Title: Reflections through the Windscreen
Author: Gaurav Khattar
Publisher: White Falcon Publishing
Genre: Biography
Pages: 114
It's not the destination that matters. It's always the journey, and this book is a reflection of that. This is a very different type of book. The author narrates his road trip experiences. He drives 5 cars throughout the course of his life, which he names them, affectionately: Bison, Chamko, Ustaad, Haathi and Owl. Each vehicle is special, as the journeys undertaken by them is immemorial.
Millenials would particularly be able to relate with his anecdotes, like how he reminisices Premier Padmini as his first car. Even my Dad had it and I could easily relate the smooth transition to Maruti 800 and Santro.
From various points in the Himalayas like Chopta to Chanshal Pass to Chakrata, to cities like Amritsar and then way down to the South, like Bengaluru, through the Golden Quadrilateral, the author has fathomed the length and breadth of the country on his various machines. What I have inferred is that he has a special place in his heart for the mountains. Well, for any North Indian ( Delhi NCR resident to be precise), driving to the Himalayas is definitely the easiest form of escape.
His SUV like Haathi (what an apt name) has been a witness of the uncertainty of the hilly roads, which can't be even called roads after all. He has gotten stuck at various instances, but his machines especially Haathi has drove him through dark forests, and had almost given up while on the way to Kullu, but the author had full faith in him.
He took out his Haathi only, after a full year of being inside during the pandemic. The way he describes freedom when he reaches Mukteshwar can only be felt, not articulated.
Some of his journeys are very emotional too. He was in his Haathi only, when his father was on his death bed. He didn't drive for a week, after his father passed away. But when he finally turned the engine on, he rediscovered himself.
There are many lessons in this book, that demand introspection. The author has expressed them beautifully. Also his declaration that parking is personality, is something I fully resonate with.
His latest machine is the Toyota Hycross, whom he has named 'Owl'. So starting with the classic Premier Padmini 'Bison' to gradually conquering the roads on his Owl through the decades, it's been a profoundly eventful journey.
Overall it's a very easy read, big font and short tales. It's a really enjoyable book, especially if you are fond of road trips.
