Life after Hatching

by Pranit Wanve (India)

A leap into the unknown India

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Watching the hatching of turtle eggs was on my bucket list for years and I wasn't missing it this time. From the group of 9 people while planning, we 2 left finally left for the trip. We boarded a local bus, the cheapest and most fun way to go around. It was 6 in the morning and out of sheer excitement I was sitting besides the driver. The route was so serene, by the shore, birds chirping, feeling of village with very small and muddy houses with chimneys. In villages, water is heated on chulhas by burning wood causing smoke which was mixing with the morning haze all over. Something was different no traffic, no advertising boards, very less people around The picture of villages was different nowadays with dish TV disks on all the houses, roads, shops, but this was different. There was nothing. We got down and asked for the beach, they showed us the way. We started walking, they said it was far and ask again ahead because there are no proper signs on the way. Cellphones had no network in the village. We finally reached the beach, it always gives you the gigantic, nostalgic feel to come from a small way and suddenly see that wide shore and unending sky and sea. Luckily we found a local who was doing something around the nest. The turtle nests were so beautifully made with soft and clear sand and evenly spaced holes. Old lads are very happy and eager to share things with people. Our conversation started with that usual question, hey where are you from? We told him and then he started telling us, how the villagers clean the beach, find the eggs, collect them and make a proper nest so they are protected and not eaten up by wild animals. How they calculate the hatching dates and let those little ones flow into the sea. I couldn't hold the excitement and asked him when will we be able to see it. He started laughing and said not today boy. I suddenly felt so low and couldn't understand how should I react. He saw my face and said come with me to the village will show you something. We went in cursing everything and every decision we took. Kids were leaving for school very happily calling their friends from other homes. Women were cleaning the area infront of the house. We went to the house of that old man and he offered us a drink named taadi, its made from coconut trees by tying a earthen pot to it. One gulp of it and I was so refreshed. It had a effect like clean pack of scotch. He knew that we would be surprised by it so he was already laughing at us. I was so happy and in seconds I felt like home, a connect with those people, that place. The same emotions, respect, happiness. The innocent smiles are so contagious. Everyone in the village knew that some kids have come from Mumbai and people were gathering to ask us question out of curiosity. Do all film stars live in Mumbai? Have you ever met them? How tall are the buildings there? Everything must be so high priced there? We had 3-4 invitations for lunch now and it was sad we could complete only one and had to leave. I just remembered what I came for, even after not getting to see a single turtle I was so joyous, surprised and satisfied from inside. Wherever you go the humans are same. Emotions, problems, excitement. Just the ways to look at everything are different. No network, less connectivity, working together, collective efforts towards nature had made those people something different. I was hardly 6 hours in the village and I had gone through every possible emotion. It just reminded me what a human being is. Its humanity, culture, nature we preserve, we celebrate that makes us who we are. Travel, explore and expand.