Camping Again (A life without risk is a life not worth living)

By now especially all who live in big cities have realized that we are prisoners of time. Here every nanosecond counts. We have to travel home-office-home, complete deadlines, work 8/9 hours in office and pay bills in time. We are so busy now a day that we don’t even have time for signal to turn green. Don’t know how we all became captive of time.

In midst’s of this time crunch while googling some thing in office, we come across some beautiful vacation picture. We pause a while try to live in that picture, then sigh with disappointingly and resume our work.  Even I followed the suite, but this time I shared those pictures with my cubicle mate Sandeep.

Sandeep is senior to me, works on Java technology. He keeps interest in Politics, Finance, Online shopping, Cricket and almost everything in world.  He is no non sense guy, you tell him something on some topic and he will correct you to the decimal points of the numbers. Sometimes I wonder how this person know so much and this leads me to making fun of him by saying if he says to his senior (who is in other state) in afternoon that its night in Pune they will blindly believe him.

Coming back to sharing pictures with Sandeep. Now the idea of visiting such scenic places started brewing in our heads. We read some blogs and planed to Prison break, yes prison break of time. This time we just did not want to day dream. So we got in action and did some online shopping, got ourselves a tent and sleeping bags and decided to go for camping.  But the question was where will we go and when. No matter how much I boast about Prison break of time and blah blah…we were still time captives, so after some brain storming camping out skirts of city for a night on weekends was final.

Though we both have cruiser bike we decided to ride in his car (Chevy beat). We planned to go towards Mulshi dam and find a place to camp. I told my fiancée about me going camping, she was a sport and listed me things I might need there. And so I asked Sandeep what all things he is bringing and surprisingly we was geared with all the things in my list. Only the thing I carried was my camera, sleeping bag and water.

Rendezvous was my place on Saturday afternoon. I was ready with my bags and soon Sandeep arrived at by 4 pm in his champagne gold Chevy Beat. We loaded my bags and were off to endeavor our camping experience. I must say Sandeep has good driving skills and he does manoeuvre his car with ease in heavy traffic.Soon we were on Pune Mumbai highway heading to Mulshi dam, on our way we clicked few pictures with car. We saw sky was getting covered by clouds and that too in month of Feb. I guess the rain Gods were not happy with us. The day before it rained in Mumbai (a neighboring metro city). Rains made me little Skeptical about our camping night.

On reaching the spot, I had in my mind; I was shocked to see that it was being excavated by 2 yellow backhoes. The place was littered by empty alcohol bottles and chips packets. But the view from edge of the hill was splendid. Nestled in mountains it was a lush green carpet with beautiful blue Mulshi river cutting across vivid designs laid on mother earth. And the clouds which I thought will play a spoil sport, added to the beauty. They were looking amazing in pink and blue shades caused by descending Sun in Mulshi dam behind us.

This scenery was worth capturing so I sprung out my camera and started clicking the pictures. Where ever I clicked, the picture was post card quality image. I was devouring the nature’s beauty in my camera. After clicking 15 to 20 pictures from the same spot, still my appetite was craving for more of it. To enjoy the beauty I stood still, for few seconds I felt, I am in some European country side but soon my dream was broken when I saw a plastic chip bag blown in air with gush of wind. That brought me back on ground. Soon I realized Sandeep was with me. So I started looking around and saw him clicking pictures with his camera.

He was in love with that spot and wished to pitch our tent there. But I was not feeling safe after looking at the alcohol garbage around us. So we decided to explore the place around quickly and if we don’t find any other safe spot we will pitch our tent there. We drove few kilometers and were out of luck so we were heading back to square one. On our way back we asked a watchman of a under construction property to let us stay there for a night. But he refused and tipped us with some places around.  Following his tips we found a safest place, it was safe to hide car, no one bothers to look on that side and on top of it, it was narrow way to woods. On one side we could see the sunrise and on the other side sunset in Mulshi dam. As we went deeper in woods to our amaze even that spot so called safe was not new to alcohol and plastic garbage. There were some remains of previous camping groups.

