An unforgettable trip to Goa!

After living for one and a half years in Dubai, my wife and I moved back to Bangalore. As, in that one and a half years we hadn't taken a break, once we were back in Bangalore, we thought it is the right time to plan a short road trip before we started off with the new job.

Driving back home on a Friday midnight

"How about we drive to Goa early next morning, spend the weekend there before we get to work on Monday?"

"You mean a road trip to Goa? That'll be exciting!! Why not?"

It was late September and the nights seemed to sound only of rains, we booked the stay with the least knowledge of the place, the route or the driving conditions. All we had was 100% faith (on the Google Maps!).

Early Saturday morning we hit the road, uninformed, as everyone was out for the weekend. 

We planned to stop by some places to visit en route, but all the tourist places, like the Chitradurga Fort, Ranebennur Blackbuck deer Reserve, Hubli city etc are at least an hour away from the highway so we decided against it as we had only the weekend to be in Goa.

About 20 kms from the Goa border, we are stopped by the patrolling cops and are asked by them to produce the documents to the inspector in the patrolling vehicle.

I get down from the vehicle and find at least 10 to 12 vehicles stopped by the cops and are being checked for documents. He goes through the documents and

"Sir, your insurance is expired. We cannot let you go through"

I get back to the car and we search the whole vehicle for the updated document but we do not find it. We take our phones out to make a call but the mobile networks in both our phones are off!

I get back to the patrolling car and ask the cop for his phone to place a call, he pulls out his phone to show that it too does not catch the network.

"But sir I am sure the insurance is updated. Is there any way we can check it?"

"We hear this every day! Sir if you do not have the right documents we will have to seize your vehicle as this is a state border"

"What do I do?"

"Go meet our officer in that patrolling vehicle, tell him your name, I'll send your documents to him and he'll tell you what can be done."

I go to the chief officer and wait in a queue to get to him:

"Name?"

"Chetan" 

"WagonR with expired insurance. That's a fine of Rs. 5,000 or vehicle seizure"

"But I do not have that amount of cash nor are there any ATMs nearby!"

"Look boss, it is the state border and if I let you go too, you will face the same as soon as you cross the border. Here your vehicle is of the same state so I am a little soft on you. But there for them, you are from another state so they will show you no mercy. So I tell you, you pay us whatever you have and we will pass on the message with your details to the cops on the other side and they'll let you pass"

"I have just Rs. 2500 in cash, will that suffice?"

"Yes, for now, it's ok. You pay up and I'll manage the rest"

Choicelessly, I pay him the cash, collect my documents and get back to the car. 

But we feared that we may cross the border safely now, what about in the city or on the way back? It will be risky travelling interstate without the required documents. 

And so, cursing our luck, we decide that this time we will tour North Karnataka instead and next time we will make time for Goa.

We start driving back towards Hubli discussing what an archaeological marvel the temples in North Karnataka are and how important is it for every Indian to visit them at least once. In other words, convincing ourselves that we aren't going to Goa! 

After driving for about 20-25 kilometres, we start getting the mobile network and then call up my Father in Law to inquire if the insurance has been renewed.

"Yes! I have renewed it and a printed copy of the same is inside the car's manual book"

We open the manual book in the dashboard and find the renewed insurance document neatly folded and tucked inside one of the pages of the book!

"Dude we have all the documents required. I need my money back!"

"Let's drive back there, show them the documents and get our money back from them"

We turn the car back to the spot where the patrolling cops are stationed.

"Now that we have the documents, what do you think? North Karnataka or Goa?"

"GOAAAAAA it is!"

"Let's GOOOOOOOO!!"

After driving for quite a few kilometres

"You remember where we found them right?"

"Yes, they are checking the vehicles thoroughly and there are many vehicles held up there."

After a few more kilometres

"Might be a little more further"

Few more kilometres ahead we find a tea stall beside the road

"We never came through here! Stop the car we'll have some tea and let's ask him"

Sipping tea, we casually narrate to him the incident about the patrolling cops and that now we have to get our money back

"This is the story of every second person who comes here, sir. None of us knows the law completely and there is no mobile network absolutely if you want to call somebody who knows. Unfortunately, you passed by there at the wrong time. They would have collected their targeted amount and left for the day. For now, forget the incident, forget the money and enjoy Goa :) That'll be 10 Rupees, Sir".

"For the advice??"

"For the Tea sir!"

It took us a few more kilometres of discussion to finally accept what had just happened. We kept on cribbing about the incident that driving was turning out to be so tiring mentally too.

"Can you believe we just got conned by cops??"

"Holy sh*t! Yes! Cops stationed for checking at the spot where there is no mobile network, they desperately finding out a fault to hold us up and being ok with whatever amount of cash we had on us! Hahahahahaha"

"Thank God we had only 2500 Rupees in cash! haha"

Digesting the fact was hard, but, it's only when we accepted what had just happened and laughed about it did the drive start getting pleasant.

Either way, it was worth 10 Rupees!

Every time we are stuck in the incidents of the past and lose our balance of mind, we remind each other of this incident. It not only makes us laugh for a moment but also reminds us of the lesson to live 'in the moment' and not dwell in the past. We wouldn't have enjoyed Goa if we were stuck with that Rs. 2,500.

Learn from the past and 'renew' every moment.