Kashmir. Representative image.
Credit: iStock Photo
Kashmir—everyone’s dream destination! We were excited when an opportunity arose to visit this paradise. We landed in Srinagar on a fine summer day and immediately I felt the nip in the air suffusing my whole body. Snow-clad mountains stood like sentinels, far from the hustle and bustle of an urban mayhem.
Due to security reasons at the time, we were escorted to a bus and taken to the tourist office in the city centre. There, hoteliers and travel agents swarmed around us, persuading us to patronise their hotels. I joined in the haggling and managed to secure a good deal.
After collecting our luggage, we were about to leave for the hotel when a shabbily dressed local approached me. “Saab, you like houseboat?” he asked. I have always been fascinated by houseboats, and his question piqued my interest. When I hesitated, he pressed me, “Please try my boat. It will be a unique experience to lie down and let the waters of Dal Lake lap your feet.” His sales pitch was persuasive, but I had already booked a hotel room.
Seeing my predicament, he took me aside and pleaded, “why don’t you come with me, saab, and take a look at my houseboat. You can then choose where you want to stay.”
“Where is your houseboat?” I asked him.
“It’s only a stone’s throw,” he said. “We can go and come back in no time,” he assured me. So, leaving the children at the tourist office in the care of my wife, I went to inspect his houseboat. After walking for about two km in the biting cold, I had my first panoramic view of Dal Lake dotted with shikaras gliding over the water. What a breathtaking sight! I also had a look around the interior of the shikara. It was not five-star comfort, but it afforded a beautiful natural environment. My host was full of warmth and charm. After the tour, he insisted that I have a cup of tea in his traditional crockery, while he regaled me with stories of Kashmir.
It was late by the time I hurried back to the bus depot and my brood. But my dear family was nowhere to be seen! They had disappeared in a strange place, with no one to care for them. Panic set in as I frantically searched for them. The counters were closing one by one, as flights were prohibited after nightfall. After repeated enquiries at the bus depot, I finally met someone who took me to an inner room. They were there—my wife and children—safe and sound!
The good Samaritan had not only provided shelter to the children, but also seen to it that they were well fed. When I expressed my gratitude, he berated me for my negligence. I swallowed his well-deserved harangue quietly. But for him my paradise could have been lost even before I had put one foot in it.
This incident was not without consequences; I had to endure my wife’s wrath for months on end.