‘jitne bhi tu karle sitam’

“When the going gets tough, tough gets going” I have known, read, heard this proverb a million times, but for the first time lived the essence of it. This weekend’s trek to Lingana was thus one of the most memorable ones of the year.

As decided, we met to leave on Friday around 10pm. However, got delayed and left an hour or so late. We had a Bolero and a bike. We were asked to sleep as we wouldn’t get to rest because of the one hour delay.

After a while, Sanish was supposed to ride the bike and I accompanied him. The field and village horizon on both side, the little blinky stars, the super chilly breeze, and the feel on a bike along with some singing. Oh my, night drives indeed have their own charm!

I was singing my usual happy playlist and thinking about how due to exams and other stuff this would be my last trek of the year. I just looked up to the stars, looked around and at that moment just prayed for a fun thrilling experience.

The ride got colder and my shivering added some extra tunes to my singing. But, I didn’t stop and neither did Sanish. We both sang, smiled, laughed through this amazing bike ride. Soon, someone else was given to ride the bike.

We reached Paane village, ate breakfast and started the trek immediately, later we also got accompanied by a dog. The feel of walking through rocks, traversing through small hills, walking through the shade of few trees and sometimes being kissed by the sun, that’s how it was till we reached a small temple.

Now the rock patch began. I smiled at the sight of only big stone above and around me. Hugging one, pulling myself through one, walking swiftly past a few and even lying down and grazing the sky on one, felt like being in the heart of the mountains. It felt like a kind welcome hug.

There was a little slippery muddy patch to walk past next. I wobbled a little but did it and moved past to the jungle walk. I had already received a warm welcome hug from the mountain. This jungle walk with the sound of birds echoed the joy in my heart of being there.

All the walking was now over as we had reached the base. We all got ourselves harnessed and wore all the safety gear. Why, I don’t know but it took around two hours until it was my turn to climb up.

Luckily, I had my trek friend for around complete two hours and what a chat we had! Soon she left, and everyone else. The tired doggo who was sleeping until now came and lied down on my legs.

This doggo was fast asleep for the last few hours, he got up when all had gone and I was alone. He did nothing, just came by and slept on my legs. I pet him and felt I might tear up hence walked a bit up to be with the two friends who were waiting to climb.

The doggo followed and slept on my legs again. There is a part of my heart that will always beat for dogs and especially this one. I kept calling this doggo, Mufasa, and if I ever own one, it will be called Mufasa!

After climbing up the first patch we were again left to do nothing until the set up for the next patch was done. This was going to take time, for a while I saw the mountains, sang to it. It was taking too much time and I was told that we might only do it till the caves, that’s halfway.

The fact that Lingana would be left incomplete made me feel weird, a combination of angst and low. I met my other trek friend and he sensed my irritable vibe. I asked him to stay away but good friends don’t get that.

I wonder how some friends have this magic potion to make you laugh even when smiling is such a big task for you. I told myself it is okay to not complete the feat. I looked at the mountains and smiled and thanked this retard friend for making me feel better.

Soon, many of us were at the caves, we clicked some fun pictures and went back to begin rappelling. Before the rappel, I and two friends had a walk around, then we all ate a little and started to go down.

The first patch I rappelled down in light, it was dark by the time I began the second one. I saw a first timer who was scared, but I had to go down, I rappelled down till the base and kept praying for the scared eyes I saw.

She was my friend’s younger sister, it was her first trek, I saw evident fear in her eyes for the rappel down, I couldn’t speak much to her as I was harnessed and had to go down. I told her don’t be afraid and came down.

Until she one came down I was tensed but this little brave heart did it and did it well. I was so relieved. I calmed down and then noticed around to see there were only mountains and a sky full of stars around me.

We were waiting for the few who were gathering all the equipment used. We sang for a while but it was getting late. It felt lovely to be in the moment of joyous giggles and singing, with a tad bit of fear of going down safe.

And my dear friends decided to make it worse for me, one mentioned something about horror and other began to narrate the story. Yes, I believe I should face my fear of everything horror from blood to ghosts, but not when I have a jungle patch to walk through the night!

Luckily the story got left halfway and we began to walk down, what a relief! But few minutes into walking the jungle we saw a snake, I freaked! For the first time in my life, I smiled and felt scared at the same time.

I was happy to see this beautiful snake gliding on the branch above us, perhaps a green tree snake, not sure as it was too dark. But, I only hoped for a safe travel now, I looked back at the mountain and said that the welcome hug was beautiful please bid me a warm and safe goodbye too!

The jungle and the little muddy patch took us around two hours to be done. Soon the rock patch was done too. Now we were almost around the end but we lost our way.

We met the doggo we did in the morning, we managed to come near some pool of water. We all drank to our heart’s content. Tried to imagine the right way and began walking again. I hadn’t slept one night and it was almost two in the morning.

I realized my body was kind of giving up. My knee was trembling and my body just wished to lie down. I somehow kept going. I saw my friend struggling the same way, I looked into her eyes, held her hand and began walking.

She is the one I had spoken hours together a while ago, and now the silence spoke. We both hate being a burden on people and delaying the group, but our bodies weren’t listening to our commands, it just needed rest.

People around us had even heavier bags, ropes and other equipment and they still kept going. We didn’t wish to add to the troubles, we caught each other and kept walking silently.

Finally, when we reached the village I slept. For only a few hours perhaps, but that was the best nap I had. When I got up, I looked at Lingana. I saw the mountain and thanked for the safe goodbye.

I felt a cold breeze and it felt as if the mountain said that it added all the trouble as it knew it could be my last trek too. It knew that I might not return soon and helped me linger around it longer. It perhaps tried to make my experience bitter so that I don’t wish to come back to it soon.

This thought made me smile and I sang to the mountain ‘jitne bhi tu karle sitam, has has k sahenge ham, ye pyar na hoga kam, sanam, teri kasam’ I promised to come back complete Lingana, I don’t know when and how, but I know I’ll.

We went to a friend’s place, cooked and ate some breakfast with tea. Journeys back are usually more joyful as the trip’s memories are replayed and narrated by all in their own unique ways. And this one had so much to talk about.

In a span of two days, I had walked, climbed, rappelled even in the dark through a beautiful part of the mighty Sahyadri, spent an entire day in its arms, connected and felt loved by my trek friends, met Mufasa, saw how I react when my body gives up on me, and overall, smiled, lived and added a memorable chapter to my travel book this year.