This month I haven’t been able to blog everything that has been happening. This for the soul reason that I didn’t have the time. I had to write, but not enough to jot down every single detail of each trip. I had five back to back trips, not giving excuses, but trying to make up for it with this post.
The month began with my first ever office trip. It was to an NGO based in Nanded. I slept through the train journey to the place. The playlist in the vehicle kept me alive in the two hour long journey from Nanded station to the NGO.
The Nanded city landscape very easily transitioned to black soil farms, small houses, and smaller roads. When we finally reached, our place of stay was one cosy structure. We got fresh and did our work for the day. In the evening when we reached back to our place, it rained.
I couldn’t stop myself, I headed out and got drenched. I saw peacocks walk by, I had some swans cut my lane too. I just walked, ran and embraced the rain, when I reached back I truly felt alive.
Next day, I had a bike ride around the village for work. What more could I ask for? The small roads, the bright smiles on the way, the farms meeting the clouds in the horizon, could work get any dreamier?
We finished our day’s work, and reached the station for our train back home. The dreamy feel of the work, made me mentally happy but physically everything drained me out. I had zero energy when I reached back home.
So this was till Fourth of July, little did I know it was just the beginning of my mad month ahead. I reached on a Thursday morning, worked in the second half, worked on Friday and Saturday both before I again stepped out for a tree plantation as planned.
I wasn’t too sure to do this tree plantation physically but my cousin’s enthusiasm spreads like wind. I got excited and went ahead with it. He drove the car till the place in Alibaug where we were supposed to. We were served dinner and given places to sleep.
But, there was beach ahead, a play area with a swing, wind and wave sounds soothing our ears, who would want to sleep? I had a very young girl for my company. We were at the swing when it began to rain, neither of us stopped.
It felt heavenly to be on the swing, while the rain kissed our cheeks as we heard the wind wave melody. Soon the kiss of rain began to poke and slap so we turned our back and swinged the other way. Now we could see the huge trees and our small tents and still hear the wind wave melody.
Almost all slept, we both walked up this small stage sort of thing. We spend hours just the two of us. Both lost in their own thoughts and yet synched in the same moment of sanity. We talked and shared a bit before I headed to my bed and dozed off.
Next morning, I and Sanish began the work. We got joined in by a friend and together the three of us planted many saplings. Neither of us kept a count as we were too engrossed in our team efforts. But I can say that the three of us went nonstop for more than an hour.
We were served breakfast, after which we planted a few more saplings and then left to Karnala for our lunch. The ride was mesmerizing. We reached the place before others, walked around, ate lunch with all.
During lunch I finally managed to talk to my friend. The last time we met was the first of January. So it felt like we gave each other the glimpse of the half year passed. It felt good that I had something to share, however mad, I have accepted what my life is at the moment and could share it with positivity.
I reached home in the evening. Packed my bags again as I was to leave for office’s Latur trip on Monday. I somehow managed to rest a bit in the middle of all the packing. Monday in the office was madness. I don’t know how the time flew and soon we were in the train to Latur.
If there can be one office trip I wish to relive the exact way, this one would be it. The people I was with, the people I met, the children I learned from, everything felt like weaving a perfect trip story.
I came back on Friday morning, worked again in the second half, worked on Saturday as well. I didn’t have any energy left to meet a friend for lunch on Sunday. I was too done physically and mentally.
Recovered from little exertion and worked hard the entire week. By the end of which I went to this beautiful trek to Kohoj. You can read the details of this trip here. I had my work week planned when all of a sudden I was called and asked if I can go for another work trip to Beed?
Saying no to a chance to travel doesn’t come naturally to me. I had a word with mom, and I went ahead with it. I returned on Friday morning, extremely exhausted and sick. I couldn’t work the second half of Friday, nor could I work on Saturday. I slept the two days of and rested.
Sunday I woke up with better energy and wrote these two posts back to back. By mid day I got done posting the Kohoj experience but finishing this post took longer.
Somewhere, I don’t wish to let go of July. It has been so kind, ending this post is like ending it all. Hopefully you enjoyed this read. Please pray for a more adventurous August for me. Thank You.