As it unfolded...

Deep breath, one more time, but why?Darling, it's a long read. Is it a disclaimer? Nah,  just brace yourself.

When I first heard that the next convention is going to be in Rajamundry, I was excited more than usual.People around me may not have understood the reason, but the moment someone says Rajamundry, all I remember is Cotton Bridge, Ratnam pens.

We went to the convention. It was held in GSL Dental College, a huge campus full of greenery and beauty, and the architecture reminds me more of a palace rather than a college. Every hall and place is named meaningfully. It felt like a dream.

Back to what's going on in my personal life...

When someone says Rajamundry, the first person who comes to my mind is Kevin, whom I have known ,for many years. His native place is Rajamundry. So obviously, I was going to meet him on this trip as well.

During day1 -Post the workshop, I had a headache, was tired, and was feeling cold. So naturally, I wore a sweater and tried to feel cozy in that weather. I went to my seniors to tell them I was going to have dinner. That’s when they pulled me into the rain dance.

Crazy part — I wore a sweater, a small French braid though, spectacles, dancing in the rain along with them.

No one imagined it, it seems. Neither did I.

Somehow the night ended beautifully. The right word would be memorably.

I thought I will sitting in home and eating all kinds of foods made by Kevin’s mom.

But plot twist — little did I know that I was going to meet his new girlfriend instead of his then fiancée.

As our routine bike ride around the city, we visited a cafe , he told his breakup story and I slept, as I had a paper presentation the next day.

I had been busy all this time, hustling around, buying instruments, preparing the presentation, managing food, and trying to coordinate with my seniors.

Too tired and done for the day.

Next, Kevin introduced his newly found girlfriend to me. I was unaware of all this.Finally met her, and we went to Ramachodavaram. I had no idea about this; it was more of a surprise to me.

The next day morning, when we were supposed to watch the sunrise, I slept so peacefully that they didn’t feel like waking me up.

When I woke up, Kevin had to leave for PHC, and his girlfriend had to leave for duty.I was left alone. I, without shame, slept again.

In the noon, when I got a call from him again, he said two things:

1. He got a general surgery seat.

2. His girlfriend had an accident.

Upon enquiring where she was, he said she was in the Area Hospital.

So, I went to the Area Hospital to take care of her, and he went to a school in Devarapalle where 97 children got food poisoning.

I am somewhere disturbed by looking at all of them and crying the cries and some part of me felt disturbed.

Everything was happening simultaneously.

I was trying to find things in the new place and finally figured it out, got the X-ray and dressing done, bought food, and left home.

Kevin got stuck in the hospital on and off the whole night.

The next day, I went to the Area Hospital again. We were rechecking the status of the kids, him updating the seniors and buying things for dressing.

After getting her dressing done, I left Rajamundry as I had a bus to catch that very night.

Here comes the interesting part of the trip, my favourite. I first visited RATNAM PENS, which has a hundred years of history.

As of 2026, the third-generation guy is running the store.

Few important things to know:

Firstly, there are two pen stores which are opposite to each other.RATNAM PEN WORKS and the other RATNAM PENS AND SONS.Both are different, though the son is the fourth-generation guy of the Ratnam Pens series.

Now more interesting facts:

RATNAM PEN WORKS – Estd 1932Every pen is handmade.Starting price of the pen is 1850.The prices extend till lakhs.This store was visited by Gandhiji as well.Till today, their pens are used by home ministers and other authority people.They distribute pens even to Prime Ministers.Many channels have covered this story.The packing remains the same for everyone.Quite a lot of history is carried here.

Not my first time, that’s why I want to talk more about it.

The third-generation person literally judges the person walking into their store

Foreigners are given more value than Indians, in terms of humbleness and explaining about the product.People with cameras are given more respect than those without one.“You may not afford this” is also his sentence.“If you want cheaper pens, you can visit the store opposite to his (RATNAM PENS AND SONS).”

Can’t comment much on this attitude of his.

Do we have only RATNAM PEN WORKS and RATNAM PENS AND SONS?

As the world knows, yes. But if we look deeper, we will find one more gem:

“THE GUIDER PEN WORKS” – Estd 1946

Are we talking about the ones established before independence? Yes, we are.Are we talking about history here? Yes, we are. Is history still protected?

