@@ Bhim, RajasthanWith Vikram Singh Parivar

Most of my journeys begin at petrol pumps because that’s the venue where my ‘costly’ vehicles wait for me. This time, it’s no different. Mercurio Pallia Logistics, a car carrier vehicle, awaited my arrival on the outskirts of Manesar, Haryana to take

me down south in 2011.

Vikram Singh (left) with his youngest brother Raju was at the wheels. Day ONE is always tough as we both try to size up each other, since both are stranger to each

other.

Less than an hour after we left Manesar, Vikram Singh halted his vehicle to introduce yet another brother, Soham Singh, who again is a truck driver working for

a two-wheeler carrier company.

Raju Singh was at the steering with his eldest brother, Vikram, watching from behind. Raju is not on the rolls of the transport company employing Vikram. But the

eldest brother has taken his younger brother under his wings to ‘teach’ him truck driving. This is how ‘truck driving’ is taught in India. No formal driver training

schools. Raju will become a full fledged driver in 2 years’ time.

Vikram Singh, though not at the wheels, is watchful of his younger brother Raju’s driving on Indian Highways. All said and done, it is Vikram who is responsible for

safe delivery of vehicles this car carrier is ferrying. Not Raju.

As we pass through Bhim, 100 km from Ajmer in Rajasthan, Vikram suggests a short halt. Bhim is his village and he wants to visit the family. This is nothing unusual in

Indian trucking scenario. Everyone is fully aware of such happenings.

Halt @ Bhim decided. But where to stop because you cannot park a 22 metre long vehicle on the roadside in busy towns. Just outside Bhim village, a roadside tea stall

is identified for parking. The owner turns out to be from Vikram’s village. He will take care of vehicle when he is away inside Bhim.

Village visit tempts me to revisit my own forgotten village connections. Finding a well on the road to Bhim village, we decide to take ‘bath’. But for the long line of villagers lining up to fetch water from this well for drinking purposes, we would

have prolonged our ‘bathing’ ritual!

Vikram’s nephew is getting engaged and that’s the reason, he would like to halt and visit his village. Just not that alone. We also stay for one more night to attend

another wedding in the neighbouring village.. All the while, the delivery is delayed!

Sonam Singh, father of Vikram and four other sons, leads a blissful life on the mountainside of Bhim. The entire family lives together with cattle. All sons are into

truck driving, influenced by Vikram’s uncle, who himself was a truck driver. Strangely, the family is vegetarian, but all sons eat meat, fish & egg.

Each son has his own

sleeping room. Kitchen is common.

Cattle sheds are there. Lot of space for children to

play.

Daughter-in-laws cook by

rotation. Vegetables are grown in the backyard and goat milk is

accessed when needed.

Sons visit home on their delivery routes. Halt vehicle on highways, come home, spend a day or two and go away. Household items bought en route are regularly brought home for collective consumption. And … they have no regrets. Five sons,

five truck drivers. Not too many?

Goodbye!