Journey with Scorpio

                                 It was my prayer to visit the famous hilltop temple, climbing the hill by foot, if my Scorpio manages to push open the doors to the ace Business School of the country. Not to forget: Together. That’s how I and Scorpio set out on our journey to bliss with just 32 hours to spare, no pre-planning and no plans to stay over in any hotel since we were not even officially engaged and hadn’t sought permission from our parents for the trip. Two things we wish had known before we started off. The day we were planning to visit the Temple deity was a holiday for almost whole of South India. And it was a special day for Him as in He will go to bed at 12 o’clock that night and will be open for darshan at an odd 10 o’clock next morning after a grand makeover. Nevertheless we took off oblivious to these.

                      The mango people’s Volvo: Non-AC Interstate AL Bus took its own time and dumped us at the Temple foothills. At 4 P.M., we started climbing our way up. As we had a time crunch, we couldn’t make leisure halts as others. After the true test of endurance and willpower, we made it puffing and panting to the abode in 4 hours soaked in our own sweat. We took another hour to find the tail end of the queue almost tending to infinity. The Deity was acting pricier that day with millions thronging the place to catch one glimpse of Him. We waited and waited in queue…for almost 6 hours. Our eyes were prying for people who looked like us. Meaning Techies or young crowd. There were none. Bulging eyes on the tonsured heads were staring at us like we had eloped from our hometown to get married there. Well Scorpio took good care of me like a Bouncer never letting the pouncing crowd touch me or never letting me get squashed in between the sweaty bodies. At 12 o’clock we were still in queue about yards away from the unseen deity. Then came the sudden bang on the back of our heads. A man declared that Deity will be open again for devotees next morning at 10 o’clock. After hushed voices of dissent among devotees, they started chanting Hymns aloud in protest. I heard my Scorpio too yelling his throat off. After long standing drama unfolding till 2 A.M. we were let in…. got a glimpse of God...in his sleep wear..!! Without his trademark ornate swanky getup. We got bliss. We returned and made it on time to our respective shacks.

                     Not for my Scorpio I wouldn’t have climbed 11km uphill in 4 hours. Not for him I wouldn’t have patiently stood in queue for 6 hours (added advantage of stealing glances, talking sweet nothings.. just being together). Not for him I wouldn’t have had the best meal of our lives: hot steamy dosas from a single plate from an untidy street shop after 14 hours of starving. Tomorrow we may visit Alps or Pisa or Pyramids, but this one journey would never lose its sheen. For me he is the quintessential man who swept me off my feet at first sight and still manages to keep me afloat. Not that I am put up at cloud number nine. I am very regularly dragged into deep abyss of agony and self-pity by the man. It has withstood all and risen from the ashes like the mythic phoenix. I am a Leo stung for life by this Scorpio. Never wanting to get rid of the venom. EVER..!