Chapter 5: High Commissioner’s Harsh Words, But the Journey Continues

When I was standing in front of the High Commissioner in his office, my mind was full of worries—what would happen now? Fear and tension filled me as I stood before him, staring. The security guard was also standing nearby. After a moment, the High Commissioner opened his drawer, took out some Italian Lira, threw it towards me, and said, “Take this and get out of here. I don’t know where people like you come from.” At that moment, I felt so small and humiliated, like my heart stopped. But I had no other option, so with trembling hands, I picked up the money and walked out without looking back.

When I returned to the hotel and counted the money, it was 200,000 Italian Lira—around 100 dollars. With this amount, I could only just make it to France. So, I quickly packed up, checked out of the hotel, tied my bags to my cycle, and headed out to the highway towards France. It was December and freezing cold. I didn’t have any warm clothes, so I shivered as I rode on. How I went from Italy to France and then to England will come later in the story. For now, I’ll share another interesting moment—a major turning point in my journey.

TURNING POINT…

By this time, I was traveling alone; my companion had stayed back in London. After five years, I finally reached Melbourne, Australia. Ramadan was about to start, and during this holy month, I always tried to stay in one place to fast. This time, I was low on funds and was unsure if I could stay in Melbourne. Then I met a man who offered to help, saying he would collect 10,000 dollars in donations for me. But later, he ended up creating more trouble for me. Thankfully, a kind Gujarati family helped me, allowing me to reach Canberra. Canberra, Australia’s capital, has embassies from all over the world. I planned to get visas for Japan and America here. I had previously received these visas in Hong Kong, but they had expired since I hadn’t reached these countries on time. I thought it was better to renew my visas here since I still had a long way to go.

In Melbourne, I was staying in a small hotel with a rent of 50 Australian dollars. The next day, I went out to check the area and find the Indian Embassy, then returned to rest for the day. On the third day, I got ready in the morning and headed to the Embassy. There, I approached the receptionist and asked for an appointment with the High Commissioner. She told me I would have to wait two to three days, as he was busy with some visiting Indian officials. I asked if I could get an appointment the next day, as I wasn’t planning to stay long. She asked me what the appointment was for, so I explained that I was a cyclist on a world tour, meeting High Commissioners and Ambassadors in every country. I also mentioned that I needed a recommendation letter for my Japan and America visas. Just as we were talking, a loud voice suddenly called from upstairs, “Mr. Madraswala! Come up.” The receptionist looked at me in surprise and asked, “Sir, who are you? The High Commissioner recognized you just by your voice! Do you know him?” Confused, I asked, “Ma’am, who is the High Commissioner here?” She replied, “Mr. Akbar Khalili.” As soon as I heard that name, I panicked and ran out of the Embassy. The receptionist called after me, “What happened? Why are you running?” I replied, “Sorry, Ma’am, but I don’t want to meet the High Commissioner.” Just then, a staff member came down and said, “Sir, please come upstairs. He’s calling you to his office.”

Hearing the name Mr. Akbar Khalili made me nervous. Should I go up or just leave? I was worried he might insult me again. As I was thinking, the staff member urged me again, “Sir, please come with me.” I had no choice, so I followed him upstairs, anxious about what would happen next. When the door to his cabin opened, the scene inside left me completely shocked.

In Chapter 6, I’ll share the amazing events that happened from this point.

To Be Continued…

Hame High Commissioner ni office ma emna samne ubha hata tyare mind ma ghani halchal chali rahi hati ke have su thase? Darr ane ghabrat na mara hame a vakhate Dhruji rahya hata ane ek sarkha High Commissioner na samne joy rahya hata. Security Guard bhi tyaj ubho hato. Thodi vaar baad High Commissioner ye drawer kholine a ma thi Italian lira kadhi ne hamara upar ekdam feka ane bola ke “Ye uthalo aur yaha se dafa ho jaao. Pata nahi kaha kaha se aa jate hay.” A vakhat hamara mate a vo hato ke koy kaape to khun na nikle. Pan majburi evi hati ke hame a kaapta hathe a paisa laine bahaar nikli gaya koina bhi samne joya vagar.

