When Nature Beckoned!

The planning of a getaway happened a month ago thanks to the promise of a long weekend coming up. Right from the start though, it was like it was never meant to be. Ever planned a holiday for ages only to see it never take off and crumble bit by bit even before it started! Yeah so that’s pretty much how we started the journey of a motley group of six. Four guys and two girls we were, and there was hardly anyone left in our known contacts we didn’t tag to go along with us! Several rejections, cancellations and disappointments later we were reduced to half a dozen youthful enthusiasts ready to take on adventure, no matter the trials and tribulations. It’s probably this zest that helped us get through the trip as we were to see soon enough and thank God for it! 

Our preparation was bang on. Scouting for places, fixing up an itinerary, estimating a budget, finding cheap accommodation, discussing the essentials to carry on the trip- we were right on track, only the decisions never seemed to fall into place. Frantic whatsapp messages, incessant chats and idle banter followed day in, day out without understanding where it was all leading to. Finally, the leader of the pack took a deep breath, shook his head in dismay and opened his laptop. Within 10 minutes, we had booked the destination, hotel and mode of transport. Victory seemed close. A quick group meeting happened in the confines of a car to understand who was in charge of booze, last minute check list, what the pick up point would be etc. We were raring to go. 

The day dawned when we were to leave in the night after office to Dhanaulti, 24 kms uphill beyond Mussoorie. Work just didn’t seem to get over on a hectic weekday thanks to the long upcoming weekend. We rushed through it all, delayed by an hour or so. Everyone had to pack, buy booze, assemble at a common point and then head over to pick up two of us from Faridabad and then finally hit the highway. The plan started collapsing from the word go! First, thanks to the delay from office, we were already running late, buying the alcohol took time, then the packing, and then assembling at one place. Even as that happened, we found the hookah missing and so one of us had to rush back to go get it. 30 mins past 9 pm and the car arrived after a lot of confusion and to our consternation, it is a Xylo and not an Innova! How were we all supposed to fit! It was sent back and frenetic calling and networking to get an innova somehow began. The leader was losing his cool by the minute. Finally, an Innova was arranged for by the cool dude of the clan and we finally packed inside to the next stop Faridabad. In all this chaos, we ended up leaving for our destination only by 11 past. Stop over on the highway for a late dinner and we were back on the road. Drinking, laughing, joking and sleepy, we were drowsing within a couple of hours. Except for our crazy doll who simply wouldn’t shut eye. Result: A lot of incessant throwing up at regular intervals that delayed our circuitous hilly drive by more than 45 minutes! 

9 am in the morning, we touched Dhanaulti Heights, a GMVN hotel. Checked in, refreshed our appetites with paranthas and omelettes only to crash in our rooms for the next two hours. That was a short lived endeavor. A quick bath and change later, Mr.Entrepreneur had work for the boys. Modelling for his new batch of tees took the morning away. Post that we were ready to head out for lunch and cover the scenic points to catch a breath taking view of the hilly expanse. An idle walk ahead led us to a greenish patch with lots of trees and a valley that dropped down several thousands of feet below. 

Several photo ops later, we were ready to head back to a soiree of music, drinks n snacks in the room followed by a bonfire outside the hotel. The warmth of the flames were able to pleasantly defy the chilly winds outside thanks to Cool Dude and Bindass Baba’s continuous wood supply. By the time we were back in our room, it was time to say sweet dreams. The next day saw us head out quickly to catch some flying fox and rope walking at the Eco Park. After breakfast, we were off to Rishikesh for some river rafting and relaxation depending on what you wished to do. 

Once at Rishikesh, a hurried lunch later the boys were off to fight the rapids while three of us headed to a more peaceful respite. A short walk brought the leader to a beautiful river front GMVN hotel aptly called the Ganga Resort. With dormitories rated at Rs.250, we were hooked on the spot and finalized our stay for the second night then and there. A quite time by the river helped wash away any strains of travel and a blazing thunderstorm shook off any sense of lethargy from our itinerant bodies. After the boys came back, we had a good time chatting up about their experience with another round of drinks and music. Somewhere all of us knew we were reaching the end of our journey and it was to be pack up time tomorrow.

We ran through the photos of our journey so far and called it a day by 11 pm. The next morning was Round 2 of the boy’s modeling session while the girls caught up on their beauty sleep. It was tough leaving the gurgling river but it was time to head back home. Our Innova made good time to cross Muzzafarnagar by lunch time. Ravenous, we ate lunch at a small eaterie, played cards on route to Delhi and finally reached the capital by 6 pm in the evening.

Parting was difficult. Baba Bindass’ non stop jokes and witty one liners, Crazy Doll’s Pukie Pie moments and constant bickering with the boys, Cool Dude’s misplaced hunt to find hot chicks, Mr.Entrepreneur’s eat-sleep-have fun all in a day’s work and the Leader’s directives and supervision throughout the trip would be moments we were going to retain as take away. Even as we said our good byes, we knew an indescribable bond had formed amongst us. A fellowship was born. The journey of the Road Surfers had just begun.