Sun was about to retire in Mulshi dam water, we both again clicked few pics and stared at the beauty of descending sun. It was just like God painting sky in shades of red and blue. Those clouds were now cotton bunnies and in reddish and blue. This was what we use to dream sitting in office cubicle. But this time it was real no air conditioned air but a real fresh cool breeze from Mulshi  dam waving our hair. Wow it was refreshing.   

As the sun went down I realized about collecting fire wood and setting up tent. I alarmed Sandeep about time crunch. We quickly gathered fire wood and first time in life I was happy to find cow dung (dry). Sandeep got the tent out of bag and we set up tent in less than 10 minutes. No Sooner our camp fire was lit and I tried to make Maggi in with the help of torch. It was pitch dark and I was not sure how much Maggi and its masala I was adding. Sandeep was chopping onions for egg bhurji. Later we dropped the plan of cooking bhurji and added chopping onions in Maggi. Waiting for our dinner to get cooked we saw a pale yellow ball rising from farthest mountains. Ladies and Gentlemen behold it was the Moon…I was excited to see that scene. Few minutes ago we witnessed setting Sun, a greater light which governed the day and her was rising Moon made to govern the night.

Our Maggi was cooked and it had aroma of being cooked on campfire. Sandeep added tomato sauce which made Maggi yummier. Guys, I rarely do cook Maggi but this was the most delicious Maggi I have every cooked. We enjoyed our dinner watching the moon playing hide and seek some times in clouds and sometimes in woods surrounding us. After dinner we went on edge of the hill, to see the Mulshi River and small village surrounding it at night. This time the scene was no less than a fairy tale. Blue hue all around and river like shining silver flowing from the villages, distant vehicle light beams imitated of moving starts. And above all this sky was painted in bright white and with shades blue with few bright stars peeping from the clouds. We tried to capture all this in 0’s and 1’s but that experience neither can be captured nor can be described. Later we sat silently gazing at that scenic silver river and enjoyed the moon bath with cool breeze. Yes it was kind of moon bath, as the moon light was so strong we felt that someone has switched on tube light. We were even able to see our tent which was 10-15 meters away.

It was 9 p m and we were in our tent trying our new sleeping bags and doing all that we can to feel cozy on rocky ground. Isn’t it oxymoron on one hand we want to experience the primitive life and on other we want it to be less painful with tent, sleeping bags and woodland shoes.

We both feared of thieves so for safety Sandeep started fishing for knife in his bag which he used for cutting onions. But all his efforts were in vain, so he got a fork instead and kept it near his pillow.  With that I recollected a Hindi movie “Ghanchakkar” where the male protagonist uses fork to kill the villain. We had a little laugh on that. I am an introvert person don’t think I will start conversation and surprisingly Sandeep was introvert too. For few minutes we didn’t had any lively conversation. Then to kill the time we listened to retro Hindi film gazals. Yes this is one more thing common between us. He imparted some knowledge about Urdu language poems and gazals and the poets. We realized we need an extrovert and fun loving group for camping.

As the time passed my eyes became heavy and I dozed off. But little I knew the fear of thieves was still haunting me in back of my mind. In few minutes I woke up, I recollected one prayer I use to pray as a child asking God to keep me safe from scorpions, snakes, thorns, lions and tigers. Then I used to be in safest place on earth for me and it was none other than my cozy bedroom. I never needed that kind of prayer then but now I definitely needed it. I again dozed off and this time I woke up in morning with three dreams in my head where I was always disturbed in tent.

With all fatigue of night I opened the tent door and welcomed the morning light with cold weather and chirping sound of sparrows. I was amazed to see the view outside; I rushed out and beckon sandeep. It was as if our hill has grown taller over night or my nightmare has come true, we both were dead and watching down from heaven. I rubbed my eyes vigorously to make sure I was not dreaming. The view was as if clouds have descended and swallowed river and village.  As the time passed and sun was climbing the mountains back, the fog covering the village got denser. And yet again it was a marvelous sight to witness. Golden light getting brighter from back of the mountains, a small village and its river still in deep sleep, tucked under the chilly fog blanket.

