third day on....
bicycle riding,.....check
scooter...check
stealing mangoes from someone else's orchard and not getting caught..... check
to jump into muddy water in very heavy rain and running towards baba and hugging and dragging him in it and ruining his pristine white kurta-paijama...check!
stealing baba's car key to went on a drive at 11 o'clock at night....
"your got caught at that one!" her mind made a remark
she failed at that one task, their maid Sonamma caught her sneaking out and her baba was mortified that night....though later he did took her out on a drive for ice cream
but AFTER THAT Amarenda Raichand made sure to put at least three locks on his garage and hid those keys as well. But that's not the point.....
point is, those were different type of fun and here ?
As they say, "the wealth of nature is best savored when touched and sensed"
Right now!
Exploring nature on foot, smelling fresh unadulterated air....
Ah! heaven!
one HAS to experience the thrill, embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view to soak in the soul of this beautiful bounty of nature!
"Shawky do you know,....Manali was named after Manu, a Santan lawgiver. Manali is said to be a derivation of Manu-Alaya, which means Manu's residence. Manu is said to have halted at Manali to rebuild human life after a great flood swamped the earth, according to Hindu mythology. Manali is a now one of the beautiful city tucked away in the Kullu Valley, which is known as the "Valley of the Gods." and there is a historic temple attributed to the guru Manu may be seen in the town's native village."
'mmhhh ?' Shawkat looked around and inattentively answered.
Rahat and other campers looked highly impressed. Though Rahat knew his sister was a nerd but he wasn't really expecting her to give a description such as this about a town she had never been in before. She was talking like she grew up here. Though she was right.....
so peaceful!
so serene!
green covered in ice at far away mountains they could see from the road, They felt so content, there is something about it, just can't described in word!
maybe because it's beautiful beyond description....
you just have to close your eyes and think about Manali and you are transported to a dreamy fairyland-the beauty of the place which will leave you speechless and then turns you into a storyteller!
Insiyaa took a generous amount of breath.....she could almost smell fresh rain from the soggy, dump ground!
It was untimely though.....but last night rain did happen
It was 12 o'clock in the morning when they were sitting on some rickety benches, having steamed momo and maggi from street vendor, that's when they saw a wedding band party going with groom wearing colourful clothing at front riding a mare and bride inside a palki....she could be seen through the cloth cover
like mid century!?
"Damn that thing still exists ?" Sankalp asked, it was fair after all he lived mostly in Uk but, Insiyaa's jaw dropped, she was surprised as well because people barely uses them now even in small towns...She didn't know people here still uses them.
beside, she was looking at the wedding party, mostly at the bride...
open mouthed!
''Insu! Kya kehti hai bhagake shaadi karlu usse ? Soch kitna maza aayega''
[ Insu! What do you think! should i make elope with me ? It'll be fun ] Rahat asked, smirking at her as she looked at her brother incredulously
"Huh!...maza! I wonder how old is she ?" Insiyaa scoffed while Sankalp said shaking his head
''Nahi nahi...sach me bohut maza aayega. Soch! wo kuch kahegi aur ye nahi samjhegi, phir ye kuch kahega aur wo bina samjhe sharmayegi''
[ no...It'll actually be fun! I mean just think she will say something and he wouldn't understand then he will say something and she will turn all shy ] But Shawkat continued with a smirk as Insiyaa sniggered as well as Sankalp listening his nonsense.....Rahat on the other hand just glared at him
''c'mon dude, I'm sure she knows basic hindi...stop judging'' Sankalp chuckled while eating and translating everything to Blaze, at least whenever he asked.
They all took masala tea and handed her a bottle of Maaza juice, which Insiyaa took with a scowl on her face.
