Missing the City of Joy

5 months- has it really been that long? Time flies, I have heard. Or so I have realized. It’s been 5 months already since I have written something concrete. I’ve been scribbling and all-it helps deal with sudden bursts of creativity that are more often than not short-lived and also with anxiety.

Yeah- I guess anxiety is the right word... Ever since the fall of summer this year, things have gone so downhill with people (in general, I mean. If not, you are definitely very lucky!!) in so many ways and anxiety is obviously culminated. Everyone’s lifestyle and plans hit a low at first, and then after getting adjusted to the new normal, people kinda felt safe in the comfort of their homes and they were anxious of any social interactions.

But till how long? Soon enough, many of us want the opposite- for things to get back on track as fast as possible. Students are having trouble to cope up with the pace of online classes and the pile of assignments are going sky-high while those passing out from colleges are facing the harshness of the job market amidst rising unemployment. Teachers feel sad and helpless that they aren’t able to teach with the ease they were acquainted with in physical classes. Kids who would otherwise be playing in the parks and grounds all day are stuck at home. Work from home has also become quite stressful…

So, I know that many of you are anxious to meet all your friends, relatives, schools, colleges and all the familiar places you used to visit. In fact, I was anxious about this too…But something needed to be done instead of jamming my brain with never-ending worries.

And I felt I should write upon it. Yeah, initially I was pretty doubtful if this piece would also find an end or not . But then I thought- for situations like this, we should venture ahead for a while and let your heart pitch…So, here it comes-

I’m missing the City of Joy

 

Yeah, you read that right. In the middle of all chaos amidst the lockdown, my family had to move in to Kanpur due to Dad’s transfer. Although on the brighter side -that’s temporary for me, coz the moment college starts physically, I would have to fly back to Kolkata.

And yeah, I’m still counting on that –knowing the odds are not very optimistic.

 

This is the second time we’ve got transferred to a new place, the previous one was from Nagpur to Ishapore. Even there, we had spent almost a decade. The only notable difference was back then, I was a little kid. So I thought “transfer” to be a long holiday and I was pretty excited on thinking about it. But alas, I had no idea then that it could possibly be the last time I was seeing my friends there. I had promised them I would be back soon but that  sadly never happened.

And growing up to realize this fact was disturbing enough, realizing there was no going back, losing contact with so many classmates and neighbors and all…

 

Ten long years ago( And gosh, it still feels like only yesterday), when I first came to the Park Estate-a small place in Ishapore which is an even smaller place in Kolkata, I was short of words. The British era bungalows had an exquisite historical feel, and living in one is really a special feeling. Having a mansion to live in- even now this thought amazes me.

The colony was enveloped in lush greenery and the air was so fresh and the atmosphere so welcoming and serene, I bet no one visiting The Park would be able to ignore that. The long road running in meanders was a treat to walk and observe this little, beautiful place.

The sunshine streaming in through the trees, the sight of rare and common birds alike and their chirping, the colorful butterflies on the equally vibrant flowers- it’s hard to find such a place these days in a suburb. 

Not to mention the Riverside Park- which offered the best view of the majestic Ganges I have ever seen so far. It’s my favorite place in the whole colony, and almost everyday I used to go there and spend some time-with or without my friends. 

Sitting under the mango trees in the hot summer afternoon-accompanied by the smell of ripe mangoes, lying down on the soft bed of green grass or dipping my legs in the cool water or sitting atop the pump-house watching the evening sun fade across the horizon-while the white clouds and the blue sky took up hues of yellow, red and orange- this place was charismatic. Then there was the Gunpowder House and the Dutch Tower which became the base for the first fiction I ever wrote.

And how can I forget my school, and my school friends without whom life would definitely have been so less interesting and colorful!!

They were just that awesome- I tell you. We had so much fun and the last few years were even more memorable. Looking back at old pictures only brings to mind one thing: I wanna go back to school!! And I don’t think you would disagree on this, right? I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to say more coz  there’s a lifetime of memories, those school days  gave us- somewhere kept safely and sweetly  in our hearts– and I honestly don’t know which one to say and which one to leave. So I guess I’ll just pass…

I apologize if the flow is haphazard, but what I’m writing has a start and knows no ending… And the fact is I can’t describe one thing without mentioning another- these decade long memories are pretty intricate and closely woven. Just as John Green said- 

“My thoughts are stars I can’t fathom into constellations.”