Without missing and minute we greedily captured those shades of morning in out camera. As we packed our belongings and were off to our respective homes, I thanked God for keeping us safe and also for the entire nature’s treat He served these two prisoners of time in span of few hours.

                                                                                  

A Mother is Born

“Hello”

“Haan Hello”

“Where are you?”

“I am on the bridge to Poona Hospital. Hold on for a moment…do u see me now.”

Anup was waiting in front of Poona Hospital, waving his hand to me. He is my childhood buddy. He is mallu and expecting a baby in a week’s time. We both park our bikes and head towards the fruit stall near Hospital. We are here to meet Rose our childhood buddy who has just delivered a baby girl.

“How much are the apples for?”

“160 per kg”

 “160 are too much…reduce the rate”

Vendor says “I can make 155 but then I don’t have 5 Rs change and even you won’t have it…Right”.

Anup looks at me, we both don’t have change. I approve the deal with a tilt neck gesture.

“Ok give half kg” says Anup.

Oh boy still I am not good at bargaining, I was thinking. We reach near Poona Hospital entrance it was 9:00 pm. There are few guards standing at the door. One of them seems to be the leader as others are skinny and this one is with dark complexion and with huge belly.

Neither Anup nor I knew where Rose's bed/ward is. So Anup calls Roney, Rose’s brother and confirms the location.

“It is V ward and room 376.”

Anup asks the guard with huge belly, “Where is V ward?”

“Are you visitors?” guard enquiries.

We both nod our heads.

“Do you have visiting pass?”

We both shake our head left and right.

“Visiting hours is over”.

Our faces turned like sucked mangoes. Looking at them guard said, “Ok, but just 5 mins….Whom do you want to meet?”

“Rose George or Rose Nikki, who just delivered” says Anup.(Rose George name prior wedding)

“Ok ok go to 3^rd floor V wards 376 Room” says the guard.

We are surprised and puzzled to know that how he knew where patient is located as it’s a huge hospital.

We both took the stairs to 3^rd floor. As we were passing through the corridor, I heard daily soap jingles. What is this hospital or a hotel, I wondered. No sooner we are in front of a door which reads 376 and Rose Nikki also there was Doctors name mentioned.

Knock knock

Anup knocks the door.

Rose’s mom opens the door. She looks surprise to see us and welcomes us in. I have seen aunty greeting us at door many times with surprise expression on her face  but this time it is different new joy is beaming on face though she look fatigue. Rose is having her dinner from hospital. She looks fatigue but puts on a smile of a triumphant warrior. On the other side of the bed there is a cradle with baby in it. It’s a hospital’s private room with Television (+ cable connection), one extra bed and washroom. Aah, Television with cable connection, this explains the daily soap jingles.

We congratulate her and run to the cradle to see the baby.  Its sleeping nicely cuddled up in blanket.  This is the first time I am seeing a baby so young. It’s almost 2 days old.

“She does not look like me, does she?” says Rose.

We again gaze at the baby, now trying to find her Mothers resemblance in her.

“No, (pause) she looks like her Father” says Anup.

I have seen Nikki ones or twice so I can’t make out the difference, but she definitely does not look like Rose.

“How are you feeling now?”

“Now I am much better…Till this morning I was not allowed to have food. From Past two days I didn’t had anything not even water. Only Coconut water was suggested.” says Rose.

“Ya, She didn’t had anything” empathize her mother.

I am puzzled “Why…what happened?”

“There are stitches. So doctor said no food” says aunty.

Addition to my confusion.

“How was your experience?" Anup asks.

“Very bad. It was like you want to shit but you can’t do it. Everyone says DO IT...DO IT...PUSH...PUSH and you just can’t.”

Ha Ha Ha we all laugh.