"you know, this is not any European country where under 15 maybe doesn't drink tea or coffee,....i drink them a lot and i need that! It's freezing" She said opening the bottle and taking a sip of it
''you think ? we noticed that too....while you are with us, we are going to take good care of that habit'' Rahat mumbled
''i do not like the sound of it" Insiyaa grumbled behind him
"there are some amazing places to visit in Enland, right! How many palaces are there ? You must've seen all of them right!" Insiyaa asked, looking at everyone excitedly
''curious little creature...aren't you ?'' Blaze snorted and asked looking at her
''Yes!...trust her to try to know everything'' Shawkat mumbled rolling his eyes
''Yes! Beautiful places.....and i think over 4000 castles scattered around throughout the countryside and coastline!" Blaze answered after giving a good thought
"where do you live actually ?" She asked again only for Blaze to look up at her and blink and stayed quiet
''London, Insiyaa!...we told you remember ?'' Sankalp said stealing glance at Blaze who suddenly has gone silent
"Oh! Right. have you met the Queen too ?"
this time everyone stopped eating to take a look at her face and then to look at each other's face...
she wasn't joking, she really was seriously asking that! and looking at them with hopeful eyes...
muhhaahhhahahhaah.....and suddenly everyone burst out laughing.
''No! Insiyaa, i did not'' He replied once he could control his laughter
Blaze was actually starting to enjoy....he didn't laugh like this many years.
So, the base point of the trek was the Solange valley which is located at a distance of 13 kms from Manali, dotted with vast grasslands, small rivulets, coniferous forests, and scenic campsites,....
Hampta Pass was the most dramatic crossover....
It's located in the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas. With a trekking distance of 35 km, this extravaganza takes you to an ambitious altitude of 14,039 feet....
the most captivating and contrasting landscapes that range from vertical rock-walls to expansive grasslands, effervescent streams, silver waterfalls to hanging glaciers to the picturesque campsites and the barren and cold deserts of Lahaul and Spiti.
Highlights were...the contrasting sweeps of topography and the crossover trek from the glossy grasslands of Kulu Valley to the beautiful Chandra Valley in Lahaul Spiti...
Chandra taal lake was the cherry on top...it was said to be the most sought-after trek from the Manali region.
"you know, i read in Hindu mythology! It says that this route was traversed by Pandavas on their quest for heaven."
''yeah yeah! we know that you read'' Shawkat mumbled while others chuckled meaningfully
Mostly days passed like this! They walked a lot...really! and then they'd just stop for a minute or two, just to catch a breath or relieve themself and start walking again.
Evening times were most fun too!
well most of it....
It's been 5 days already and she still didn't call baba. But she should, right ?
So, she mastered up all her courage and dialed her house telephone number and waited.
"Hello!"
daaang!
The voice! Baba's voice....it was enough to freeze her on the spot,.....it sounded so tired and not a single word came out of her mouth, she abruptly cut the call.
But at least she gathered that he was ok....
everyone was enjoying beer,....chatting and huddling around the fire. everyone except Blaze, she looked around but didn't see him for quite some time, god knows where he was!
Suddenly she remembers one of the female trek member was flirting with him all the way from train to here, one time she tried to offer him fruit and various food item she bought with her which she was eating with her other girlfriends, by the way!
who does that with a stranger...Insiyaa rolled her eyes
one time that female tried to offer him company but he somehow managed to brush her off politely!
Who knows, maybe she followed him somewhere here too and maybe they are together right now,.....that mere thought irritated her to the point where she sulked all evening alone watching around her. Even her eldest brother was flirting with some skimpy clothed girl,...
good GOOODDDDDD! It's freezing out here!
How!!!
How do you wear those clothes in freezing atmosphere...as if on instinct she shivered and rubbed her hands on her upper arms
where is Shawkat and Sankalp anyway ?....
uggghhh Men will be men!
hold on!
what the hell is her problem ?
She wanted to come here,....beside everyone was doing what they were supposed to, and they are probably NO definitely of her brother's age so, nothing is illegal, there is nothing wrong with that, right ?
at least for them!
Then she realized that she is the only 15 years old here who simply had absolutely no idea what made her angry at all!
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