‘How was it?’ mom asked before I even stepped inside the house after my trek today. I grinned and got in. I showed her photos of the day as we sipped tea. But I didn’t answer her.
After almost an entire month of craving for this day, after I and Sanish’s first monsoon Mufasa ride, (name of his Royal Enfield Thunderbird), after finally hugging stones and trees and receiving the same love from mountain and its streams throughout the day, I don’t know how to say how was it?!
The bike ride till the base village, Sonvala was chaotic. I still had work thoughts in my head. I was missing my few dear trek mates and it was a weird feeling. But to me travelling is to let go. And by the time we reached the base of Ganpati Gadad Caves, my mind uncluttered.
We begin walking but I had a new thing to think about. One of our trek mates got lost in the way and drove his bike way ahead. We were almost halfway, all thinking and talking about him when he suddenly arrived!
He did drive ahead in full speed and lost his way, but he didn’t lose hope. He drove back, found the village, parked his bike with our bikes and caught up with us before we reached the top. I mean HOW?
I kept asking everyone how is this boy like this? He doesn’t know the place and he drove ahead. Yet he found his way back. How? I am terrible at directions and everything related to it. I hardly remember maps accurately.
I kept thinking what I would do if I was him. I asked almost everyone else the same. They all said they would roam around somewhere else and go home. None gave the reply that he actually did. He found the way back to us.
A year back I had lost my way in Chitkul, a small village in Spiti Valley. I panicked, gave up and froze in one place for a while. My people found me. My biggest fear to be lost in an unknown land had come true and I couldn’t cope. But this boy didn’t give up. I felt like to hit him to get lost the way he did but I just didn’t for the way he came back.
I still wanted to hit him for getting lost yet I was smiling to see him climb on with us. We crossed streams and reached the caves. We ate and then went to see the deity in the Caves. I wish I could go back in time to see how it was made. Only parts of the caves are left, a lot is ruined, yet the aura of the structure mesmerized me.
After photo sessions we begin to walk down. I had seen a spot while climbing up near the stream where I had wished to relax. I kept my bag at one place and walked down towards it. I removed my shoes, kept my feet in water and sunk in the moment completely.
The sound of the stream, the fluttering of the trees, few bird calls is all I heard for the next fifteen twenty minutes. I lied down and closed my eyes. I thanked the super powers for blessing me with this moment and walked towards my group.
I walked ahead of where they were clicking and saw a little pool for me to jump in. Water makes me mad, I embraced it, splashed it and spend time doing every possible thing I could in it.
After a lot of the madness we finally resumed our walk back down. We reached to where we had parked our bikes and zoomed out. We stopped next at a hotel to eat. The day was dreamy enough but some good chicken added to the blessings.
Tummy full, heart filled with joy we headed home. On the Mufasa ride back, I was singing Raabta to the mountains like usual when it finally rained. It felt wonderful to receive the love back. Yes the rain was hitting hard on my face but I stood up behind the bike and accepted the love pouring down completely.
The rain didn’t last too long. It was like a quick hug we give to our friends to bid goodbye. I couldn’t stop humming, grinning the entire way back home. When I reached, I felt refreshed, joyous and blessed for yet another trek day.
How was it? Maa, I think I was drowning in too many thoughts and was desperate to be outdoors. I wanted to give up on many things this month, but thanks to the crazy friend and this mad trek, I think I’ll hang in there, try better and not give up. So, it was too good a day to be true, Maa, I hope you pray for many more such days for me!