This is all new for me. I never asked anyone how it feels like while giving birth. Pregnancy and delivery is undiscovered phase of life for me. Many other relatives and friends have been through this but I never pondered on this topic. It was always interesting topic for ladies and for men it was just one or two sentence.

“The pain is unbearable it feels like you will die. It is so much painful that women can even kill anyone at that time.” says Rose.

This reminds me of some of the posts from facebook.com mentioning the pain a women goes while giving a birth. A Human body can bear only up to 45 del (units) of pain. Yet at time of giving birth, a mother feels up to 57 Del (units) of pain. This is similar to 20 bones getting fractured at the same time. Link

Well neither I am sure about amount of pain nor want to debate on it. But I know it must be severe pain.

“Why didn't you opt for pain less injection?” Anup asks.

“I was injected with it.”

“And still it was painful…did they inject in spinal cord.” (Puzzled voice of Anup)

“Yeah, in back. But I was still feeling pain. Don’t know why?”

“I was all conscious above waist. I was also able to see the operation in the mirror on the ceiling. And the weirdest thing was doctors and nurses were cool. They were talking about results of their kids.”

“It’s their routine” says me trying to be part of conversation. I have nothing to say. I have zero knowledge about this.

Well Anup know much about pregnancy and child birth. He has gathered lots of knowledge as he is expecting.

“Roney was most excited person. He was jumping outside of Operation Theater after they got the news of the birth. And when doctors gave permission to meet me for 10mins one by one…Roney came running. He was just doing bak bak bak bak(blah blah)…Your child is like this and your child is like that etc. He was the first person to touch the baby. Even though it’s not allowed to touch baby’s cheek he touched it.”

Hahaha we all were laughing. I was imagining Roney doing all that.

“Roney might be on his way to hospital. He wants to stay with baby tonight as he is having holiday tomorrow for 15^th August.” says aunty.

“Is your wife doing exercise? Doctors must have suggested few exercises na.”

“Ya, she is doing some.”

And Anup stars showing few of them. They were really funny for me. It was somewhat like walking like a crab.

“These are all just for you to have a less painful and normal delivery.”

“Till last moment doctors told me that I will have normal delivery, but there were compilation at 11^th hour. Babies heart beats dropped to 40-50 per min which were suppose to be 100 or so. And thank God that Roney saw that and informed doctors about it otherwise baby could have died. "

With this there was silent moment in that room.

“Is she taking care of herself?” Rose asks Anup.

“Ya she is.”

“What care a person has to take? I know people go to work even on the day of delivery” I ask with my limited knowledge.

Rose explains, “3 months prior delivery mother is not suppose to take naps in afternoon or else baby stays awake at night after birth. And she should not stress much Etc.”

What no naps? This sounds illogical to me. But it’s medical totally foreign subject for me.

“And also after birth we have to take lots of care for 3 months. I had a cough and doctor gave an injection and cough vanished” says Rose.

“Otherwise it will break or stress the stitches” says aunty.

Huh ‘stitches’ now again I am puzzled... stitches for what.

“Oh haan... scissoring operation” says Anup.

Well now this gives me some clue. Hmmm I am still puzzled and will ask Anup later about it.

 “So you must be feeling lighter now. I mean after delivery” says me.

“You won’t believe me. I gained 19kgs since I was pregnant. Doctors use to say it is good that you are still gaining weight.”

“#@$$#@ %#@$% %(*%(*&(%$#%$#@%”  Rose says. (talk in mallu and laughing sound.)

“She is saying it feels like there is stone in her stomach now.” Anup explains to me and I grin.

If I were a woman, I perhaps would have deny delivering a baby. I don’t want to balloon up and then never return to my original shape.

“Mother has to take care that she does not affected with any illness for 3 months after baby is born, or else that sickness will be permanent to her and also it might affect the baby. She should also not take mobile calls and stress herself while reading newspaper or anything else.”

Oh my goodness why does anyone has to go through all these trouble and all this pain. I was very deeply engrossed in my thoughts. And all of a sudden eureka moment, I realize I am a boy and I don’t have to go thought all this things. Phew, what a relief.

