I had wished to capture one of our Lonavala trips in words, because it is one of the best experiences I have ever had. I am glad for having made an attempt to express my feelings of that trip through this post.
So,here it goes…
One Sunday evening as it was raining moderately outside, each one of us was busy in our own world of preoccupation, basking in the pleasant weather. I was comfortably reading, ‘The art of choosing’; Mamma had just woken up from her siesta; Manu was relaxing, watching TV, when out of the blue Babba proposed his idea of going for a drive to Lonavala. Well, at the outset, it was a tempting idea, but it reminded me of our globetrotting experience on Friday evening, when seriously we all sat together to plan a trip for 3-4 days including the weekend. You won’t imagine we started off with deciding on Goa...then Kerela...then Ooty...then Pune...then Dubai...then Malaysia...Yes, we did a lot of globetrotting -dreaming or you may say we were actually living in our dream and this dreamy adventure lasted for just a couple of hours ending with the decision to relax at home in the weekend .Well, it was an amazing experience. Infact, you know we were really happy with our ultimate decision because we were actually feeling tired after so much of vicarious globetrotting and hopping. Seems, the only reason we couldn’t work our plan out was the incorrect timing!
Coming back to Sunday evening...
So, when I heard Babba proposing this idea, I was not very sure if this would materialize, keeping in mind the Friday experience...but then, within half an hour we were all out on the road...Life is truly unpredictable at times or is it most of the times? It seems, this time we got a green signal from our dear friend TIME, but again who knew it will turn out to be a completely different experience than what we had planned or imagined?
As you know we had set out for a drive to Lonavala with the sole aim of enjoying our drive in such a pleasant weather, some sightseeing accompanied with a tea break in between or on site and had planned to be back home by dinner time. But there was a lot more in store...Yes, even this time our plan didn’t work fully...but God’s plan did as always and it turned out to be a dazzling adventure.
Our drive to Lonavala was simply majestic! We drove with rain splashing all over, amidst the lush green surroundings, listening to nostalgic songs along the way and switching over to radio in between. Truly revelled to our heart’s content. It was lovely, especially because all four of us were together after a long time.
But as soon as we stepped into Lonavala, we got stuck up in a traffic jam, that seemed never ending and thunderous heavy rains, that it felt impossible to go back to Mumbai .So, we decided to stay back at Lonavala over night. First we got lost in that traffic, came back to the same spot from where we had started, but then, we could take the lane which was earlier closed when we first came at this point. As we treaded on this path, we went higher and higher up the hill with no signboard of any resort or hotel. It was already night and at times we were the only ones on the way. All through the way, the journey was pleasant, but now our excitement had dropped a little as we didn’t know if we would be able to find some place to rest for the night or we’ll have to go back down the same route. As we were all together, we were not worrying, but were anxious as to where will we end up? Finally we saw a signboard of ‘Upavan’ resort and we followed it, but in between we saw another resort named, ‘Cloud 9’ and just drove through its gate in respite; quickly went to the reception; took a cottage for the night. It was raining heavily at that time and the people at the reception appeared lousy from their behaviour. They said there’s no room service facility and we’ll have to come over to the reception for dinner. I somehow didn’t feel at ease in the beginning, but as we entered the cottage, got a nice feeling. Then a helper boy came from the reception and we requested him to get tea and dinner to the room. Finally Manu (my brother) went along with him and they got everything to the room. That was really nice and we could feel the kind hospitality. Then suddenly the lights went off. It was a very silent place. Babba was overwhelmed with the experience as it reminded him of his days spent in the forest rest houses. This place was inhabited by moths and they were catching fancy of my parents as it brought alive their nostalgic past and suddenly they started talking about nature and its vivid exhibition (I was silently listening to their Nature-talk, pondering why there is so much of disconnect between nature and our generation?...All our parents are so well versed with Nature and its offerings…). In the mean time, tea and dinner arrived and soon came the manager and the light. Tea was very refreshing and the dinner was so satiating. We loved having it and then decided to go to sleep as it had already been a very adventurous day. Both Babba-mamma asked us to listen to the sound of nature. I could hear the crickets and God knows all strange- strange sounds which were not at all strange to my parents…and so the night fell on us till we woke up to a beautiful rainy day. It was early in the morning and we set out for a morning walk. Walked in the rain amidst the lush greens, felt the freshness on our faces, couldn’t stop admiring the beauty of our mother nature. It was a breathtaking experience…an experience that touched us, inspired us and reminded us that life is a precious, beautiful gift to the soul which must be savoured to the fullest. I have to admit, it was a thrilling experience and I loved it on the whole.
Life’s like that, isn’t it? And no matter what happens, let’s re-affirm that everything happens for a reason and happens for the best. There are times when you have to wait for a long long time to get an answer and times when the answer appears even before you consciously frame the question. Undoubtedly, there is an answer for everything under the sun…but everything evolves in its own sweet time. So, let us entrust full faith in life and may this faith become stronger and stronger with each passing day! Amen.
