The Unusual Gift

My visit to Hokkenakal Waterfalls in Tamilnadu, popularly known as the Niagara Falls of India, was one of its kind. For the fact that it was the first time I had an opportunity to look at the pristine beauty of Southern India with its panoramic views. We, the family, started our journey from Bangalore in the wee hours of the morning. To satiate our hunger pangs, we kept some munches and cookies. With all the traffic halts and uncalled toll booths, it took us about 4 hours to reach the final destination. Interestingly, as we crossed the former terrorised area of Verappan, anxiety struck a chord but we were pretty soon flooded with random information surrounding that place via our taxi driver. In the afternoon, we started with our expedition.

On the outset, it was not such an amazing place but as soon as we started our boat carnival, it was a different world altogether. The scenic beauty of the place was breath taking and astounding.

The coracles we took to get conversant with the sacred Kaveri river reminded me of the people who used to travel across their destination during the reign of Chola and other former princely dynasty. The coracle owner we came across was very simple looking man who was to ferry us across the waterfalls. At the initial stage, the introduction was not beyond the monetary affairs, and the time he was to devote to our maiden odyssey. When we started our sojourn, we had no idea that it was going to be one of the most memorable and exciting time of our lives. He started rowing in the most sacred river of Southern India Kaveri, taking each one of us delicately and sincerely to the designated trajectory. He made us laugh with his antiques of rowing by moving the boat in the circular motion, which brought all the adventure and had dopamine effect upon us. Then he waded through  the Kaveri to make us experience the natural springs and water falls by putting his boat under sacred water. The Sun was gleaming all over our us but water came to rescue us from the scorching heat.

I was the only one who was going crazy for more such rides as the inner child of mine wanted to enjoy the majestic and sacred water ablutions. He observed this and made us experience the joy and fun one could get from being in that place. He was feeling more happy by making us happy.

From there I sensed each one of us is capable of giving such unusual gifts to each other. The joy with which that simple yet beautiful person was able to give had no comparison to what we had paid for that ride.

The unusual gift of spreading happiness literally made me feel small. We cannot buy happiness but happiness can always be acquired through one’s true sense of humanity.

Rupinder Kaur