Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Bhimashankar Blues 2

Well my earlier blog,Part-1 was definitely a generalised view of the trek.This blog is on demand by a narcissist I met on the trek and he thinks he deserves a few more words than just the "one of the firangs" in this write up with a detailed description of how we spent the best day of our lives with each other followed by a dedication!
For me its a bit difficult to express the state of prolonged elation that I was in for 2 days continuously as such a long time was a bit new for me.But I am doing this for those 3 most wonderful people who gave me a good time time when I was least expecting it-The Narcissist(Sudhir),Chin2 and Shraddha(The sweetheart).My launguage might suck in this write up as I am finding it difficult to do justice to my emotions with the loss of right words with the right intensity.I would still Like to give it a try specially for The Narcissist and this is more than a dedication.
Well I had no idea I would be going for this trek as there were some cancellations n confusion regarding the registration.Finally when the registration was done I was happy to be visiting this place but I was wondering why I was going there with strangers(though I knew some of them,not friends really) when my own group of friends were going to the same place.The reason was simple,they were an all boys group and if I join them they would have to follow many restrictions.So here I was with a trek group with the same apprehension I usually have but double the enthusiasm as I was desperate to do this trek for almost a year and this was my big chance.
I met Miss S at the station n we liked each other instantly as we knew there were very few of our kinds existing.We had three things in common n which was very important for both of us n that was healthy trekking,talking n laughing with no inhibitions whatsoever.Miss S had told me that she was new to the group and was wondering about how the trek would be.So we were sailing in the same boat with of course different thoughts n fears.With each other for company we were to have a wonderful time.What we didn't know that we would be a part of a group of 4 and go about calling ourselves "We" the next two days n behave like we were lost in some "kumbh ka mela" n met again years later to discover that nothing had changed since we last met!
The other two "bichde hue dost " were the twins(Who were born with a gap of three months);that's what they called themselves.One was the narcissist the worst one I have come across so far n the other his mirror image but a quieter counterpart(Bless me!).This mirror image was supposed to be the elder twin n he was called "Chin2".Now my doubt was if he was the elder one why did people call him "chin2"?????Well my doubt was ignored conveniently.
Like Miss S even the Narcissist had told me that this was his first ever trek n he thought he n chin2 would have to stay confined to each other n have fun as they always do as all others were total strangers.His biggest problem was who would take their photographs if they were to be among themselves!!!!!Oh well as luck would have it they found us laughing incessantly on anything n everything n making fun of them as "The Freshers" who knew nothing.
We were actually ragging each other giving stupid names n the twins weaving not so wonderful stories about their twingiri n confessing how freaking the ladders were.The thing was I couldn't believe that they were twins(neither could Miss S) not bcoz of the 3 months gap that they mentioned but bcoz there was nothing similar among them.One thing was amazingly similar for sure ;they were wonderful Liars n co-ordinated very well in trying to fool me n Miss S.They had answers for every query that we asked n it was so damn fool proof that we were almost on the verge of believing that they were actually twins.But hard luck,chin2 stumbled as I was cross questioning him about their birth dates n birth year and their twin crap came to an end.
Among the four of us,I got along well with the Narcissist n Miss S with Chin2 which was quiet visible.The narcissist n me arguing on everything that was being discussed n Miss S chatting continuously n Chin2 giving her a good ear.The photo sessions including the 4 of us exclusively ,the legendary khawaja dance video,the Narcissist teaching me all the wonderful gaalis n Chin2 enlightening Miss S on how to make songs n helping her in remembering some of them all of these became a part of our lives which we will remember for days to come.
The minute basis tiffs that me n The narcissist had is worth a mention here.There was a small argument between the Narcissist n another friend of mine.Its quiet obvious that the king size ego that the Narcissist had was the fuel.The next day we were discussing this n actually hit each other in anger(Which I am still not able to comprehend!)The narcissist asked me to stay away from him n not talk to him and challenged me that I can't possibly ignore him.Well he was in for a big surprise when I actually behaved like he didn't exist n there it was "the minute basis tiff".There after every argument we had we would not talk to each other for a few minutes n back to the conversation.For me this was the most wonderful part as this narcissist was someone I didn't even know except for his name n the usual credentials n here we were comfortable with each other like we were the best of friends now n forever.
All the four of us were equally in awe at the end of the trip when we pondered over the connections ,not for a moment did we feel the bitterness of not ever meeting again.The Narcissist had declared this would be his last trek,chin2 was mum as usual ,Miss S was sure we won't ever relive these moments and I was already so saturated with elation that there was no space for further expectations."WE" were simply happy n didn't dare to ask for more.School friends ,college friends and "our" group going out and having a blast is normal but 4 stranger's reunion as I said was something at least I experienced for the first time and I am glad I did.Now I know that quality wins over quantity.Months n years of knowing can equal a day of unknowing familiarity provided u r open to it and embrace it with a smile that turns into laughter.
Now for the saddest part,while saying goodbyes after the trek The Narcissist says to me,"Bada maza aaya tere saat...................Chin2 ko" n chin2 says"Bada maza aaya tere saath ....................Narcissist ko"
So much for being twins n we breaking our heads over it.Woh logon ne sach me ....... banaya aur bada maza aaya :) :) :)

Monday, August 17, 2009

Bhimashankar Blues!