Knock knock (It was 10 pm)

“Visitor is not allowed at this time.” says a guard on duty.

“Tell your wife to take care and pray.” says Rose.

We bid good bye to all and left the hospital.

"What is this scissoring operation all about?" I asked Anup.

"They cut mother's below belly button, to get the baby out."

So that's why it must be called scissoring operation, I thought. (Later on googling I realized its called Caesarean operation)

As I’m on my way back to home I have chain of thoughts.

Certainly I payed respect to woman before this evening but after realizing what she goes through to become a mother and bring a new born in this world, my respect levels have risen. She goes through all the trouble and pain to carry a baby inside her for 9 months and deliver it. Her body changes and she becomes more responsible and mature in her thinking. She thinks first about her little one and then about herself. It’s like a complete transformation of a woman into mother. This good news bring revolution in a family. Now all the priorities in a family changes, this new born is first in priority list.

A birth in a family all of a sudden promotes everybody. Husband and Wife are now transformed into Father and Mother and their parents are now Grandparents and few people around them are Uncles and Aunties. With these new designations everybody is bestowed with new responsibilities towards upbringing of the little one.God has gifted a couple with clay and now it’s their responsibility to create a good human being out of it.

Rose’s advice to Anup’s wife about taking care and praying makes me think more. No matter how much precautions you and your doctors take but your well being is still in hands of God. He has all the knowledge and power to change situations. So always have faith and rely on Him.

Last working day @ Cybage

Last Working day mail

Vijay and Me 

...soon it will come to life

New Endeca Team (Galaxy Note)

Dance Endeca Dance (Iphone 5)

Every sentence “Sir, aap mat jao” was breaking my heart in pieces. But my career growth was mired. I was not feeling sad at all, completing Last Working Day's formalities was just like some task to be completed. 

My last working day was 14th Dec 2012 Friday. I got up early and started to plan my day. I created my LWD mail and got all documents arranged for Finance clearance. But realized few things were needed to be taken care off before I start for office and for that Anoop's(friend) help was needed. So I got ready n waited for Anoop, in my car, who was late as usual. And now it was rush hours plus in addition to that fly over construction near my house made traffic horrible.

Somehow huffing and puffing, I reached office. I know you must be thinking why huffing and puffing, that’s because I rushed to my desk from parking as I wanted to send LWD mail from my system before it gets disconnected by IS (Information Security). To my surprise system was there but disconnected and wrapped up. Supriya(Team mate) said we saved it from IS. But sadly I was not able to send mail from my system, all my efforts were in vain. So shot mail from Shivani’s(Team mate) system.  Thanks Supriya and Shivani.

Few hours later Mandar(Team Lead) said lets go to Mc Donald’s and he will pay. I got the hint; team was ready with farewell arrangements.  It was good to cut a cake and get is massaged on face by Vijay(Team mate). Shivani and I were thinking for a song since Thursday, which I would be singing for my farewell and we came up with this song just 15 mins early. Now this was the awesome part about my song, which never happened in Team Endeca’s(my team) history, a song with chorus. I had Shivani and Supriya as chorus singing “Aashaayen Aashaayen Aashaayen…“. Yes, it was song from Iqbal movie “Aashaayen”. The song started with giggles and I was hoping it ends well and so it did. It was followed by my 2 mins speech. Well in short my speech included what I learned from everyone in team. Endeca Team also gifted me 2 gifts and I am happy with both of them, a miniature of Honda CBR 600 F4 and sketching equipment. No one till date has gifted me prototype of a sports bike which I always hope while unwrapping my gifts. Hold on hold on…this doesn't; mean from now on everyone starts gifting me bike prototypes, I accept cash too and cash is my first love in gifts.

Later, after finishing my clearance from Cybage I joined team. Mandar and Shivani were solving a ticket and I to wrack my brain. This was the last time I was giving suggestions in resolving tickets for Endeca Team. After this we all headed for celebrating my farewell.

