“Kabhi kabhi, dhoop se dosti zaruri hoti hai… tab jaake chhaanv ka asli matlab samajh mein aata hai.”
Kutch — naam hi kaafi hai.
Kahi jale hue mitti ke tone, kahi laal rang ke bandhni, aur kahi un logon ki aankhon mein ek ajeeb si roshni… jo sirf mitti se mohabbat karne walon ke paas hoti hai.
Is baar ka safar Rann ke chamak ke liye nahi tha.
Yeh tha… us asli Kutch ko mehsoos karne ke liye, jo postcards aur reels ke baahar rehta hai.
🛣️ Safar Ki Shuruaat: Jab Dhoop Ne Gale Lagaya
Garmi apne peak par thi.
Gaadi ka AC bhi thoda thak gaya tha, lekin hum nahi.
Main aur mera cousin nikle the Kutch ke ander ke gaavon ki taraf — ek plan tha: explore karna, bina kisi fixed plan ke.
“Plan wahi hota hai jisme kuch bhi planned na ho.”
Shaal, chashma, aur ek bottle paani — aur hum nikle.
Raste mein mitti ki khushboo, kabhi ek jeep mein baitha local, kabhi door chalte camel — sab kuch ek kahani jaise lag raha tha.
🧵 Ek Gaav, Ek Aadmi Aur Ek Patang Wala Aangan
Ek chhote se gaav mein ek budha baba mile —
Chaar-paanch bachche unke aangan mein patang uda rahe the.
Woh shade mein baithkar bas unhe dekh rahe the — ek dum shaant chehra.
Hum wahan ruk gaye.
Unhone bina pooche humein chhaav mein baitha liya.
Ek kulhad mein thandi chaach mili, aur unhone bola:
“Beta, Kutch ki dhoop se darna nahi chahiye…
yeh hi dhoop toh tumhare andar ki thandak jagati hai.”
Us moment ne sab thakavat mita di.
Ek baar ke liye laga — sukoon koi mahal mein nahi, ek mitti ke aangan mein baitha hota hai.
🛍️ Local Haat: Jahan Dhoop Mein Bhi Rang Milte Hain
Aage ek haat mila — chhoti chhoti chhatriyon ke neeche baithi artisan auratein, jinka kaam dekhkar laga jaise dhoop ke canvas pe koi poetry likhi ho.
Hand-embroidered bags, mirror work, and chhoti chhoti smile…
Unhone hume roka nahi, bas dekha… aur fir unke paas baithi ek chhoti si ladki ne puchha:
“Aap dilli se aaye ho?”
Maine bola: “Nahi, Gujarat ka hi hoon bhai.”
Wo muskuraayi — “Toh hum ek hi rang ke hai.” 😄
“Rang kabhi kapdon mein nahi, muskaan mein hota hai.”
🌅 Shaam Wahi Hoti Hai Jahan Dil Ruk Jaaye
Shaam hone lagi thi.
Hum ek chhoti pahadi ke paas the, jahan se neeche pura gaav dikhta tha.
Wahan ek neem ka ped tha — uske neeche baithkar sirf hawa feel ki.
Koi network nahi, koi notification nahi…
Bas ek khamoshi, jo chillane wali nahi thi — samjhane wali thi.
“Zindagi ka sabse bada gift hai… woh pal jisme sirf tum ho. Aur kuch bhi nahi.”
💭 Kutch Ne Kya Sikhaya?
- Dhoop se darte ho toh chhaanv mehsoos nahi hoti
- Plan-free travel sabse zyada yaadein deta hai
- Local log aur mitti ke pal hi sabse asli hoti hai
- Sukoon koi resort mein nahi… kabhi ek neem ke ped ke neeche bhi milta hai
“Chale the Kutch ki dhoop mein…
par wapas aaye ek chhoti si chhaanv le kar,
jo ab tak mere dil mein thandi si hawa banke chal rahi hai.”