I know its been a very long time since I have written something let alone blogging.Well today I had to write this to get the "Blues" out of my system.Its been only a day back from bhimashankar and I am already missing the place,the people and the crap that followed!It definitely was a blissful crap.
After so many treks back to back I finally went to a place where I wanted to go desperately for a very long time with a completely new set of people which I am a bit used to now but with people with an amazing sense of humor n brainzzz that dripped wisdom unlimited in the most tacky way.
The journey started with the usual introductions n I met Miss S,Some Freshers including a sweet little virus and the fake firangs "FF"s. It was Ms.S's laughter and innocence which caught me off guard as I was getting used to being a bit vigilant n careful in most of the treks when it came to unknown people.I have to give her the credit for being so sporty as every member of the group had given her a different name starting with "s" which could have added up to 1760 as Mr Tinku said.With this girl I was all in for fun and laughter that echoed through the magnanimous mountain we were about to climb.
We were ascending through Shidi ghat n descending through ganesh ghat as per the plan.Shidi ghat as the name goes had ladders which freaked out every member of the group as it started raining just when we were climbing those ladders.There were three ladders in all and the second one was the worst of all as the ladder was a bit shaky as one took it and the ascend was of course without any help so we were left to deal with our fears on our own.Post this climbing came across a tiny miny waterfall which was a relief after this torrent of adrenaline.We had the longest photo session there with the firangs and Miss S posing till they dropped dead.We were 2 hours behind the scheduled time for lunch and we rushed toward the a settlement with a few huts where we had our lunch.We had just come half way in our journey,the other half was still to be covered when our leader Mr.Tinku enlightened us saying that the remaining journey was comparatively easier.This Mr.Tinku has "Time Dyslexia" never giving the appropriate time taken to cover a patch.But the journey was easier n we took a lot of time to cover it as we were full n the climb was strenuous.
After the final climb came the show time.We i.e the Firangs,Miss S n myself we did a short photo session followed by a khwaja dance sequence beside a lake with the clouds hovering around us(Oh how I wish I had the video now!).One of the firangs was taught the marathi word "Aaicha gho" n he used or misused the word wonderfully popping it up every now n then.We all danced our way with "Aaicha gho gho gho"as our slogan ,shooting n ragging every single trekker in our group irrespective of whether being active or passive.We completed this fancy dance by playing "ringa ringa roses" in the dark which was the ultimate as "all fell down" without actually able to see the place.
The final destination Bhimashankar Temple came into view within minutes of leaving this dancing ground.We left our baggage in the place booked for the night stay n left for the temple.After offering the prayers a tiny group including me,d firangs,miss S,tinku,B2 n a few others got busy with the "pungi".Actually it was the conch blown in the temples but the attempts at blowing them sounded more of a pungi n an assortment of funny sounds except tinku's who was quiet used to this art.
Back to the rooms where we were staying we sang a few songs killing the lyrics till dinner n slept with a lot of laughter n arguments n loads of hush hush as we were not supposed to disturb the other groups.Following morning was again full of noise as we had tried to remember the names of every member and had a serious discussions on mythology and science.This is already a controversial topic and we made it all the more controversial by adding gossip n arguing our hearts out till it was time to leave for Gupt Bhimashankar.
The first five minutes of this route stinked followed by a total green route with waterfalls n insects.A prolonged photo session at this place and we were hungry.Rushing back to our rooms we had a leisure breakfast with votes for whether to go to a place called Nagphani or not.In the end 10 out of the 42 ppl specially the pune crowd left for nagphani n we got ready to descend via ganesh ghat.Of course with tinku leading us we were all fast enough to cover the distance in the stipulated time given by him.
Few people were a bit slow,some got lost thanks to B2 n the bisons and we ended up waiting for them for almost 2 hours playing in the stream n fighting the mosquitoes.
While coming back to Karjat from where we started our journey in a tumtum we sang till our throats became sore.The firangs taught us to make new lyrics n songs n we all tried our hand at it.Train journey back to our respective destinations was more of a continuation of the 2 day blast instead of dampened n tired spirits.Back home I was all smiles n today am missing all of them.
Well I have to mention a few clinchers here:
1)1760 names of Miss S
2)The "FF"s n their bakwas
3)The freshers(how can v forget them,V taught them so much about trekking n nature)
4)Aicha gho Dance
5)Virus n his Nagphani baba act
6)B2 n co.fighting the bisons with paper cutters
7)Dumpy the humpty dumpty man whose name was so funny we just liked pronouncing it
8)The little stupid conversation that we had with everyone and ended up having such a wonderful time.
Thanks to the whole group for such a wonderful time.Sob Sob Sob ........... I am missing u all lots.Hope to catch up with u all someday again!!!!