 

Over the years, my fondness for the ever-so familiar places at Ishapore grew as well. So much so that every Friday, the last working day at college, I used to pack my bag and then head for college. Right after the classes were over, I literally used to rush to catch the first auto I could manage so that I could in turn, catch the first possible train back to Ishapore. Waiting for the rows of cars and bikes to stop, glancing nervously at the traffic lights every second, hoping they would turn red soon- gosh…Those were some days. 

And then when I finally did return, life was so pleasant again. Taking a deep breath in the fresh air, looking at the cheerful blue sky and sitting atop the pump house at the Riverside Park cured all my worries.

But even while leaving for home(Oops!! That’s no more), a part of me would love to stay back here at college. There was this strange attachment to college which even school didn’t offer in such a short time…Must have been for the amazing friends( especially those in Apes and Sad Cats if UKWIM) and the memories we made…

Honestly, college was definitely not what I’d imagined during school life, but with you guys-it was certainly bearable at first, and then enjoyable and thrilling!!

From being a complete nobody to making new friends and getting accustomed to the new environment, enjoying our hearts out during CIIPPUS (I still remember you guys singing “We Will Rock You” while the entire crowd cheered. You guys totally rocked out there!!) , playing carrom and T.T in the common room, chilling out at Goku Da’s canteen and that cha khawa after a hectic day, celebrating the birthdays of our batchmates, playing football matches and idling time at the CAB ground, exploring the nearby areas of the city, facing the first semester exams underprepared to starting a new semester with high hopes..All of which came to an end abruptly after SRIJAN. Our unplanned visit to the Victoria Memorial was, I guess, the last time we had gone together. Most of us went back home during Holi, not knowing we wouldn’t return anytime soon…

At times, I still regret not staying back during the weekends, thinking of those unfinished football matches, of spending time at the CAB ground, watching the evening sun fade, those gossips…

 

I look up at the star-filled sky and sigh; realizing I’m all but lost in a maze- amidst those billions of stars.

Neither my old life at Ishapore, nor the new one at Jadavpur... And that hurts, for real…

 

It’s strange, you know-

Two cities separated by so many miles

Like a lover separated from his love

So close to your heart

And yet so far

Making him swing between hope and despair

Searching for ways to find her back

Just like me,

Looking for the City of Joy

Winter…it’s on its way…I can tell by the chill in the air and the withered leaves that winter – it’s on the way…The season when everything becomes so quiet and numb…The sunshine has a gentle and comforting presence that comes and goes ever so quickly you end up doubting if it ever came. Such are the happy days, you know…

They are so fragile, so vulnerable and so short-lived , just like the dry leaves hanging on the branches of the  tree with all their might – until a gust of wind takes them down. And the next moment- they are gone...Quietly they fall, bowing down to the inevitable...

I try to abandon these depressing thoughts and try to imagine how everything would be when things do get back to normal. I would stay in the college ground itself with my friends if need be it, playing and laughing and reliving all those precious college memories and moments.  And then I would get back to Ishapore to meet my old school friends and neighbors. Yeah, I wouldn’t have that mansion and I wouldn’t be a resident of the colony, but honestly- I don’t care anymore as long as I get to see you guys.

Kolkata after all, is not a place-its an emotion and it’s the people who make it so beautiful.

John Green is so good when it comes to words and I can’t help but add another of his lines:

“Imagining the future is a kind of nostalgia…You spend your whole life stuck in the labyrinth, thinking about how you’ll escape it one day, and how awesome it will be, and imagining that future keeps you going, but you never do it. You just use the future to escape the present.”

 

Yeah, I’m using the glimpses of the bright future sometimes to escape the harsh present. I’m not short of reasons to love the City of Joy and the people there, I’m still looking for reasons to love this place too. It keeps me going, I know, but there’s one little difference-

I’m gonna do it.

I maybe stuck here for now, but I’m getting back to Kolkata soon… 

To the City of Joy…

The Riverside

A fine evening… After a couple of spells of sporadic rain, the clouds are clearing away finally. And with that, the bright sun is emerging slowly. And a cool breeze is blowing too. Couldn’t be better…

I take out my bicycle and head out to my favorite place- the Riverside or to be more precise, the Riverside Park in the colony.