Hotel par pachha aavya baad hame a count kidha to a 2 Lakh Italian lira hata je dollar ma ganye to 100 dollar thaay. Aatla paisa ma hame mushkil si France pohchi sakye em hatu mate hame fatafat saman pack karva lagi gaya ane hotel khali kari ane hisab chukte karine cycle par bags bandhi ne tarat highway par pohchine France ni taraf java nikli gaya. December no mahino chali rahyo hato thandi ghanij hati ane hamara pase koi bhi garam kapda nohta mate dhurajta dhurajta hame aagal vadhi rahya hata
Have hame Italy si France ane England Kay rite pohcha a to aagal jem jem story lakhis ema aavse. Aa to vachche je interesting story kahu chhu a no bijo turning point aavyo.

TURNING POINT…

Have hu eklo padi gayo hato maro bijo sathi London ma rokaay gayo hato. Hu farto farto chevte 5 Waras pachhi Australia Melbourne pohchi gayo. Thoda divas ma Ramadan mahino sharu thavano hato. Hu every year Ramadan mahina ma koi bhi ek jagya ee rokaay jato hato ane Roza karto hato. Aa vakhate finance no problem hato mate yaha Melbourne ma rokaav ke nahi a vichari rahyo hato tya to ek bhai mane malya ane Ramadan mahino yaha Melbourne ma j rokavanu kahyu ane khatri aapi ke hu tamare yahasi 10 hazaar dollar jetla donation bhega kari aapis tame fiqar na karo. Pan a bhai ye pachhi mane barabar no fasavi didho hato tyare ek Gujarati family ye mane support aapyo hato jena lidhe hu Canberra sudhi pohchi gayo hato. A Story bhi intresting che, je aagal a ni vaat bhi hu karis. Canberra a Australia nu capital city chey yaha world ni badhi Embassies chey. Maro plan yahasi Japan ane America ni Visa pachhi levano hato. Hu hongkong si aa visa already lay chuko hato pan a puri thava aavi hati kem ke haji mane Japan ane America pohachta ghano time lagte em hatu etle hu ye sochu ke yaha si aa beve Visa pachhi lay lau.

Yaha Melbourne ma ek nahni hotel ma hu rokayo hato jenu rent Australian 50 dollar hatu. Bija divase saware hu bahaar round marva ane Indian Embassy kaya area ma chey a badhi details laine pachho hotel par aavi gayo ane tyar baad akkho divas aaram kidho. Trija divase saware taiyaar thaine Indian Embassy jawa nikli gayo hato. Pehla indian High Commissioner no appointment laine malvu hatu mate embassy pohchine reception counter par receptionist ne malyo ane high commissioner ne malvano appointment mangyo to receptionist ye kahyu ke be-tran (2-3) divas pachhi mali sakse kem ke halma India si amuk Indian officials aavya chey emna sathe meeting ma busy chey. Huye request kari ke mane next day no appointment aapo kem ke hu yaha vadhare rokavano nathi. Pachi eyye mane puchhu ke tamare su kaam chey to huye mari details aapi ke hu Cyclist chhu ane harek country ma High Commissioner ya Ambassador ne malu chhu. Mane yahasi Japan ane America ni Visa bhi levi chey a na mate Recommendation Letter bhi levo chey. Aa badhi argument chali rahi hati a vakhate achanak upar ni office mathi Jordaar avaz aavyo ke “Mr. Madraswala! Come up.” Aa suni ne receptionist mane puchhva lagi ke “Sir Aap kon ho? Aap ke aavaz se hi sir Aap ko pehchaan Gaye. Kya high Commissioner Sab aapko pehchaante hay?” To huye amne puchhu ke “Mam! Who is High Commissioner here?” To receptionist ye kahyu ke “Mr. Akbar Khalili hay.” Aa naam sambhalta j hu Embassy mathi bhagva lagyo to receptionist ye puchhu ke “Su thayu kem bhago chho?” To huye kahyu ke “Sorry Mam mane nathi malvu High Commissioner ne” To etla ma upar office mathi koi staff member aavine mane kehva lagya ke “Sir aapko upar unki cabin me bula rahe hay. Sap upar aaiye.”

Hu to Mr. Akbar Khalili nu naam sambhalta j ghabraay gayo hato ke have su karu? Upar jaau ke yaha si bhagi jaau? Kem ke mane darr hato ke, shayad yaha pachhu maru insult karse to? Aa badhu vichari rahyo hato tya j pachhu pela bhai ye kahyu ke “Sir please aap aayye mere sath.” Have emni cabin ma gaya vagar koi chhutko j nohto, mate hu darta darta upar emni cabin ni taraf gayo ane jevo cabin no Darvazo khulo to hu a scene joine ekdam chonki gayo.

Have chapter 6 ma ek pachhi ek je chamatkaar thaya a vishe lakhis.

To Be Continued…