THE LAST WORK DAY – WOULD WE MAKE IT? - February 12, 2010

Following the Pay-Day experiences, we just barely made it onto the bus on time. As I may have mentioned previously, since we had been granted special privileges to drive through the wildlife preserve, at a greatly reduced fee, we had to comply with the time frame of when the gates were opened and closed. This meant at the end of each work day, we may have had time for tea, but had to be on the bus no later than 4:30 p.m. in order to arrive at the gate prior to 5:00 p.m. Otherwise, we would be forced to have to take the circuitous route back to the hotel and that route would add about two hours. It had been difficult to say goodbye to the villagers and the laborers. Several of us had donated our clothing to be divvied up among the workers, for them and their families, and that scene in the dining tent was quite emotional. We were pleased to be able to share our wealth with them, and they all seemed to be quite touched by our generosity. Enough said, only that we then basically ran to the bus. Our drier was waiting, and already had the bus turned around in the right direction, and we were off!

Does the expression “Take no prisoners” have any meaning to you? Well, once we were on board the bus, there was no question our driver and conductor had one task in mind – get to the gate before 5:00 p.m., no ifs, ands or buts about it. Naturally, as is so often the case while traveling in India, and particularly when trying to operate within a specific time frame, every obstacle seemed to be before us. Two small herds of goats were sauntering down the road, with no real need to allow us to pass; two oxen came really close to being nudged out of the way; and finally, in the village between the work site and the gate, there is one major turn at the intersection, and it seemed everyone and every vehicle within a ten kilometer radius had decided to congregate at that turn! Our driver, who had heretofore seldom used his horn (except on the “laughing” trip to Kesroli) found a new attachment to it and the horn seemed to take on a life of its own. Rather than the “honks”, there was also a pulsating claxon effect that informed the pedestrian, “This guy really means business!”

As we approached that turn in the center of the town, more and more people seemed to cluster right smack in our path. The conductor opened his window and motioned people out of the way as the driver continued honking, and merely seconds before potential impact, the seas parted as if for Moses, and we were able to make the right-hand turn safely. Actually a better description would be we made the turn without further incident. I will never presume to offer an opinion as to how safely people in India drive. We now were at the very perimeter of the wildlife preserve. We could actually see the gate in the distance.

At that moment, several of us glanced at watches, I looked down at my mobile phone and we all had the same time – 4:59 p.m. Is it possible? Would we make it? Our estimate was easily a mile further to go, and this bus could not be driven much more than thirty kilometers per hour. Almost in concert, several team members suggested, “Hold on to your seats!” With horn honking and breaths held, we arrived at the gate in the nick of time. We were processed through and as we drove along through the preserve, we looked back and saw the gate being closed for the last time that day, and the gatekeepers walking away, outside the gate. A collective sigh of relief and we were off to the hotel for our final dinner there, and packing for the next part of our adventure.