Chapter's summary : Text and Summary of Prose and Poem

Starting from Mile Zero   - Preety Sengupta One of many beautiful images of a place visited comes floating out me - that of the confluence of two rivers.On a hilly edge of the high road there is a small shrine representing Lord Shiva: a lingam, a trishul, and a tapered flag fluttering in the air. A steep flight of narrow steps descends to a slippery landing. The place is Rudraprayag in Garhwal district, the rivers are Mandakini and Alaknanda - one dark, deep, deceptively calm; the other foamy, fair, playful. The two distinctive waters stay separate for some distance, then slowly merge to make a fuller flow. For about two decades my life has concentrated on two things: words and the world. In other words, writing and travelling. Like the two rivers, these two activities are very distinct - one requiring solitude, concentration and being indoors; the other necessitating determination, patience and interactions with strangers all the time. Rather than think of these as impossible oppo...