If you have gone through my blog carefully, you would know by now that I loved going to the Riverside Park- like, a lot. The sight of the majestic Ganges, the beautiful sunset, the soft, green grass, the calm and gentle breeze and the captivating smell of ripe mangoes during the summer- anyone would love this place if they ever visited it. Perks of “living” in a defence colony.

I reach at the Riverside. It’s been some time since I came here due to the lockdown, but it’s okay. Once I’m here, I feel pretty happy and relieved. Just being here brings back a whole rush of nostalgia. Ever since I came to Ishapore 10 years ago, the Riverside has been my regular destination to stop by and contemplate.

I open the gate and park my bicycle in a corner. The place has changed a bit, with trees uprooted and still lying there, hanging on for dear life. A bed of mangoes lay strewn on the right side of the park. The grass has overgrown, but it kind of makes up for the loss of greenery. The swings, see-saws and the wooden benches are all covered with dust. The place seems like it hasn’t seen a soul for a while…

Back when there was no lockdown, the place was so crowded with people taking pictures and occupying the best spots in the park that I had to reach there in the afternoon itself, bearing the brunt of the harsh summer sun so that I could watch the sun sink across the Ganges peacefully.

When I came from Nagpur to here, I didn’t have any friends. That’s silly and obvious, I know. Right from then, this place fascinated me a lot. I remember sitting near the river bank and spending hours watching the Ganges and the beautiful sunset.

And even now, out of habit, I sit down near the bank and dip my legs in the cool water. It felt refreshing…

After I made friends here at Ishapore, all of us used to come to the Riverside Park and watch the sunset together, sitting over the pump house. It amazed us all, to think of the sky as a canvas and us as the painters. We used to imagine the clouds taking up various shapes and guess them, laughing and smiling. 

The sunset brought with itself so many colours and hues that changed ever so quickly. At times, when there was no noise, we could hear the sounds of the vehicles on the other side of the Ganges. We used to think how the other side on the Ganges looked like, and whether it was more beautiful. Back then, in our childhood days, the world was definitely more colorful.

But now- just thinking about the present scenario of the pandemic and the never ending lockdown was so depressing, I shake my head and try to get rid of it.

I lay down against the soft, green grass on the bank and watch the sky. Beautiful. The cool breeze, the smell of the ripe mangoes, the sound of the water lapping upto the bank, bees humming, butterflies dancing around, birds flying sky high and the dark clouds replaced by white ones. I close my eyes, soaking into the ambience and thinking about the good old days when I used to come here every day.

We used to play football and badminton over here, and on multiple occasions we had kicked the football straight into the middle of the river. What a trouble it took us to convince a passing boat to come over near the bank and return our football! From laughing and crying together and getting into heated arguments, we loved them all. 

After exams, we used to race down to the park to discuss the papers. Not to mention the fact that the day before exams, we used to spend a considerable amount right here. And I believe, every KVian at Ishapore must have gone to the Riverside after the last exam was over! The Riverside Park used to be packed with seniors, friends and little children that day…

This place had it in itself, the ability to bring relief, hope and solace. Whenever I didn’t feel happy or was in a dilemma, I always came here- sitting down near the riverside. By the time I got up, I usually got rid of my worries or got a way out. Gone are those days when I along with my friends used to come here right after school to play football, badminton, and instead all that remains is a collection of treasured memories not easily to be forgotten or lost. 

Many of my close friends got transferred to other places, just the way I left Nagpur and came here. And that hurt a lot. Perks of “leaving” a defence colony- I think, and sigh.

Perhaps, perhaps I would have to leave this beautiful place too. And maybe quite soon, coz I’ve been here for 10 years already.

Back when I was in Nagpur and in class 4, I thought moving to Ishapore due to my father’s transfer was a kind of short vacation. But as the days had passed, and the days had turned into months, which further turned into years- I realized it was not. And by then, I had lost contact with most of my classmates, barring some of my close friends.

The mere thought of leaving this place, to not be able to simply sit by the Riverside and watch the magnificent sunset, brings sadness that feels as old and terrible as life itself. I undoubtedly spent a wonderful time here at this place. But I’m not bored of this place. No way, not at all.

I open my eyes and look at the sky. Before I know it, under the reds and yellows of the sunset, the sight of the fading sun across the infinite sky takes room in me. And it clears away all thoughts and brings with itself a new hope, a new beginning when the sun rises again tomorrow. The promise that everything can go on and be good again, no matter how bad our losses might be.

