How often does a trip begin and end with Biryani? It happens when I plan a leave, get it and my two-day trek gets screwed to a stupid trip. It happens when I wish to climb a mountain and I am stuffed in a vehicle to go around places like a tourist!
All my angst piled up when I saw a small child in the vehicle that would be on this trip with us. I work day in and out with children, I love them. I wish to have a world where we take parenting seriously. But, that doesn’t mean I would want the company of children on my one day out! I don’t want responsibility on that one day when I wish to let go and be…
And I was surely not prepared for this surprise. I had enough struggle to get till this day out. I felt like it was all ruined, and then I met my ray of hope – Biryani! There are all kinds of biryanis and then there are homemade. Could life try to tell me to calm down in a better way?
After the Biryani in my tummy, I was half happy just like the half-moon I could see it throughout the trip to the base village. The only thing missing in the Biryani was warmth and so felt the night ride till the base village Narayangaon.
I wished to look at the moon and fall asleep but couldn’t find the right comfortable place. Finally, I hopped onto the front seat of the vehicle and dragged myself into the perfect position and dozed off looking at the half-moon. The sleep was incomplete just like the feeling of this trip so far. When I opened my eyes, I saw the moon faint and it was time for sunrise in a bit.
I dragged one of my trek mates and begin to climb up Narayangadh to watch the sunrise. We sweat and struggled early morning yet sang to the mountain as we climbed. Our efforts paid off as we reached in time for the sunrise.
On the top of a mountain, in the arms of the wind, looking at the sunrise from dot, observing the sky create a new painting every second… could life get any dreamier?
While coming down the steps I knew this was it. I somehow knew that there wouldn’t be any more trek feels to this trip. And my feeling turned out to be true. We ate breakfast went to Chakan Fort next.
It isn’t a fort but only remains of the fort. The history of this fort is unique do read it, but I would suggest don’t waste energy in visiting this one. Humans rule it now or should I say have ruined it now with all settlements all around, difficult to even spot the fort.
We went to Induri Fort next. The main entrance of this fort has a few remains of carvings. When we reached the fort, there were a few men cleaning grass and making way to the top. I had a word with one of them and realized that they were cleaning it to make it friendlier for visitors and to maintain it.
Why were so many of you working on this?
‘This is not the only place. We are trying to make the entire fort and a few temples around here cleaner as well.’
Why
‘We don’t wish for our heritage to die. We wish to keep it alive as long as we can’
After having a word with him I walked to the top. I climbed up on a corner and sat thinking about what this man just said. I was feeling hopeless until now. I was feeling like I had ruined my day. But maybe it was all destined for me to meet this man. While leaving the fort I saw him walk by to their next place smiling contently.
He was doing a selfless good deed for his heritage. The fort is ruined by humans already but this man and his gang hadn’t left hope yet. He made me think even I shouldn’t leave hope with the day yet.
We drove to Pawna Lake next as we had time in hand. I walked into the water. I am a water baby. I believe water has some healing power. I lose myself and find peace in rains and near rivers. Any other water body works just fine and this was a huge beautiful lake.
After a while of soaking the moment, it was time for madness. I did my usual falling back on the water. A friend suggested to climb on him and to do the same back fall. I denied as I imagined it and it felt like that’s how I’ll die.
I caved. I tried. The water was cold and I was shivering as I climbed onto my friend. The first few falls failed. I fell before I stood properly thanks to all the shivering. But I did it finally. The first fall back flat on the water from a height felt calm and cold.
After a while, before we left the water, I requested for a last back fall from the same height. This time I climbed up and just before the fall I lost my balance and fell on my face instead of my back.
Holy crap! That’s exactly felt like my life at the moment. But, I had to prove my mind that boss, I can do it and I can do it right! My body shivered but my mind was steady and I fell flat on my back. The water was still calm and cold but now I finally felt complete.
What could be more delightful than some Biryani after all the water antics? This time the Biryani didn’t feel like it missed any warmth as I was cold. This time I wasn’t feeling incomplete either.
On the way back, it drizzled again for a bit and there was sun out again. I thought of a rainbow and I saw one. One of the brightest rainbows I had ever seen. This wasn’t the trip I wished for but it was perfect in its own half-moon kind of way.
I read recently that each person is a door to a new world. I did shut one door completely, it was lovely to knock back and open an old door. But more importantly, this trip turned out to be special as it opened a few new doors.