A Day in Himachal

As I came out from my room at four, after my mobile alarm woke me up,I came out to look for  the servant who would make tea for us.To my utter surprise Ria was standing in front of my room,fully dressed  and waiting to knock at my door.She smiled and told me it was her habit to wake up at 4 am everyday.Not a good habit,I thought.On Normal days I don’t wake up before 7 unless I have to.

Her infectious smile spread over her face with few loose strands of hair hovering over her eyes.She was beautiful and her eyes suggested she was naughty too.Her eyes so very expressive and waiting to say something.The something she said was nothing very romantic as it was about how to arrange the tea.I told her about the bribe I gave to one of the Chaudhary’s boys and we went down and wake him up.he showed us the packet of milk and it contained milk in quantity which we generally throw without looking into the plastic packet.I knew Chaudhary would not arrange anything more than the package so I bribed his servant.Sugar in the container was scratched by the boy till it started making noise as if someone was trying to start a old Lambretta scooter.Only thing he had was plenty of water and a little tea dust.Biscuits were provided as a portion of bribe went in to buying a packet.

As we were having tea,the boy came smiling and told us that either of our drivers have not turned up and they had switched off their mobile also.I was wondering how could somebody give such a bad news with a smile like a  TV news reader. Chaudhary sahib came after 15 minutes to give the same news with gory details of how both the Haramzadas (Evil persons)  had cheated him.It was only of academic interest to us anyway.We were not even thinking about reaching ladakh,we were thinking of ways and means to reach the Delhi airport now. I and sally rushed to the nearest highway but waving our hands to many vehicles was to no avail.Finally one Tata indica stopped and we jumped on it.It was the chaudhary saheb’s driver only.The other bugger was following him and came soon therafter. I had no time to even give them a taste of some worst North Indian Vocabulary.As we reached chaudhary villa,chaudhary sahib was standing outside and started hurling abuses on them.Each one of the drive started blaming the other all the time for the delay

We picked up Preeti from the point agreed with her and headed to IGI airport.There was already a panic because of delay and we were constantly telling the driver how his coming late can now cost us the whole trip.The baffled driver took one of the car through the wrong entrance gate and had to retrace his path for 2 kms to return to the right terminal gate.We thought probably the flight would have left as it was 6.50 am already,but like us,the flight was also late and I found out that flight departure was not announced also.Everybody heaved a sigh of relief.So the trip was still on.

So this brings me to what was an enthralling journey of five strong headed professionals as a group starting their journey to Ladakh. The flight to Kullu, our first town from where we were to start journey by road,was very bumpy,though it lasted 40 minutes,it was a very scaring experience.For the pilots it must have been routine experience.The Air hostess served breakfast and suggested we open it after reaching  Kullu airport as otherwise with the twist and turns,the whole thing could spill on our lap. Ria was falling all the time on me as we were seated next to each other on a two seater arrangement on either side in the small Air India plane. She looked at me with a pale smile clearly suggesting she was shit scared.I tried to show as I was quite calm but inside me I was also shaken with the small  plane hurtling wildly towards kullu in a crowd of hills.Finally it took a huge round over the hills all the time shaking violently as it touched the airport with a thud.We reached Kullu airport and heaved a big shy of relief.We were still alive and on the trip.

The Kullu airport spotted a neat and clean look,with a beautiful lobby.We generally find so much cleaniness only when civil aviation minister is on a round.One could see his/her face in the neat tiled flooring.We started our drive for Manali in a Innova sent from Manali to pick us up from Kullu airport.

As we started our journey towards Manali we saw people doing water rafting on River Beas.Ria immediately told us we could also do water rafting and I seconded her proposal immediately without even knowing what water rafting was all about.I had seen some people doing it like crazy when I was posted in Nepal but never got into details.But since Ria had proposed,I also responded fast.Every single agreement would mean more closeness(as if we were not close enough sitting next to each other on the front seat). Neeru was already whispering in sally’s ears and their looks toward me and Ria gave me immediate impression that they were talking about us both.

