It was just another day in my life when I wasn’t expecting anything special to happen....!! Well, I never was. We had planned up a trip to a hill station with family and a close friend. Excited as such, yeah a little bit as I rarely am interested in such trips. But this was to be a good one, which I knew later....!!
The seats were set and the trip was to start into the midnight as the bus started off its journey. We were booked at the later end of the bus, yeah the bumpy ride was free which was not told to us while booking the tickets. Their smile should have given us the indication. We were in for some sound advising for the same, thanks to the older lots. They never are a satisfied lot.
Finally with all the bumps and advising we settled for the ride as we chose to have it. Oldies took the seats and we young were on the sleepers at the end....jumping ourselves at each bump the bus rode upon. It was joy as we chatted upon pulling each other passing out time. She was there with us too, enjoying the moment, she had found a place beside me.
I had met her once, before that meeting if I remember during some function at some place. Who would dream that there was more in store.
Well, I had struck a conversation with her at the function but it ended there. Here she was again and I was just being myself chatting away with her and pulling her at the same time. She did hate it at times and reacted equally, also it was fun for both of us. It was past midnight and we were to reach by morning. The chats were to continue and the reactions too.
She did speak a little...and reacted more (in other words, extraordinarily more..!!!). Even when I sang songs (which I did have as a pass time act), it was reacted upon and were responded upright with rejections. I was adamant on continuing and she too was, on showing up her rejections. She wasn’t sleeping, she was just there, her head leaning on my shoulders.....!!!!! Yes, I had obliged to her request, a flirt too, I am..!!
We had reached the place the next morning 6 am. Alas so soon..? I do hope that I did catch some sleep during the journey, and she too. Next was to reach the place to stay and get ourselves fresh. It was the place already suggested by another of our family friends. If I still remember, surrounded by a field at one side, a tar road running extended on one of its side which vanishes into the high mountain at the back. It was a splendid location all together.
Next on agenda was sightseeing at the various places around Abu, as promised by the driver, hired by us to take us around. And it started soon, in a rush to cover the maximum of places in and around Abu. We all were geared up, which never would last long, which I had guessed right. It started off visiting some of religious place, all that I did like about the place though was the scenic beauty which I did get to see at various places. The complains still flowed, none reached our ears.
Lunch was through. The evening went around window shopping and best of it was the boating at Nakki Lake. Late evening we were on our way back, dining out. Munching at the dosas, pizzas, and utthappams etc. She did not eat much, and she too had a piece of advice (read scolding) from her dad. I did enjoy that very much. I had seen that we could get drinks at the place, and I did get a beer bottle to share with my brother. Late in the nite, the beer did get empty and no one knew about that episode. He.....he....!!!
The next morning was a trip to another temple. Ohh..!! Please, is there no other place on this earth to go. As usual the elderly lots were the ones to guide and also confuse the driver who rather chose to stay silent and go as per the advice. It was a long climb over the hill, a lot number of steps and a lot zig zag way to climb. As we all reached above, stopping at intervals, it was really a wonderful place. High up there one could see the whole of this place. Splendid.
We then moved to the sunset point, we were eager to reach the top as it was time for the sun to set. High up the place I luckily got a place beside her, lucky by chance. A little chat here, a tussle there, and a moment spent in company, were there through the trip. I am obliged with such times. The view was great, and on way down, I and my brother had another of the tea session. It was time soon to retire to our beds by the night. So early, I would say.
Much of the time we had spent seeing around and then it was time for some real shopping. We were lodged at a place in the centre of the market at noon. The ones, who decided to shop, including her were the team to venture out next. The worst part I did have to bear, was roaming around just looking at the shops and the stuffs. The tussle with her was on, as I did outright reject any of her adamant selections (desire) made to her mother. And best of it, her mother did take my side. The reactions were evident. Evening tea was at Cafe Coffee Day, yeah, we did find one there.
Soon, it was time for our return journey. The little fights, the pulling of legs, the small conversations, surely it was interesting. We did bet to have a seat beside each other, and I lost happily. Unpleasant to lose the bet, I was. But, rather I expected it to change. The trip back seem to be a very short one, might be because I was sleeping for most of the time. Late midnight when we reached back and were bidding goodbye, I gave her a small laughing Buddha as a parting gift.
The trip was special, didn’t I say that. The Buddha still is perched somewhere in her room at her home. We still have verbal fights, pulling each other’s legs and reactions equally loud. I should say, it’s rightly said, "One can love or hate someone, but can't ignore anyone."
Adios friends,
Nice Guy