The phone rings. Must be a call from Mom to return home… I get up to pick it and answer. No it’s my next-door friend Anuraag, and one of those few friends still staying in the colony.

“Hey, I am sick of this lockdown, bro. Let’s meet someday ASAP…”-he says.

I look up at the sky. The sunlight was getting dimmer. The sun would set soon.

“Umm, can you meet up at the Riverside Park now? If you hurry, we can see the sunset here.”- I ask.

“Okay cool!!”- He says and hangs up.

Anuraag manages to arrive quite fast, in about 3 minutes. And actually there’s still some time for the sun to sink in. We talk about how we were passing time during the lockdown in our own ways. And then, as if without any second thoughts, the memories of our friend circle resurfaces. But they weren’t here to discuss the football matches we played, the pranks we played, cycling together… Only if they were here…

That’s when the same idea strikes both of us. We yell-“Video Call” at the same time.

We quickly scroll through our contact list and start inviting our old friends. At times, we doubt whether they would even remember, let alone pick up the call. It’s hard to believe they would when we have been out of contact for quite some time. We wait patiently, looking at the fading evening sun.

The sun seemed to hang on for us for a little longer, so that we could relive our precious childhood and school days. Turns out that was exactly the case. Coz all of our friends- Sumit, Ishaan, Srijan, Avik, Sudeep, Sayan… (the list is a bit long, so I apologize if I missed out on you. But I hope you remember, at least..)  eventually pick up the call.

And each of them, in turn, invites another long, lost friend of ours. 

The response is overwhelming. The sun finally starts dipping. The sky looks elegant and enigmatic- filled with hues of red, orange and yellow amidst the vast sky. All of us admire the picture- perfect sunset with awe. And it’s better when all of us are together. 

Yes, for a moment, we think all of us are at the Riverside Park and not on a screen. And talking about our good old days brings so much hope that someday, after the lockdown, we could actually have a reunion here, at the riverside. And that makes life interesting- having a firm belief and conviction of a dream come true.

The darkness starts setting in. The street lights blink, and then they get illuminated. 

But our talks have no end. And so is the sound of the river water lapping up to the banks. 

Laughing and reliving old memories that were so special to us, the time doesn’t matter at all. Life is the moment we’re living right now. There’s only that moment- us laughing, crying, reliving and recollecting our best days spent here and the incredible certainty that we would meet up very soon.

Trek to Triund

It is hard to believe that the lockdown hasn’t played a spoilsport in your plans, whatever they might be.  Just thinking about it makes one frown, feel sad and frustrated all at once. Well, same is the case with me- I had a plan to go for trekking this summer. It would only have been my second trek though…

I am a novice, of course. Perhaps even novice is too much. But that doesn’t matter much to me. I love the hills, the snow-clad mountains and the simple lifestyles of the people there. There’s peace, serenity and tranquility that is unmatched in every aspect. There’s this mystic and alluring vibe about the hills that attracts everyone.

I don’t know if you would call this a coincidence, but my name “Tuhin” means snow which might be why I love going to the hilly areas.

Anyways, let me share the experience of my first and only trek to Triund so far. Although it’s two years back, I thought of penning it down as it is well said that –

“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.”

Every year, I along with my family used to visit a tourist place during the holidays. In the year 2018, I had a long deliberation with my parents just before the commencement of the summer vacations. Since it was summertime, the obvious choice was to go to a hill station rather than the sea-side.

But tourist spots are pretty crowded places, and it might spoil your vacation plans if not planned well. So, we thought of staying somewhere away from the tourist hotspots. I also expressed my wish to go for a short trek while planning.

So, considering all these views, we decided to go to Naddi village, a quiet village in the upper regions of Dharamshala and not very far off from the McLeodganj square.

A day was kept separate for the trek, which we later decided to be Triund, among the many other trekking destinations.

We travelled from Kolkata to Dharamshala by flight via Delhi. On reaching the Kangra airport at Dharamshala, we booked a cab and headed off for Naddi. The mountains could be seen at a distance far off.

The weather was hot and humid, and dust was blowing all around at lower Dharamshala. It definitely did NOT feel like a hill station and it was no different than Kolkata.