Neeru was staring at me as if saying that years of good relations have been forgotten in hours because of somebody whom I had just known yesterday.I gave an uneasy smile and distracted by talking about rafting.Since the proposal was found attractive by all so all of us other than sally got down and sat in the raft.Sally took charge of all our clothes and belongings in the car.The raft in charge started giving us a long sermon on do’s and dont’s of rafting.The raft in charge was getting into so much details as if we were going for a War.Finally he left us alone with one person who would take control if the raft went haywire.

We started our journey happily not knowing what was in store for us in the next few moments.As we descended on the rubber raft and before I could utter a word the raftwalla told that me and Ria will sit together in front with Preeti and Neeru together at the back.How did he know what was going on,I thought.

The journey started soon after with a huge wave coming towards us within minutes of starting.The water came rushing on to us and the boat turned in such a manner that the water drenched me and Preeti completely reaching the remote corner of our insides.I could surely tell about myself as I could feel the water everywhere in my body.I could tell with great confidence that water had entered her also in full flow.Water was so damn cold as if it was directly coming from a freezer.It sort of stirred our soul and for a moment all of us in general and me & Preeti in particular were completely silent like those monks in the monastries. 

I broke the silence by saying the water was too hot to handle and Ria made a face to suggest it was a boring statement to make.I explained the whole funda by telling them that if we have this thought in mind that the water was hot we would feel less cold.My whole funda was washed out by another bigger and more nasty wave covering whatever area of our body which was left out by the first one.Pointless to have taken bath in the morning,I told to myself.

The raft was rocking under the impact of the waves and the next worst thing I was anticipating was this bloody rubber would overturn and than I am sure we would not feel anything thereafter.I was full of envy for Sally who would be sitting comfortably with the driver in the car.i forgot to take out my purse from my trouser and hence all my cash,cards,tickets also got completely drenched.After a while the waves died down and the raft started moving stably and thereafter another wave came sideways and this time it was Neeru’s turn to taste the cold water,sitting behind Ria. Of course Ria got the first wave followed by Neeru. I could hear the clutter of their teeth and looked around to see whether she was mumbling something or her teeth were only doing the talking.Now all of us were equally cold and shivering.

As we neared the point where we had to get off(needless to say all of us had our share or more of water inside our clothes).I came out the first and was greatly relieved to leave the raft.The aircraft to Kullu from Delhi also did not shake so much as this raft.I was wishing if we had undergarments made of plastic,fully waterproof to handle this rafting business.Because there was no way we could change that till we reach Manali. The rafting boy asked us to get into an open jeep to reach the point where we left our car,as if sitting in his raft was not enough painful.With drenched bodies and stirred souls we started our journey to reach back.As we sat next to each other in the car,our wet clothes giving us a chill with the cold wind playing the devil,we felt hungry.All we wanted was something spicy to eat something and have some good hot tea.

We stopped at a small but tidy roadside dhaba to have something to bite. Neeru was constantly telling us that lunch was arranged at the hotel in Manali but since it was already 1.30 pm,we could not resist having a bite.The taste of food was good and the service very prompt.As we started from there,a little bit of sunshine came in and our clothes started to dry though sogginess was difficult to go away that easily.We were imagining how good or bad the hotel would be at Manali and Neeru constantly kept telling us that it was a so so  small but very cute hotel. Since she and sally had stopped over for a night during their last trip at this very hotel,they knew more about the Hotel.

As we entered Manali it was around 2.30pm and already the town had a sleepy look.Small and beautiful as it is(I had also visited manali 3 times before this) only a lot of traffic and traffic snarls had decreased the beauty of the place and increased pollution somewhat.It took us almost 30 minutes to reach the hotel which was at the other end of the town next to River Beas. Every time we saw a hotel we asked Neeru if it was our wildflower Hotel and Neeru would say a little further.We only hoped she would not take us to the bank of Beas and say that here are the wildflowers and we are spending the night here next to the river!

