldn’t concentrate
much because my head struck up with the thought of meet ing Ruskin Bond and get an autograph of
him on his autobiography Lone Fox Dancing,
which I was carrying with me as I didn’t want to lose any opportunity of
meeting him after getting so close. Even after papa’s escapist remark‘let me
think’.
Six
hours passed we got off the train. It was a two and half an hour journey to
Mussoorie from Dehradun. This trip also passed easily in the hired cab. The
best thing about going to hilly areas from plain ones is the butterflies flying
in your stomach and the rotating hula-hoop in your head but if you are with a
trained driver the hula-hoop converts into rollercoaster.
Accompanied
with the butterflies and the rollercoaster we reached Mussoorie.
In
Mussoorie we visited one of my papa’s friends, who works in an ICS training
academy in Mussoorie, LBSNAA (Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration).
He promised us that he would take us for a round of LBSNAA the next day. He
took us to the library and the guest house where Bollywood actor Naseeruddin
Shah and Ratna Shah were staying. In between the library and the guesthouse,
there was a large lawn and a balcony from where almost all the ranges of
Himalayas were visible while I was taking the pictures of the Himalayas. Then uncle took us to his
office. He offered us some snacks. Papa asked him about famous places to visit
in Mussoorie. After thinking a while he
said, “You can go to Buddha Temple, Company Garden which is just near to
LBSNAA. Then to Mall Road , where you can go for shopping.”
Then
the main discussion started which was initiated by papa i.e., Can we meet
Ruskin Bond in our three-day trip. To this uncle replied what I couldn’t even
imagine of coming. “ yes you can. He comes to Mussoorie every Saturday to some
bookstore towards the library road in Mall road. But it would take about 20
minutes to reach there. He sits there in from 3:30pm to 5:30pm.
Saturday,
ok, hmm.., Bingo!!! Today is Saturday ... I could not believe my luck.
Till
now I was cursing my bad luck but now I was very happy. The problem here was
not the time it would take us to reach there but the slope of the road which makes
us unable to take breath while walking on it. But I didn’t care about it
because I thought it was worth it meeting Mr. Bond.
After
leaving LBSNAA, when we started walking towards mall road. It was very
difficult to walk, not because of the slope but for the traffic which came to
enjoy their holiday in Mussoorie only and after this traffic jam how can
someone enjoy. But this is none of my business. So I turned my head around from
the people who were looking gloomy stuck in this jam. Because I didn’t want to
get sympathetic to them and slow my pace and get late to meet him where he sits
between 3:30pm to 4:30pm.
“Where
he sits I don’t know I must search about.” I thought after coming out of the
dream of my meeting with Ruskin Bond. I borrowed papa’s phone searched about
where he comes in Mussoorie. There were many blogs saying, Ruskin Bond sits in
Cambridge Book Depot in Mall Road, Mussoorie every Saturday.
Now
that I knew, where to go to find him I started to do brisk walk. There were
many people selling sweet corns, momos but my mind was struck on meeting Ruskin
Bond.
It
had been very long time that we were walking but weren’t reaching there. So,I
opened the google map and located where the book depot was . Even after walking
for more than 2 hours now we had to walk for more than 15 minutes to reach
there.
But
my legs weren’t working. Taking too many turns and walking up on a stiff slope
we reached another lane and we were now searching for the book store and
suddenly Mom said look we are standing just in front of it turn to your left.
Yes, it was the Cambridge Book Depot . I wanted to jump but I was not supposed to
do that. There were hardly people standing there nor even Mr. Bond . I thought
he would come here any time. We were
before time he stays there from 3:30pm to 5:30pm and we reached here quarter to
3:30pm ,so,I thought he must be inside and will be before me giving me his
signature anytime. I started looking around searching for people, there were
many but no one near the book depot. There was a board telling a brief information
about Ruskin Bond I took a picture of that also.
Papa
went in and asked the shopkeeper “Is this the place where Ruskin Bond
comes?”The man replied “yes, but today he would not be here, he is busy
somewhere in a meeting.” This sentence shattered my whole thought of meeting
Ruskin Bond. I was about to cry but stopped myself. I didn’t want to show I am
sad. Then I had no choice but to go with the flow and this flow took me to a
Tibetan restaurant, I mean that to get my mood back to track papa took me
there. They ordered my favourite dishes but they weren’t tasted the way they
used to. No doubt the food was good but my taste buds were also working just like
my mood. I came all the way walking for 2 1/2 hour for this. After the meal
papa said, “stay with mum I come in a while.” He was not back for long so we
started searching for him and found him the same book store. Now there were
many people who too were there in search of Ruskin Bond. All the faces were sad
knowing that he is not there that day. There was a son and dad duo came from very far away place. Two girls telling
the shopkeeper to convey their regards
to Mr. Bond and tell him that two girl from kerala came to see him. I saw there
was not only me but many others who came to meet him and were disappointed too.
There papa had two books in his hands and was talking to the shopkeeper telling
him our home address. I didn’t know why, 5 minutes later we were heading back
to the guest house. When we started going back I enquired about the books. He
said that he was not having it with him he has given it to the shopkeeper on
the shopkeeper’s advice. The shopkeeper asked him to give the books so that
when Ruskin Bond comes next he would get his autograph of him on the books and
would send the books to our address. The shopkeeper did so because he told him
that I was upset for not meeting him. The books would arrive till 20th
July.
After
knowing this I couldn’t sleep that night. I was only thinking about the books
and his autograph.
27th
of July 2018, Friday
I
reached back home, to see a parcel lying on the bed facing at me with my name
on it as if eager to reveal something that would surprise me. I took it in my
hand. Saw the sticker of Cambridge book depot and realised what is in it. I tore
the parcel and found this.
