“From Bangalore to Pune: A Road Trip, Family, and the Quest for Paan”
Part One: The Long Road to Pune — A Journey Fueled by Memories and Paan
Last December, during the final two weeks, I embarked on an exciting road trip from Bangalore to Pune. With relatives waiting for us in Pune, the thought of spending vacation time with them was incredibly exciting. During a previous visit to Pune, my sadhu (my wife’s brother in-law) and I used to head to Magarpatta every evening to enjoy Paan from a Mithila shop. Those memories stayed with me, and I was eager to relive them on this trip.
As with any trip involving kids, there was some initial hesitation. I have two kids — a 6-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son. The thought of traveling with the little one made me reluctant at first, but the excitement of the trip pulled us in. We quickly made a plan: On Day 1, we would travel from Bangalore to Hubli, stay at Hotel Metropolis, and visit the Chitra Durga fort on the way. But, as often happens, the fort visit was eventually dropped.
After nearly 10 hours of driving, we reached Hubli. Due to road blockages and diversions, it was a little tricky finding the hotel, but we managed. The hotel parking was small, and parking my car felt almost like a driving test, but thankfully, no crashes! Once we made it to the room, it was amazing — a top-floor upgrade, free of charge. After freshening up, we decided to enjoy dinner and get some rest, preparing for Day 2’s journey from Hubli to Pune.
Here’s where the catch came in.
When I booked the hotel, I made sure to select a package that included free breakfast. When we went down to eat, the variety of food was simply awesome. I couldn’t resist indulging. I turned to my wife and said, “I’m going to enjoy this breakfast now, even if it means we start the journey a little late today.” So, I fully immersed myself in the meal. As a result, we didn’t leave the hotel until nearly 9 a.m. the next day, which caused a delay.
I had assumed the roads to Pune would be smooth, especially given the hefty toll taxes we were paying. It felt like the government was taking a significant portion of our earnings — about 60%, which seemed excessive, especially when we didn’t see immediate benefits. But, that’s a topic for another blog.
Once we hit the road, the reality was far from my expectations. The roads were full of diversions, and the delays piled up. To pass the time, I discovered a new feature in my car, a Nexon: sport mode. It was quick and smooth, but boy, did it consume a lot of petrol! Still, it made the drive more enjoyable.
Meanwhile, my kids were growing bored. My younger son kept bothering my wife, and my daughter kept asking the same question, “Kab pahunchenge?” (“When will we reach?”). But after nearly 13 long hours, we finally reached Pune. The relief was palpable, and the excitement of reuniting with family made it all worth it.
As for my “co-driver” during this entire journey? It wasn’t the car or the road. It was my love for Paan, always there to keep me company through the long drive.
Part Two: The Warm Welcome, Tooth Pain, and a Memorable Mumbai Trip
As we reached Pune on Sunday night, we were warmly welcomed by our relatives, and the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement. Everyone had prepared an elaborate dinner, and although I was exhausted after the long journey, seeing family again was invigorating. The effort and love that went into the arrangements made it feel like home.
After a delicious dinner, we enjoyed a special cake made by my Sarhoj (my brother-in-law’s wife). But the best part of the evening was when my sadhu and I decided to take a walk to relax. As we strolled through the neighborhood, we discussed the usual topics — jobs, politics, village matters, and everything in between. It was the perfect way to unwind after the stressful drive from Bangalore to Pune.
As the week began, everyone was preparing for work, but we had something exciting planned for Christmas Eve — our trip to Mumbai. One of my cousins had suggested that we visit the Shri Siddhivinayak Temple after the birth of my son, so it felt like the right time to go. However, as the days went on, my excitement began to fade. I suddenly developed a cold and fever, and to make matters worse, a toothache started. The pain was so intense that I couldn’t eat anything, and one of my teeth was impacted, which almost spoiled the entire trip.