I doubted if we even came to the right place at all…

After covering a pretty long distance in the plains, we started moving up. We could feel the temperature dropping, and the humidity replaced by a soothing cool wind. Rows of oak trees covered both the sides of the road that bended in sweeping meanders so frequently. It seemed straight out of a movie scene.

Or as many say-‘Love is in the air’.

The snow-clad mountains that enchanted us all, came closer and closer as the car sped up in the almost empty road. I opened the window and looked out of the moving car. The hundreds of cars that were there near the airport had taken some other route. Baring a couple of vehicles, the road was pretty clear.

I sneezed, and I understood that it was getting chilly. I closed the window, put on my jacket and thought-“Yeah, this is definitely a hill station. Now we are talking!!”

We crossed the Mcleodganj square, and then the car started climbing steep up… We had already reached the upper portions of McLeodganj. The car slowed down suddenly, and I looked ahead. A narrow road went sharp downwards and up a bit to a beautiful looking villa. The signboard said- Nishaad Resorts.

The car went down slowly and parked in the hallway. The resort looked perfect, and I realized that it was due to the meticulous plans made by my parents.

As we got out to take the luggage, a chilly wind greeted us. We quickly went inside the reception room and were welcomed by the owner- Mr. Nishaad.

Meanwhile, I went outside the lawn to have a look at the surroundings.  I watched the majestic snow-clad mountains of the Dhauladhar range get engulfed by the darkness, and then headed inside.

Of the two rooms that were reserved for us, Mom had chosen the one with a big window that gave a neat view of the mountains.

It was so chilly, that we immediately started the room heater. Just 24 hours, and we had switched from air conditioner to heater! We were thrilled with the location of the resort and the panoramic view of the room. I could never imagine that such a place even existed.

The warm room, the faint sound of the rain outside and soon eating a local delicacy- the evening went great…

Next day when we woke up, we were still a bit tired because of the long journey. It took us some time to get adjusted to the climate there.

The view from the lawn was spectacular- it offered a 180° view of the mountains. And they started glistening with a golden colour as the sun started rising. Our resort was the last one in the area, so we had the best view of the surroundings.

I looked at the lush greenery- with bees humming and butterflies all over them. The ground was a bit wet due to the rains. A little puppy came from nowhere, and I enjoyed playing with it until my little sister joined me too.

Soon, we had breakfast in the open air extension of the dining hall of the resort. Even from there, the mountains were so close. The scenic beauty was of another dimension totally.

And then, we headed out for seeing the local places in and around Dharamshala. 

Over the next two to three days, we visited a lot of places- the crowded McLeodganj square, the Dharamshala stadium with the mountains in the background, the tea-gradens, the Tsuglagkhang Complex, the Namgyal Monastery where His Holiness The 14^th Dalai Lama resided, the Gyuto Monastery, the Bhagsunag Temple, Jwala Devi Temple, the Tibetan Art Museum and the Norbulingka Institute to name a few…

Then the day before the trek came… I and Dad planned to go for Triund as it was a moderate trek and it was a good idea, as I had no experience in trekking. I was waiting eagerly for this, even though Mom and my sister Trisha decided to stay back at the resort.

A vehicle was arranged to take us to Dharamkot and then to Gallu Devi Temple, from where we would start our trek to Triund. I and Dad discussed with Mr. Nishaad regarding the details of the trek and he suggested to start early as it could take 6-7 hours, provided the weather was good.

So the next day, on 06.04.2018, I and Dad left early from the resort by car before sunrise. We carried with us a small backpack containing two water bottles, dry fruits, breakfast from the resort, two water resistant jackets and two walking sticks for support, in case we needed them.

We reached Gallu via Dharamkot at 07:45 A.M. The journey was definitely not good, filled with rocks and potholes everywhere. But the best part, the weather was pretty fine and we were on time as per our plan.

I took the backpack and we started trekking immediately… Initially it was not a tough task at all, and we covered a couple of kilometres up in no time. In fact, the 6 km long trek up to Magic View Cafe was pretty easy and we reached there around 09:15 A.M.

We drank some water, ate some dry fruits and I gave the backpack to Dad. We clicked some pictures as the view was already getting better. The place offered jaw-dropping views of the mountains up ahead and the gorgeous Kangra valley on the right. I thought of calling Mom, but there was no network.

Quiet and still, this place was disconnected from the rest of the world. There was a rare sense of freedom and joy just by being here.

But we decided not to waste any more time as weather in the hills could change dramatically, without any premonition.