Maybe in some places, not fully with the original values, but still to some extent.

This is a small store, almost 8 by 8 feet, run by a single owner, which is in the lane beside Palace Hotel. I have to mention this because it’s the area where it gets confusing.

Here, pens starting from 500 are available and range till lakhs.

There are clear instructions on how to use the pens.Once you buy the pens, he will teach you and help you practice.He is sensible, talks as needed.Patient, explains in detail, and he is proud that he is protecting the history.He also has premium and valuable customers since ages.He is dressed as simply as he can.

Now are we done with history lessons?

Nah, not yet, because it’s Ajooba here.

Next, walking down the lane, we will find something interesting. What now?

It’s a bookstore. I mean, how can we miss this?

MANIKANTA BOOK STORE – Estd 1989

So now you say this has a history and all ah?

Nah, it has a wide range of Telugu books, which is rare even in metropolitan cities. Isn’t that enough to mark this as an important place?

They have “Barrister Parvateesam.” Unfortunately, during this visit, it was closed. But I still suggest that if people are searching for some old Telugu literature book, they can call and ask them once. Maybe you may find it. Try your luck.

So, this whole line-up is on a road extending over 2 kms. When the new government, Telugu Desham Party, bought some vintage-styled street lights and put them in the centre of this market area, people fought to remove them as they occupied more space. Henceforth, they were relocated. This is one such incident in Rajamundry which remains in history. At the active phase of the fight, it was quite interesting.

Excuse me, are we done yet?

Pushkar Ghat.

Of all the ghats, why is this special?

I mean, there are eateries, stores around.

Just kidding.

At 6:30 pm every day, Godavari Aarti happens. It’s an Aarti of this region. Kindly, no comparison with any other Aartis.

Once you compare, you can’t see it normally.

I suggest breaking the habit of comparing.

So now, it’s Aarti and eateries… that’s it na? We are done na?

Hold on.

Why is it chosen as Aarti Ghat?

First of all, because the view of Cotton Bridge is amazing from here — the lights, and the bridge itself is highly appreciated from here.

You can sit, stand, eat, or just stay silent.

Is it any good? Go experience yourself. I don’t know your definition of good.

The bridge is history. The beauty is history.

If you leave me, I will keep talking more. I better stop now.

A couple of kilometres from here, there is Gowthami Ghat, where ISKCON Rajamundry is located. Beautiful construction on the banks of Godavari. Visit during sunset, when the shades of the sun are reflected on the Godavari water. The beautiful views, gardens, and the live music from inside the temple — somewhere at some point, time stands still. Maybe I wished it to be.

They made sure everyone should experience it. That’s how the temple is constructed. Once you enter the temple, it has a mild temperature, relaxing, there are ACs inside the temple.

The live music elevates the mood, the neatness, the beautiful idols of the gods, and the decoration — I never forget to mention the decoration in an ISKCON temple.

These guys are amazing in their work.

I spent quite some time in the temple arena, visiting other temples around.

There is a newly constructed Mahakaleshwar temple a couple of kilometres away from here.

And a small Shiva temple, Shiva Mandir, Rajamundry, 1 kilometre away from this temple.

That marks the end of a stretch.

Is it done now?

Wait na…

There are some beautiful cafes. I mean, I am more of a cafe person than a restaurant person, so I have to mention them na.

The Enchanted Cafe, The Brimmies, The Torque… of course, there are many others too.

We will talk a little about the line of confusion that may arise while one is in Rajamundry. The city as a whole is a 5–6 km radius, and on the four corners of it, there are four bus stops, of which one is called the Big Bus Stop.

Kotapalli Bus Stand, RTC Complex, Hitex Bus Stand, the other I am not sure of.

Of the whole trip, I remember one expression.

When one friend asked me, what do you want to do? When we were in a tribal village called Sitapalle.

All I said was, “I wanna watch a movie tonight?”

The look on his face?

No waterfalls?No sunrise?No photos?

Typical you…

POST SCRIPT:

This trip was not as planned. It did not go as planned. It didn’t even go better.

It happened.

And in that process, I had a few observations.

Does it hurt me? No.

I still like this trip.

Because it indirectly taught me things.

Yes, I will go back to watch a movie in a tribal village.

Can’t help.

After all, it’s “AJOOBA.”