I planned to throw a party at SOHO’s Restaurant. I deliberately thought about it because it had dance floor and we have two dance fanatics, needless to say they are most flexible people in team Shivani and Vijay. We enjoyed sitting at lounge with snacks and taking snaps. This was the first time I felt Iphone 5 is better performer than my Galaxy Note. Iphone 5 was giving us very good results in low light. So we used it all the night. After some time we hit the dance floor. I am a toddler in dancing. Sometimes my hands move but my feet won't coordinate and if feet move my upper body will just refuse to sync.  Dance floor was somewhat similar to which I have seen in movies…dim lit ambiance with green and blue laser crawling every face and body. People enjoying, waving hands, stamping feet in weird manner on loud music beats. Oh is this what they do on dance floor… this is not foreign to me; I do it all the time in shower. As my eyes moved to my team mates, they all were dancing on steps of Hollywood to Bollywood, Ganpati to Gangnam, Macarena to Johnny Bravo and Nagin to Shakira's belly dance. I knew Mandar,Vijay and Shivani can dance well but to see Supriya dancing was new and she did it pretty well. I tried my level best to fit in but my dance was nothing less than throwing hands and legs in all direction. I was happy as I missed gym that day and was losing calories in different manner.

After getting exhausted we went looking for dining table, but all were occupied. I was doing regular check on my accessories… mobile…hmm checked, wallet… hmm checked , ID card…huun… ID CARD I skipped a heartbeat. Wait a minute where is my ID card and then I realized I am no longer part of Cybage. It gave me a feeling of being an orphan and different form Endeca team. But soon it passed away in hunt of a table.

 We didn't get table so we went to another restaurant called Northern Frontier. I hoped it was not the last time I see all of them together. So I was trying to leave every moment with them, enjoying every joke, gazing every face trying to create a memory. Time was moving fast but I was struggling to slow it down and persist every moment. I recollect the collection of all LWD mails I had which say about missing friends in a fancy words. Those all words were coming to life.

After filling our appetite we departed. Dropping Vijay, Supriya and Shivani to their home was my responsibility. Vijay and Supriya one by one every one left and a sad feeling of not able to meet these guys again gripped my heart. I shared it with Shivani, she gave me taste of my own medicine by saying “You won’t miss us for a long time”.  Well that’s bitter truth of life, time and life moves on, healing wounds and fading memories, sometimes this feature is in our favor and some time it’s not. Then she told me one of her favorite song which cheers her up always and no sooner she played it on her mobile. It was “Aashiyan” from Barfi movie
Itni si haseen itni si khushi
Itna sa tukda chand ka
Khwaabon ki tinkon se chal banaaye aashiyan

Well the magic of song worked in cheering me up and I was smiling again.

Today morning when I see my mobile gallery it’s filled with nothing but Team Endeca’s birthday pics, and funny videos. Till yesterday they were pictures today they are memories.

P.S. We all missed you Suvarna(Team mate) and Shashank(Team friend).

First Rain

(L-R Jitesh Rakesh Nandu ME)

Yesterday they arrived like first battalion of army marching in front, declaring change of season, proclaiming their arrival. I loved to see them huge and gigantic dressed in snow white with beautiful silver lining and setting Sun light dressed them in Red and Orange. That moment I missed Nikson(my DSLR) a lot.

Today morning sky was as usual, clear with scanty clouds but gradually as the day passed by it was filled with dark rainy clouds. In afternoon there was a little bit of drizzle in our part of city. But by 6:00pm atmosphere was as if its 8:30pm. It’s just like somebody fiddled with brightness and contrast. Colors around me are brighter now. And OMG it started raining. Today I was wearing half shirt and a cream color cotton jean which is my favorite, sadly today they are going to be sacrificed in muddy rain water. My woodland shoes will be drenched in rain water too.

I waited for rain to reduce its pace but it had something else in its mind, so I decided to venture my road to home(its 18-20km via core city). I geared up and plugged my headphones, played local radio station and jumped into rain. Oh the ice cold rain drops when made contact with my warm body made me shout “MUMMY…”. For a while till my body gets cold I was shouting but later I started to shiver.