After some 20 minutes of roaming around in the small but full of traffic town of Manali we got a glimpse of Wildflower hotel.Wow! was the first word I and Kavita uttered together. Neeru,while she was happy at our delight,was suspicious on the timing of the joint utterance from us.It was a lovely property as seen from outside and we all gave thumbs up to Neeru for this. Preeti had been talking to her fiancé every now and than describing him the places she was reaching and leaving.I could remember my early courtship days.

Coming back to the Hotel,the Manager of wildflower came out with folded hands as if he had stood for some local election and was asking for a vote. Neeru told us his name was Dharmendra but his physique and looks he was exactly opposite of the great indian actor. Though he appeared to be a polite and honest individual.

Getting inside the Hotel room confirmed our delight even more,fully wooden and very tastefully done the rooms were cosy and comfortable.We took bath little bit of rest and came out for lunch as we had less time in hand to do river crossing.Something Neeru and Sally had done lasttime also.After Lunch ,which we found delicious,we started for the bridge on river beas, next to which,river crossing was going on.Everybody enjoyed the river crossing except me as I thought somebody should live to tell the tale.There were really cheerful young people throwing their hands in air all the way while river crossing.

Only if that hook attached to their body snapped,then you do not have anything to throw except a few flowers on the body,I thought.Girls were chirping as if a long cherished dream came true.Proud parents were looking at their siblings as if they had won some national award.Some really bulky gentleman also tried the rope and others were waiting to see the unusual,I mean the rope breaking and the rescue(god help the rescuer).

Some Married individuals tried the rope one by one.each taking photos of the other in every pose which was happening.The camera has maximum use for a married couple for few days just after marriage.thereafter its use decreases as no of years increase.I thought the married couple could go together on the rope.After all it could have given them rocking experience of lovemaking like feeling and it would have been free show for onlookers  who wanted some more action.

When sally did the action Neeru was busy taking her photos and Preeti was talking to her fiancee,I took time off with Kavita. She was in a mood to throw her jacket around and wear hot pants and than do river crossing.I told her about the sudden change in weather which happens in Manali after 5 pm.With  less clothes it would be really difficuilt to handle the rough weather, and even more,the rougher crowd of onlookers.It was not about that time only.Every time I told her about these perils,she would tell me to be more adventurous with her.I could not make out what that meant,but it gave me a feeling that more adventure was in store for me

After river crossing we went to local market to buy some liquor as we were told that en route we could get liquor only in bars by pegs and it could be very costly.And there were no Foreign liquor shops beyond Manali in Ladakh.

Dharmendra arranged a complimentary north indian dinner for us as our operator had goofed up on the menu for evening.It was a nice gesture from him towards us otherwise we had to eat the clumsy Chinese cuisine which the operator had fixed for us.Last time when Neeru and Sally stopped at the Wildflower,Dharmendra was a bachelor,Now he informed us,a Hema had come in his life last year.We drank a little before having dinner all the while discussing the journey ahead.After all the rough patch of the journey was to commence from next day.

After dinner we moved to our respective room and went to sleep quickly as we were tired with the hectic journey all day.I got a wooden extra bed on the floor in the room with Neeru and Sally while Ria and Preeti had a room for themselves.The rhythmic sound of river beas flowing in the peace of the night,kept me awake for a while.The setting was very romantic.I thought of Ria once,how her long hairs covered her baby like face and it made her look so desirable.I thought of walking with her,hand in hand along the beas river in the silence of the night.But knew it could be a really difficult proposal so early in the trip. A mixed feeling took over me as my eyes closed and body gave way.The sweet sound of river Beas was like a mother singing for her baby.The place was quiet,mysterious from outside as much as it was cosy,modern and comfortable from inside.