Bhavana in Taj

[minisoji]

Bhavana in Taj




There are some places in the world which I have listed as `must see' for at least once in my life time. The list included Taj Mahal, the pyramids of Egypt and the Buckingham palace and list goes on. When the chance came for some trips as part of shooting in India and abroad, I got to see different places, not matching to my `must see' list, like Vienna, Malayisa, Singapore, Thailand , Pondicherry , Leh etc. So when Mathrubhumi Yathra invited me for a trip to Taj Mahal, that was like fulfilling my lifetime wish.



While heading for the journey on the next day of Chirtsmas I saw yesteryear actress Sheelamma in the airport. I was reluctant at first to go near her. But I went towards her and I was happy . ``Hi Bhavana, I have seen your films, you are improving '', when she said so I was on cloud nine . That compliement was an energy booster for me. A gift, which I bagged from the dream girl of yesteryear Malayalam cinema. She was going to Chennai . As our flight was ready to take off, we bid her bye and proceeded to the flight.



When the flight landed in Mumbai before proceeding to Delhi, the memories of terror attacks ran to my mind. Though the city is calm outside, something must be burning inside. When the flight was flying low, the city life was visible like a portrait. It is Mumbai, the life must be back to normalcy for sure. But how to heal the wound? What would be the circumstances creating terrorists?At that moment I remembered Sameera, the character I played in the film `Daivanamathil(In the name of God), directed by Jayaraj sir. Sameera with her life, opened the eye of at least one terrorist . If there were more Sameeras. The thoughts went over.

When we landed at Delhi it was 5 pm. The sun was setting. Don't look amusive hearing about dusk in 5 pm. Delhi is like this nowada ys , the night falls so early.



The next day we were ready at early morning 4 am.While passing through the mist covered cities with lights, the streets were still enjoying the slumber under the blankets but in some places, a usual day was beginning. 180 km to Agra from there, a board indicated. Then came a tea shop. We stopped the car to warm ourselves with a tea. After having a ginger tea the mist in mind vanished and we were all set to go. The road side activities were gettig ready for another day , some villagers were sitting near the fire side . Mustard flowers blossomed in the fields on the road sides.

Our first destination was Madhura, the birth place of Lord Sri Krishna. When we alighted, a group came with the indications of a number of restrictions inside. No cameras, mobile phones….. When I reached in front of the temple, there were strict examinations. All electric equipment including mobiles were not allowed. Even if we reach inside after all these, there is no peace inside the temple as that place too is sorrounded by gunman. Kannan who was born in a prison, seemed like still in a prison.

We hurredely covered the area and went on to Agra. Suddenly I saw my picture in a board kept in front of a shop . I screamed .'Look at my picture'. Hearing this our Hindi driver Ramesh stopped the car. 'Look my picture is being used in the board as a model'. Praveen captured the scene in his camera. 'That's why the shop is closed now', my brother teased me. 'When they surfed the internet for a model, they saw a beauty like Aishwarya Rai.Then they might have used it', I commented. I feel proud as there is no picture of any other Malayalee actress in Madhura.


We had our breakfast from a road side hotel.When every one ordered for Puri and dosai, photographer Praveen ordered for continental breakfast. When dosa and puri arrived, there was no trace of continental . Oh that might take more time for preparation, we thought. When we asked the waiter, he said here it comes. At last it came. Four pieces of bread, amul butter and a piece of jam. Everyone burst out to laugh. Praveen never ordered for food of his choice in any other place. Whatever you poeple eat , that is my choice too, that was the stand.

We were in Sikandra, at the Tomb of Akbar the Great. Akbar put me in dilemma duirng my school days. I still remember how I byhearted the Akbar's rule amendments. We had to reach the tomb through a long corridor. There sat a gate keeper. He asked us to put money and pay respects. When we put Rs 10 here, he said `Allahu Akbar' loudley which echoed in the building.


My mind always wished to go to Agra to see Taj. The car would be allowed upto 6 km distance from Taj. Then only environmental friendly vehicles like battery car, camel carts and horse carts etc are allowed. We travelled in battery car. When we reached, there stood the Taj Mahal and out side was the long queue extending kilometers . If we stood in the queue we won't be able to see Taj on that day. Then what to do.

When we were scraching our head in confusion, there appeared a man. His name is Ram Singh. He asked us to follow him. Taj has another gate and we can go through that way. He ensured us that he would get us in. I felt a mild fear in some part of my mind though me too was following him . We were walking inside a large building and there were huge stairs. There was no light . We were in doubt. But Ram Singh said `Jeldi awo, jeldi awo'. Our doubt intensified when he said the same. Still we followed him in the stairs. The stairs lead us to a congested street which had the total villain set up of a hindi film. A person wearing cooling glass and long hair was playing with a cricket ball. One person was standing in other side with a a crude look.For a moment I remembered action herione Vijayasanthi. Don't make me an action heroine. Ram Singh repeated to come fast.

We follwoed him and reached in front of a gate. There too long queus were extending to kilometers. Ram Singh disappeared for a moment and came back with tickets in his hand. His men were in the queue. The checking followed there too .

Once we were inside the Taj, all the bad vibes were out. We, for some time, bid bye to terror fears in the beauty of Taj. There is no use to stand with fear in front of this beauty. While caning photos in different poses, memories of Mumthaz captured my mind. 400 years back , on the second day of the completion of the construction of Taj, Shajahan stood there with daughter Gouhara Begum in memory of the loss of his better half.

While standing here as a tourist , I think I was Mumthaz during my previous brith. May be it is. The person who helped us to get inside might be a worker in the palace during that time. 'Oh my dear Shajahan Here i am coming', I was wishing so say this loudly.

Taj is under threats due to environmental pollution. The taj is affected by the sulphur dioxide emitted by near by factories and carbon dioxide emnated from vehicles which had affected the marbles.

During this time, my brother was not seen among us. 'Don't worry we will find him out', other said . But I said I am not tensed . Though I said so, my mother understood how tensed I am. Though there were instructions to switch off mobile, we had to siwtch it on as there was no other way. When I switched on the phone the first call was from him. He was also under tension missing us. Then we located him shortly .



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