However in mist of all this drama I was happy inside because this is Nikson’s first monsoon. I want to take him all places around Pune(my city) and take all the pictures which are brewing in my mind from a long time. I was waiting on one of a signal to turn green and looking to that bright red tail lights of vehicles I lost in memories and it reminded me of rains which I enjoyed with my Logical Solution’s(previous company) friends. Where we all went out in rains to get Nira(cold drink) in short break and it rained heavily. I still remember Nandu(colleague from previous company) dancing on Apdi pode song in rains. And followed by LALA’s(CEO of LS) jokes which I didn’t mind that day. Well I won’t ever forget those first rains.

Loud horns from vehicles behind me brought me back from flashback. Single was green and I went home completely drenched. Happy and planning for all my bike rides and outdoor photography.

Car ride to Mahableshwar

Early morning 5:00am Sonal joined us in Nitin’s new Honda City with two huge bags as she was telling us previous day. Soon we all were sharing about number of show stoppers we faced for this ride to Mahableshwar. We all were so excited that we have slept for very few hours. Though it was early morning and still dark we were feeling concern whether we will be able to witness sunrise from Harrison’s folly at Panchgani. So without much delay we hit the Highway and caught the speed. As we were crossing viaduct I was able to see Jambhulwadi Lake bathed in moonlight and so was our car. I wished to capture that picture, but then thought some sweet memories must be kept lingering in back of your mind they are worth preserving that way. As soon as our car entered New Katraj tunnel, we were greeted by splash of ember light and due to speed of car it gave me a feeling of entering into a new dimension, an entire new world. And in fact on the other end of tunnel there was indeed a beautiful and raw world waiting for urbanites like us. That tunnel put an end to tall city skyscrapers, busy streets and all worries of our day to day life. We were now on outskirts of Pune, beautiful landscapes start moving across your seat's window.
As the wheels turned and time passed I was able to see breaking of dawn in rear view mirror and this was making me upset that I was going to miss magic hours of photography. Wait a minute there is no dam on the way to Mahableshwar and why are roads getting narrow, damn we lost our way I shouted. We missed a turn to Panchgani 7 kms back and were next to Dhom Dam. This added to my sadness. We took a U turn from Dam and resumed out journey. As we were climbing the ghats of Wai I was able to see beautiful Sun rays kissing the mountain peaks. I insisted Nitin to get us fast to Harrison’s folly.

Harrison’s folly
View from Harrison’s folly was breath taking. On one side was Panchgani waiting for us and on other side Harrison’s valley, Wai and nearby villages at foot hills snuggled up happily under the covers of morning mist. When I looked at horizon I could see fading shades of mountains, with Sun shining surrounded my scanty clouds dressed in glittering silver linings. It’s a splendid feeling to gaze at that panoramic view sipping hot chai, which Nitin got for us that early morning. It was perfect time for Photography. Nitin’s car was my primary model for the day. So I didn’t waste much time and started to click his car. She looked grandeur with that magnificence backdrop of sunrise.

Mapro garden
We halted at Mapro garden for some breakfast. As their kitchen was not warm yet, it again gave us some time for photography. Mapro garden is indeed wonderful place for vacationers to fill their appetite, get freshen up and purchase some Mapro goodies for self or beloveds. It also has some beautiful gardens and vivid flowers which make this place a perfect friends/family hangout. Sonal and Nitin needed map for sightseeing so they purchased one. Well my thinking about map is little different. I like to scout my way, I like to interact with people. With this you get exposed to their language and there is different fun in getting lost, you get to explore new world, new horizons and you don’t know what surprise is waiting for you on next turn.
Well that map was pretty confusing for all of us to understand. It almost appeared to me like a maze puzzle. However somehow we managed to see some points at Old Mahableshwar with its help but they failed to excite me as it was summer time and almost every where it was golden grass and dried waterfalls.

