Saturday - Long Day Travelling

Yesterday, it was Bhaji Satpal Singh and Bhenji Harmeet Kaur's Anand Kaaraj (wedding) at Slough Gurdwara. It was a beautiful wedding, and the first Anand Kaaraj of an Amritdhari Gursikh couple, which I have seen. So it was a new experience, which I am grateful to Waheguru for.

On Friday night I stayed at Halls, and didn't go back. But the the wedding card was at home, and my parents had gone out some where. So, I didn't know what time the wedding was. Obviously, it was going to be in the morning (not exactly going to happen at 12 o'clock at night or something, well unless its a Rainsbayee Keertan Anand Kaaraj). So I texted my friend Amritpal Singh to ask the time. He texted back "9am sharp." So I assumed it would be 10am GM time.

I took the tube to Paddington, from where I took a train to Slough. The train took about 30 to 35 minutes. Chalo, I got to Slough. I noted down from the internet which bus to take to get to Ramgarhia Gurdwara, Woodland Avenue. According to the London Transport website I should have taken BUS 81, from STOP 4 at the bus station, which should got me to the Gurdwara in 15 minutes.

First of all I asked the taxi driver in Panjabi "Where's Ramgarhia Gurdwara." Poor bloke didn't have a clue. Then I asked about the bus station. Thankfully (Rab Da Shukar) he knew where that was (probably because it was just up the road). I saw a BUS 81 parked to the side. Thank you God! I got there, and double my luck, it was an elderly Gursikh bus driver. I said GurFateh with him and asked whether his bus was going near Ramgharia Gurdwara (apparently the internet said the bus goes to Windsor Avenue or Slough High Street, from where its a 5 minute walk).

WAHEGUROO! The Bus driver Bhai Sahib hadn't even HEARD OF RAMGARHIA GURDWARA, forget driving me there! O Deary me! Sachee, it was unbelievable. Chalo, Rab De Rang! I continued to walk in the bus station trying to tout about looking for a Singh or Panjabi-looking person. No luck! I went and sat at STOP 4, as indicated on the internet. The Bus eventually arrives. Guess what? THE BUS DRIVER IS THE SAME ELDERLY GURSIKH, which I just spoke to 5 minutes earlier. Sat Naam, Waheguroo!

He said that he has a feeling that the Gurdwara I wish to go to is in the opposite direction to where he is going. I said, "Shall I ask a Gora on the bus." He said that Gore don't know much. Then I asked shall I ask the Apna-looking person (but I think he was either South Indian or something similar) so he said leave it. I was thankful to the Bhai Sahib that he ensured that I was not going in the wrong direction, and therefore advised me to ask someone else at the bus station.

RAB DA SHUKAR. I found an old Baba jee and Bibi jee coming off a bus. I asked them "Baba jee, I want to go to Ramgarhia Gurdwara, can you help me?" The Baba jee was very helpful and very nicely gave me the directions how to get there. It was now 10 o'clock. I was hoping that I didn't miss the Chaa & Samosay, lol. So, I started jogging. As I jogged through the subway, I saw a Singh uncle jee. He started to smile when he saw me. I think it was because of the fact I was wearing a Kurta Pyjama and Hazooria wrapped around me and jogging away (considering usually you just imagine Singhs eating Langar, and eating more Langar. Waheguru!).

He was wearing an African white Pagh (turban). So, I thought just to be on the safe side I would ask him whether I was going in the right direction to Ramgarhia Gurdwara. He said yes. So that was reassuring. As I was walking up the road, I saw a Singh taxi drive and waved at me. I waved back. In the back of mind I was hoping he would stop and ask to give me a lift, lol. But it was flowing traffic. Udhaa, it looked like he would have stopped.

Eventually, got to Woodland Avenue and saw the Nishaan Sahib flying in air. Its such a great feeling to see a Nishaan Sahib in the air from a far distance. On entering the Gurdwara I bumped into Tegpal Singh from King's and his sister. Guess what? I hadn't missed the Chaa & Samosay, lol. It was great to see everyone, however, bit disturbed to see a growing number of shrinking dastaars and sprayed down daaris (beards). lol.

Satpal Singh, vah vi vah. He looked great in his blue embroided chola and and blue dumalla. Not only were the Chaa & Samosay sawaad and tastey, but the keertan was also very sweet! The Keertanis sang a few shabads in title Raag, which was good to hear.


To be continued...