Paradise

Driving out of Munich ushered unmatched vistas of scenic beauty.

Just about to leave Germany behind me, I was reminiscent of what Iqbal had written about it years ago:

"Firdaus jo taira hai kissi nai naheen daikhaa,

Afrang kaa herr quriyaa hai firdaus ki maanind"

which translates as:

" Nobody has seen Your Paradise;

(This) corner in Europe has a close similarity to it."

In 1907, Iqbal had travelled to Germany to pursue a doctorate from the Faculty of Philosophy of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität at Munich.

Driving through the south-eastern part of Germany in early autumn, what I saw was exactly what Iqbal had mentioned in this verse. It excels in unparallel beauty and charm.

In another poem, 'Ek shaam" (one evening) written at Hidelberg, he pays tribute to the beauty and solitude of river Neckar. Recently a park has been named in his honour.
　
I was enjoying it all when made to halt suddenly near the Austrian border.

German Police was looking for the terrorists who had abducted a top industrialist.

There was a long waiting line, stretching as far as I could see.

It was early part of September and still quite warm. Travellers had opened their car windows for comfort.

I saw two young adults walking by as I opened my side window to get a breath of fresh air.

They seemed to be exchanging a few words with the help of 'English to the German language translation' guide books, held in their hands.

Suddenly the young lady started turning over the pages of her book swiftly as if looking for something particular.

On not finding it, she shouted in great disgust : " Can't find the German word for it!"

The young man, who was also turning over pages of his book, was taken by surprise.

" Do You speak English?", he asked.

"Yes, ... I am from New York", the lady replied.

"And I am from California!", said the young man.

They burst into laughter as they closed their language help books.

They seemed so happy to suddently talking to each other in their own language.

Holding their hands together, they were smiling as they slowly walked away embracing each other.