Needle head point
It was almost afternoon Mahableshwar was not much crowded. We reached “needle head point” After some photo shoot we decided to explore another cliff edge. I asked Sonal to click some of my pics on that cliff edge. But as my jeans were caring my mobile and wallet it was looking weird so I kept it near her feet. Then I got an idea of getting a picture of Nitin and me sitting on the cliff with mesmerizing valley view in front of us. As Sonal was new to photography after she clicked our pic she came near us to confirm if she got the picture as I wished. Soon she was alarmed by some noise and turned back, it was 2-3 young monkeys checking out my wallet and mobile. My heart poped up into my throat. Sonal screamed… I shouted too and that scared those mischievous monkeys. Thanks God they left the stuff at the same spot and ran away, otherwise our rest of the day was going to be waste. Our screaming drew other vacationer’s attention and they were summoned. It was all my foolishness… despite of reading so many notice boards about not leaving precious items unattended; I did this stupidity. Big thanks to Sonal for being vigilant.
After this incident we all were very exhausted and drained, so we decided to have lunch. Mahableshwar was getting clouded and by the time we finished our lunch it also rained in month of March, summer time. That day clouds played role of friends and foes both. Friends as they protected us from harsh Sun shine and foes as I won’t be getting sunset pictures because of them.

Venna Lake
It was boating time. We purchased the tickets of paddling boat and we all were excited to paddle as we were left alone in boat without any paddler/ captain. Nitin and I were made to paddle and boat the keeper made Sonal sit in front of us and asked her not to move otherwise boat might get unbalance and can turn upside down. For a while we all were merry and enjoying the ride. I don’t remember much what was Sonal talking about when our boat reached dead trees in water and shockingly there was a snake approx 12inches long, resting on one of the dry branches. It scared Sonal and made her jump and sit in middle of the boat. Till now Sonal was cheerful and making fun of Nitin and me splashing water on both of us but a glimpse of snake scared her from top to bottom. Oh yes and snake too was scared and disappeared in water.

Horse Ride
After boat ride it was time for horse ride. I wonder how come there are so many horses now. I remember the last time I visited there were few horses and now it’s like 50-60 horses. Horse ride scares the wits out of me. I just can’t ride a horse because it has its own brain. I can ride world’s fastest bike and that too at its top speed but not a horse. The horse owner gave me a crash course about how to ride his horse. But I was making my horse walk not even walk fast but just walk. On the other hand Nitin was fascinated by horse ride. He had two horse rides and in second horse ride I even took his video where he was making horse run faster.

Wilson point and scary Road to Panchgani
After horse episode we went to Wilson point to witness sunset but as it was cloudy we didn’t get any sunset. So we decided to head back to Mapro garden do some shopping and then back to Pune. But now we were lost as we took a wrong turn. On asking for help a stranger on bike told us we were on wrong path but don’t worry he said follow the same path and then take a left turn after 2 km and you will reach Panchgani. So we did as he said. As we took right turn road became narrower and forest became denser and thicker. There were not many humans seen on road. But still the man who guided us to that road was following us. This was more than enough to scare Sonal. She asked Nitin to lock the windows and doors. I was adding fuel to fire by scaring Sonal more. But today I feel she was right some time we do meet bad people and bad things can happen to us, so we need to be cautious all the time. Fortunately nothing bad happen to us and we reached safely to Panchgani.
We did some shopping and had pizza at Mapro gardens and started back to Pune. Again this time we lost our way at Wai and entered Wai city. From Wai onwards I was driving the car. I found her smooth and powerful. But since it was night time I was not able to ride her to its full speed may be next time ;).We decided to sing songs like karaoke. So we played the music in decently nasty volume and were singing songs. This was one of my dream, which I lived that day.
Together we all had a gala time. With all of those good and bad memories, sharing thoughts, pulling each other’s legs and getting lost. I was not much tired as we were in car. That day I totally unwounded myself, previous week was tiresome and this ride was great refreshment for me. But I knew that Tunnel at Katraj is waiting for me to take me back to me regular life.
Thank you Jesus for a safe ride.