The initial plan had been to travel to Mumbai in our own cars (mine and my sadhu’s), but my younger brother-in-law, seeing the discomfort I was in, suggested booking an Innova cab for the journey. At that point, it felt like a good idea, especially since I was struggling with the tooth pain.
Even though the pain didn’t subside throughout the trip, I somehow managed to go through the day. We started our Mumbai sightseeing with the iconic Shri Siddhivinayak Temple, then moved on to Taj Hotel, Gateway of India, Marine Drive, and finally, Juhu Beach. While we were planning to visit Juhu Beach, my sadhu was insistent on seeing the houses of the legendary Amitabh Bachchan and the late Rajesh Khanna. I, on the other hand, was eager to finish the sightseeing and head back to the Pune so I could rest, as my tooth pain was relentless.
But once we arrived at Juhu Beach, all the pain and exhaustion faded away. It was a well-managed, clean beach, and it felt like the perfect place to relax. The kids, especially Aadija, Arshu, and Aarav (my daughter and nephews), had an amazing time, making the trip all the more worthwhile.
On the way to Mumbai, we had one hiccup — my younger brother-in-law’s wife wasn’t able to join us because of the limited space in the cab. This became the perfect opportunity to tease him throughout the journey, making for some lighthearted moments. Finally, after a full day of sightseeing, we returned back to Pune that night, exhausted but content with the memorable trip we had shared.
One thing I missed out on during the entire trip was enjoying my beloved paan from Pune and Mumbai — something I had been looking forward to.
Part 3: The Toothache, the Dentist, and Unexpected Surprises
After returning from our Mumbai trip, I was hoping that the tooth pain would subside on its own, but it only got worse. The pain became unbearable, and I knew I couldn’t delay any longer. The very next morning, I decided to visit a dentist near my sadhu’s residence in Pune. I was praying to God, hoping that everything would be okay, as the pain was affecting my mood and energy.
I reached the clinic early in the morning and waited for about 15 minutes at the reception. When the doctor finally called me in, I was both nervous and relieved. The dentist was young and very polite, which immediately put me at ease. He asked the usual questions about my lifestyle — whether I smoked, drank, or chewed anything. I couldn’t help but mention my love for Paan, a habit I had developed over the years. He listened attentively and then examined the infected tooth carefully. After a thorough inspection, he explained that the pain could be managed with a three-day course of medication.
The doctor reassured me that if the pain subsided after the three-day treatment, I would not need any further intervention. However, if the pain persisted, an RCT (Root Canal Treatment) would likely be necessary. Despite the anxiety of potentially needing more treatment, I felt a bit more hopeful with a clear course of action ahead.
As I was about to leave, I asked the doctor about the fee for the consultation. To my surprise, it was only 150 INR. Coming from Bangalore, where the standard dental checkup fee is at least 500 INR, this was a pleasant shock. I was genuinely impressed not just by the affordability but also by the quality of care I had received. The doctor had given me the attention I needed, and the cost felt incredibly reasonable for the service provided.
I later discussed this with my Sadhu. We both agreed that the cost of healthcare in Pune seemed much more affordable compared to Bangalore, but the level of service remained just as good, if not better. It was a refreshing realization about the practical differences in healthcare costs between cities, and it made me appreciate the local healthcare system even more.
After starting the prescribed medication, which included a special painkiller that provided instant relief, I finally felt some reprieve from the toothache. The painkiller worked wonders, and for the first time in days, I could eat and speak without excruciating discomfort. While I had many plans to explore nearby places in Pune, I was limited by my recovery. I had to rest and take it easy, so most of the days were spent recuperating rather than sightseeing. However, I was grateful for the relief the medication provided, even if it meant not being able to visit all the places I had hoped to.
We stayed at my sadhu’s residence for about a week, enjoying the time spent with family and catching up on much-needed relaxation. By the end of the week, we decided to move to my brother-in-law’s place for the remaining days before our return to Bangalore. Staying there allowed us to bond with them and make the most of our last days in Pune before our journey back home.
