Personal Experience: "Sudden Trip to Pedana"

On Wednesday 26th November' 2008 as usual i was working on my current project. I got a call from home (Hyderabad), that my uncle (Fathers younger sisters husband) has passed away due to Heart Attack. I was in a total shock as i saw him recently at my brothers marriage (September 22nd), he was hale and healthy. All sweet memories with him were flashing in my memory. Learnt that he will be cremated in pedana (Village near machilipatnam).

Then started enquiring for all the bus services (Public\Private) about the ticket availabilty to Vijayawada. We dont have direct buses to Pedana. To go to pedana, we have to go to vijayawada and from there to machilipatnam and from there to pedana. I searched online for availability of tickets. I got a link http://www.kesinenitravels.com/ through which i could know buses leaving to Vijaywada from bangalore. I didnt know that we have a site for online private bus bookings (I generally plan my schedule well ahead and book train tickets). I havent booked ticket online as i was not sure whether i can reach the bus on time.

I got a phone number of kesinenu travels @ kalasipalya 25527396. I asked if they have any bus leaving from koramangala as i stay there. There was one bus service (diwakar) which was leaving @ 5:30 pm from koramangala. I asked him to reserve a seat and will pay the amount as i reach there, but he didnt accept and told me to come to office to reserve the ticket.

It was already 4:00 in office and at once i closed all my work and took permission from Ravi (Team Lead) and started to bus stop. As soon as i reached bus stop got a volvo bus still check post (Near Forum). From there jogged to room and took my bag and came to Sri Venkateshwara travels, koramangala @ 5:15. I got a ticket and boarded the bus @ 5:45 pm.

Journey was all fine until midnight 1:00 am. As it was raining heavily Vovlvo bus got hit by a branch of a tree and glass was broken. As the driver applied breaks at once, bus was locked (In volvo buses there is a central locking mechanism which will come into picture when there is a sudden stop to vehicle). Bus drivers (There were two) and cleaner broke the whole front glass and jumped out of the window and tried to open the door from outside. At last with one of the co passengers advice they opened the screws of the door and completely removed the door. After all this drivers took a brave a decision to go on without font glass as it was still raining.

Cleaner tied few blankets in between the driver seat and passengers seats. So, we passengers not get the chilled blown air. After one hour of dicussions and suggesstions bus started, but it was not going at its normal speed as driver was not able to bear the rain and air blown into him while driving. With all these things finally bus reached Vijayawada @ 11 am.

From there i took a auto to Vijaywada Bus stand @ 10 rs. As soon as i reached Bus stand took a non-stop ticket to machilipatnam. I had 5 mins of time in between where i had my break fast. I reached machilipatnam @ 12:45 near lakshmi takies. There i got a city service and reached pedana @ 1:00 pm. But funeral was already done @ 11:00. According to our family customs and traditions we dont keep bodies more than 24 hours.

Met aunt and consoled her, but she was unconsolable. Then Abba (Dad) took me to the burial ground where uncle (May his soul rest in peace) was buried. I was late by 2 hours or else would have seen him for one last time.
Dad showed few places where our fore fathers (May there souls rest in peace) were buried. Our family origin is from pedana, all our forefathers (May there souls rest in peace) hail from pedana. That's why everyones last wish will be to get buried at the same place.

Then met all our family members and came back to machilipatnam @ 3 pm, me and abba had chapathi near by tiffin center at Lakshmi Takies. Went to my grand fathers place which is quite adjacent to police head quarters in machilipatnam. Had shower then started to vijaywada @ 5 pm with ammi, abba and few relatives in qualis who had come from Hyderabad. They left me in vijaywada @ 7 pm and they Proceeded to Hyderbad.

I got a ticket to Bengaluru @ 8 pm Bus, in the mean time had tiffin. Bus came @ 8:15 pm and once all the passengers settled it started and reached Bengaluru the next day @ 10 am. Reached room @ 11:00 and got ready and started to office.