monsoon picnic

The hills around Mumbai are an exhilarating sight in the monsoons. The dark burnt hills get a fresh coat of greenery and the small water stream-lets bring in life to it. At places the streams get adventurous and jump off the cliffs, throwing themselves in the air creating beautiful waterfalls. There’s romance in the air and one can see birds in pair enjoying the light showers and drying themselves in some corner. 

         It is difficult to stay away from the beautiful nature. We, a group of college friends, decided to go out for a day in the beautiful and ever inviting arms of the nature. After a lot of research and discussions over the picnic site, we homed on to Malshej ghat, a destination famed for the waterfalls, not very far from the city. The Whats app provided us a beautiful platform to plan, discuss, fantasize, share responsibilities, suggestions and endless chat for all of us spread all over the globe. Excitement made the adrenaline flow through our blood and everyone waited and prepared eagerly for the D day. 

         At seven in the morning on Sunday, the D day, at the rendezvous we all started appearing out of nowhere and soon the environment was full of hugs and kisses, shouts and profanities. Meeting the old friends is such a divine feeling and emotions ran high. The bus journey brought back the old memories with the songs of our time. The Latas and the Kishores brought back those golden days and the bus was humming past the clean morning roads. Hot idlies and chutney satisfied the morning craves. As we neared the mountains and the curves on the road rolled us over each other, we could not stay in for long. A small tea break enroute followed by a photo session on the stream were the only halts we had before we reached our destination.

         The road was cut through the Western Ghats and it had countless waterfalls on the fringes. At places the road cut through the waterfall, and one could feel the water drumming the roof and sides of the vehicle and light showers finding their way inside. The first view of the chosen site was awesome and everyone just jumped off the bus to be the first one to get drenched beneath the fresh milky water. It was bliss. The water was fresh, energetic and refreshingly cold. We all managed to get beneath it and one could feel the gush of the water. It was washing off the travel fatigue, the worries, the tension and pressures we all carry in our professional and personal lives and many other things which still cling on to us. The feel was may be something of the nirvana, a state of happiness and the mind was cooled as a cucumber. The time stopped. No one wanted to get out from the euphoria. The chill in the water had engulfed and tied us to the fall and made us feel part of it. The fall though not so big had a big heart to hold us close to its bosom and caressed us, as a mother would do it for the children.

         With heavy legs we moved out for lunch. The food was savored in no time, as we were hungry like never before. A set of party games brought out the kids in us and allowed the food to settle down. The valleys echoed and reverberated with the laughter and cheers. The small little clouds could not hold back far away from the cheerful friends. They sailed over the valleys and showered their love and blessings. The light intermittent showers amidst the beautiful hills were the experience in itself. No one wanted to leave, even as the sun retired behind the hills, but the day had to end.

         As every one was getting emotional about calling it a day, and the cold wind was making us shiver. We halted for a cup of tea. A cup of tea can bring in life and energy to anyone. Catchy music played in the “pan tapri” caught our attention and it took no time to convert it into a hot dancing destination. The onlookers halted, the the passers by astonished and the shopkeeper shocked to see a group of friends dancing like free birds in the most unlikely place in the world. We carried the dance to the bus and that’s where the pole dance in the moving bus was born. The bus rocked and rolled and roared with the latest numbers. The day was not over yet. Everyone was on the feet swaying, swirling, twisting and dancing in whatever space possible in the moving bus. No one wanted to let go the feeling of happiness, no one wanted the bus to reach home so early and no one wanted to go home. Everyone wanted to hang out for some more time. It was a day to remember, a day of lasting memories, a day of fun and frolic.

         May be we were lost in the maddening world of work and responsibilities. May be we were busy parenting, busy with the families, busy as professionals and hardly had any moments for ourselves. Yes that day we lived it.