So, off we headed for the latter part of the journey. The path had now narrowed down, and we were crossing through lush forests of rhododendron, oak and deodar trees.

The path was slippery at places owing to the moss formation, and we took steps carefully. I took a peek on the right and looked down. A lump formed on my throat, and I gulped. Not that I was scared of heights, but a nasty fall would surely be the end of anyone’s life.

We kept on going. My energy started sapping fast, as the climb was getting steeper and we had to climb over broken branches, boulders, etc.… Many a times, we slipped a bit but the sticks helped in giving grip.

But our enthusiasm never died, and we didn’t stop or look back for a moment. We took turns taking the backpack. Every time we turned around a sharp corner or bend and saw some tourists descending, I kept asking-“How long to the top?”

But ‘a little more’ was the only answer I got. The last 2 kms were so steep I thought I had been trekking for ages.

But slowly and eventually, we reached the flat portion of the hill covered with green grass at about 10:45 A.M.

Swinging between hope and despair, it took me some time to digest the fact the fact that we had reached the destination.

Beaming with exhilaration, I went from one corner to the other and looked at the mountains of the Dhauladhar Range. They were so close, so very close I thought I could take a leap and be there. And they were beautiful.Stunning.Magnificent.Snow-cladded.

I was spellbound for a moment, and took some time to sink this feeling in.

This was it. Under the blue sky and the green grass underneath, this was the best place I had ever been. Perhaps this was it… I felt as if I belonged here. Miles away from the busy city life filled with uncountable worries.

We were greeted by some tourists who had reached before us. A couple of tents were still up, probably for those who would trek even further up the hills. A small stall stood on one side, supplying food stuffs and water.

We sat down near a cliff and had our breakfast. 

It was just aloo parathas with butter, but in that moment it was just perfect. We finished our food in no time and sat back in the grass. Head resting on a rock and looking at the surroundings, I contemplated about the struggles to the top. This was just so rewarding, and turned out to be the best experiences of my life so far.

At about 12:30 P.M. we started packing up as dense clouds started circulating. We started our way back to the descent. I looked up for once at the dense clouds and then at the mountains. I wanted to stay there longer but we didn’t have a tent and it was a long way down. We tried our best to go cautiously and fast at the same time, but by then it was already too late. Snow had started falling.

It wasn’t such a nuisance and the snowflakes were, in fact, a sight to behold. But it made the narrow and steep path even more treacherous and visibility was badly reduced as the snowfall increased heavily.

We held on to our jackets and descended faster once the steepness decreased. We somehow hurried inside a tea-stall and took refuge there for some time. That was when I remembered that we had left back the walking sticks. But it didn’t matter now. The snowfall was replaced by a heavy downpour of rain, and we got stranded there. Lots of tourists started pouring into the cramped, small stall.

The rains kept their pace. And it was ever increasing…We took a sip of tea and decided to descend down in spite of the rain. We reached Gallu at about 2:30 P.M.

But owing to the bad weather, there were no vehicles at Gallu. I and Dad were already half drenched and having trekked all the way to and fro Triund, walking on the road seemed a pretty easy task.

So we set off…to where the solitary road took us. The rains started slowing down… And after about some time, they almost stopped, and the sky started clearing up. 

The earthen smell of the ground, accompanied by the beautiful sounds of the songbirds and the rain dripping from the leaves of the oak trees made a beautiful symphony.

Soon enough, we reached Dharamkot. From there, we took a cab and went straight to our resort. I was dead tired all of a sudden, and yeah, I felt as if I hadn’t eaten anything for days! After getting freshened up and having a light snacks, I felt better. But the fatigue didn’t go…

And my mind was still preoccupied with the trek. Perhaps, perhaps I left it there, back in the hills. I was pretty excited to share my experience with Mom and my sister, but they were asleep then.

That evening, I along with my family sat outside to see the sun set across the village. It was a sight to behold… 

Sipping on a cup of warm coffee, I kept talking about my first trek. Somewhere near the resort, I heard the faint tune of a local song being sung. It was beautiful. The mountains started getting enveloped in a cloud, making them look ever so mysterious.

There were still so many places and routes unexplored. And Triund was just the beginning. The trek turned out to be the best experience of my life so far. 

Just before the mountains completely disappeared, I shouted and said-

“Next time, I will trek even higher and steeper!!”