I am grateful for the vibrant people I met this year. However, it is an irony that I write about being blessed for people I met, the week I completely spent time with me. For the first time, I went for a movie, lunch and even got drunk all alone. I could have done all of these people, but I chose not to.
The peace and sanity of this week that I received after spending time alone is definitely something to hook onto. Yet, I can’t deny how few people re-entered my life this year and changed it for the good.
Last year, I saw a web series that portrayed how the lead character had no one to vent out to about life struggles and hence decides to die. This made me think about people I could have put in efforts to stay in touch as one never knows who is in need.
I sent a text to all such friends. I did talk to these people last year. But me being me, I knew it would get difficult. It would need extra efforts to talk to these people apart from the usual I blabber to.
But to my own surprise, I improved the skill of being in touch with people this year. I managed to stay connected with these special people I text. I also managed to understand their value.
Around the end of August, two Pantars from my college squad left to study abroad. I realized the importance of all my Pantars. Each of us, so different yet managed to stay connected through college and now years after.
I can’t believe I never got kicked out and am still a member of the mad bunch we are together. Life has a reason to smile when you know there is a college squad who are there for you in need, who know you and can help you get up if you fall or spiral about life’s existence.
Apart from Panatrs and the people I text, I have managed to stay connected with a few others from college. I haven’t met them as often, but their presence is definitely there. Their random calls of concern add a smile to my face and joy of it lingers long after.
Around mid-year in a small town of Tabo, Spiti Valley, I met a guide, Durgen. “The climb might not be easy but let us try and enjoy it together,” He said this in content to the climb to Lari Caves. Though this became my motto for climbing every mountain after that, in reality, and in life.
Padma, his wife, on the climb to Lari made sure that our entire group reached the top. It got difficult and at a point impossible, but she with the help of her friend made sure we did it. Her selflessness, warmth and care dwelled in me, made me analyse of how kind I am and how much better I can be.
There is a tiny dream in me, after all my life struggles, be able to have a house in the mountains, live there with Maa and perhaps my better half for the rest of our lives. And be a guest to all my people who visit the mountains.
In Tabo village near our homestay, I met Anju Bota, who was perhaps living this dream of mine. She had a small house where she lived with her mother, husband and son. I wonder if she thought her life was beautiful, but for me it was. Meeting Anju Bota was like to see one of my dream goals come alive in front of me!
I could not have made it to Spiti Valley had it not been with Wilson College Nature Club (WCNC). A lot of what I am and what I have learned from my travel I owe it to Sir and WCNC. Each soul part of this club has made me a better human!
All my travel posts on trips with WCNC reflect my learnings. But, that isn’t enough. WCNC people have given me much more. I’ll have a post about each soul I am grateful to have come across through WCNC soon.
Apart from Spiti, I had twenty-one trips this year. These were around Maharashtra and max of them were to various forts. I have been trekking for around three years with a bunch of crazy travellers. This year, I realized the value of each.
Since I decided to let go and travel, there had been times when many of these were missing and I was out there in the mountains without them. Being a mountain baby, I never felt like a homeless kid, but for sure felt the absence of a few around.
Each from the crazy bunch of more than ten I trek with, missed various treks this year at varied points. It made me realize that yes nothing can take the joy away from me when I am on the mountains, but the presence of a few adds so much more to the happy ride!
I’ll perhaps have a post introducing all these lovely retards life had made me meet. And with whom treks become extra special. I don’t know when but I’ll surely pen my learning from each of them soon.
A month back I had the opportunity to witness what a beautiful human Luke Kenny is. For people who don’t know who he is, he is the actor who dies in Rock On movie and also the one who chops the thumb of Saif Ali Khan in Sacred Games.
Luke Kenny was the host of this fundraiser event for the NGO, Toybank. He, along with his band also performed at the end. On stage, he was a firecracker and off it a delight to speak to. I wonder if I can be as humble as he was to each and every person at the event.
All this chance encounters with these people above makes me feel rich. A wealthy person who met a bank of vibrant people around who added to my look at me as a person and life at large.
I perhaps can’t go up to each of these people I learned from, as I haven’t yet grown enough to have that sort of courage. But, this post is thank you to all these beautiful souls. I am truly grateful and one day I’ll manage to tell them all in person too.
Travel’18 is next and last post in this grateful series.
@nisha_navgire on Insta to talk anything further!