ETUNAGARAM TOUR ( EPISODE - 02 )

Travel Agent: - Yes, Sir, tell me, where you people want to go?

Prady: - We want to go to Hyderabad. We want Non – A/C Volvo seats only.

Travel Agent: - Ok, for two people, you have to give 1000 bucks, that is 500 bucks each. The bus will start from here at 6.30 PM.

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Arindam: - Ha ha ha…the name of this travel agency is ‘Bengal travels’ and they are doing business in Chennai.

Travel Agent: - Sir, the bus has come. Please board the bus.

Prady: - Hmm…the condition of the Non- A/C Volvo buses of Bengal Travels are much better than that of Shameem Travels of Secunderabad.

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Arindam: - The Volvo driver is an expert one. He is speeding through the highway. I am feeling hungry, boss. It is already 9.30 PM.

Prady: - Don’t worry, they will stop at a roadside dhaba for half an hour. There we will have Rumaali Roti and Egg Tadka curry. The engine of this bus is very good. At least, it is not like that Volvo of Shameem Travels. It took around 16 hours for that bus to reach Chennai from Hyderabad.

Arindam: - I was also feeling very uncomfortable while seeing that Telugu film of Manoj Babu, which they were playing in the VCD player inside the bus. The actor, who has done the role of villain in opposite to Manoj Babu in that film, won the National Award for the film ‘Kanchivaram’.

Prady: - Sorry, boss. I am not interested in these South Indian films. The bus has reached the dhaba. Let us get down and have our dinner.

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Arindam: - Hey, just close the window. I am feeling cold now. Oho! Already, it is 4.45 AM. Babah, when I fell asleep inside the bus, I don’t know.

Prady: - Hey, just look out of the window. Can you recognize that backwater lake?

Arindam: - Oh! Yes, this is Nagarjuna Sagar only. Baapre, in this month of February 2009, it is very cold in this Nagarjuna forest area. Why the bus has stopped here?

Prady: - Oh! They have stopped in front of a restaurant. Come on; let us have some tea and snacks here.

Arindam: - Hmm…we are standing in front of a highway restaurant of Nagarjuna forest. Everywhere, I can see dense forests only. This forest must be the paradise for tigers.

Prady: - Yeah, there is no doubt about that. The vegetation of this Nagarjuna forest is very much suited for leopards and tigers. Wait; let me ask that tea-stall owner. Hello, bhaiya, is it proper Nagarjuna forest or is it the outskirts?

Tea Stall Owner: - Can you see that range on that side? From there, the range of core Nagarjuna forest area starts.

Prady: - How many Royal Bengal Tigers are there in this Nagarjuna forest?

Tea Stall Owner: - At least 56 are there? The forest department officials do not dare to enter the core area of Nagarjuna forest for performing the exact counting of royal Bengal tigers and leopards.

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Bus Conductor: - No sir, this Volvo will not go to Punjagutta or Paradise. Kacheguda is the last stoppage for this Volvo. You have to get down here only and take another bus to reach Anand Theater. Or, you can get down at Mehdipatnam, as this bus needs some repairing in the garage of that area.

Arindam: - Ok. Hey, Prady. Let us get down at Mehdipatnam and board the bus no. 45.