After keeping our appointment with Almighty, at Dargah Shariff of
Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti, and at Brahma temple, Pushkar , I and my wife started
off for our next destination, Ranakpur Temple.
In general, roads in Rajasthan are good and
without potholes. The driving distance was only 220 kms and we were sure to
cover up the same in 4-5 hrs, as most of our journey was on NH 8. We started
our journey around 14.00 hrs., and we were moving as per schedule till we reached
a place called ‘Bhim’ at 17.00 hrs. I
was told to continue on NH 8 beyond Bhim and take right turn 10 Kms after a place
called Dewair.
After Dewair, the quality of road deteriorated drastically.
It was very narrow road, practically unpaved. We descended into deep valley and
dense forest. Suddenly it became very dark. We were apprehensive but not scared
as this was not our first experience of getting lost and we knew like every
time in past we will find ‘Angel’ to show us the way.
At around 20.00 hrs, we reached a small, very
small village of may be 10-15 huts. The
village was in total darkness as there was no electricity. We found 3-4 men
sitting outside one hut. We approached them and asked for directions to
Ranakpur temple.
One man approached us and said, “Saab, this
is not most preferred road to Ranakpur and at present this road is closed as a small
bridge over the river has collapsed.” We knew that we were in trouble. We could
not have stayed in that village; we could not have driven back through the
valley we came in. After sometime another older person came near our car. He
looked pretty dignified and spoke with reassuring tone. He said, “Bhaiya, I
shall guide you. You drive for five kms through the river and then you will reach
main road beyond collapsed bridge and then Ranakpur is only 15 Kms by good
road.” He could read that I was shocked with idea of driving for 5 kms through
river and that too in total dark. He continued, “do not worry, river has
completely dried up and I shall join you till you reach good road.”
He got into our car and we gingerly drove on.
He guided me perfectly all the way till we reached main road. On reaching main road I asked him, “Sir, how
will you go back?” He smiled and said,”
Do not bother, for us this is daily chore”, and vanished in darkness without
even hearing my words of thanks.
I do not know his name and I did not try to
know the same as well, because after visiting Pushkar and Ajmer, I would have looked
for the religion in his name.
For us, he was an ‘Angel Who Had No Name’.
:)
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