I had been to Raichur, my home town last weekend. To tell you frankly, there is nothing special about this place. It is sometimes compared to some sub-African places when it comes to development. It is a district Head quarter but has been long forgotten by the politicians. It still has those dusty-bumpy roads, bus-stand in pathetic state, non-computerized RTO, non-functional whether forecast centre and many to list out. It has been in same state since 8-10 years. But i still love this place. It gives me an unknown joy. Every street i look at gives me a nostalgic feeling of the past. It fills my mind with beautiful memories when i see the huge rocky hills, the central lake, nearby temples and above all my colony i lived in.
     I was riding my bike to my schoolmate's house. Venkatesh was riding pillion. We all call him Khandey(Khandey Rao of Tippu sultan!!). We were passing by a temple, situated close to my school and my home. It is Nandishwara Temple. Every time i see this temple i always laugh to myself remembering a funny incident that happened many years ago. <flash back>tuuuueeeee.....<flash back>
     It was Ganapathi festival's nimarjan day. It had rained the previous day. We were waiting in front of our Headmistress’s chamber. Almost everyone from my class and some of our seniors(10th class students) were ready to attend the procession. We had to go to the lake which is adjacent to Nandishawar temple for immersion of the Ganesh idol. One teacher had to accompany us. Some of our classmates suggested our librarian Mr. Panduranga (popularly know as James Paund) with some intension running background. He was always a 'pro-girls' teacher. He wouldn't lend any useful books. He was hardly in his 30s, but obese enough to compete Lord Ganesh. The bakra obliged. The boisterous crowd of students set out with the idol on a hand-pulled cart (the one which is usually used by fruit, vegetable vendors) chanting "Ganapathi Bappa Moriya...".
     Once the nimarjan was over everyone was tired and so was our teacher. He was already taking long breathes thinking of walking all the way back to the school. "Sir, why dont you sit on the cart? we will pull the cart to the school", said one student. "Oh! thats ok boys", smilingly relied Mr. Paund (with smiles as if we really meant it).
"Sir, Please sir. That's not a problem for us"
"OK, if you all insist so much". He sat on the cart relaxing his tummy which almost rested on the cart. Looked like a mini-Ganapathi. Seeing this, boys gathered around the cart. They began pulling the cart. The road now had an uphill. To one side of the road was an old grave yard. The other side was a shore of the lake. The boys pulled the cart to a certain height on the elevation and suddenly everyone released the cart take a free ride down slope, perfectly as planned.
     "Oooooo....Hey! hold me", came the cry. Panduranga sir didn't ever expect this. His eyes wide open with his hands stretched outwards trying to catch the sky. It all happened in a flash. The cart came running down the slope. A stone on the ground blocked one of the wheel to further roll down. Practically i could see the Law of Inertia working as our science teacher told us. As soon as the speeding cart came to a sudden stop, Mr. Paund flew like a rocket and fell on the damp, muddy lake side. His clothes were full of dirt. Everyone started laughing loud and clapping. He picked a wooden stick on one hand and a stone on the other. He came raging at us like a wild bull. In no time we all ran to school laughing. The poor guy later made a complaint to the Headmistress. But nothing really happened later, as we managed to tell her that it was an accident. It was one of the funniest days of school.