CARPE DIEM

Thought of penning down something today. Completely emboldened by the very thought that crossed my mind while I was having a peaceful nap, I am now taking a moment to appreciate a few people that crossed my path. My nap dream was all abstruse and vague, but instead of an uncanny dream that plunged out of nowhere making no sense, I could add up what the incidents were, from the faces so dear to me.
 I was lounging at one of my friend's house, where I was surprised by the remaining of the lot and we set out to plan a trip to some random place. I don't remember anything else.

Back to reality now. There's this rattle of my fan always engaging my room, working 24*7. If this thing could talk, I'm pretty sure it'd be saying "Fuck you Corona! because of you this little piece of shit got no plans to leave the room!!! Can I fricking get a day off!" Well, that's that. Have you ever tried to reminisce what it was like to go out, carefree, breathing in and out with no scarf or mask to filter anything for us, how it was like to be around people not getting worried about where the person next to you was coming from, not thinking of the possibility of death that can catapult out of nowhere with the slightest form of human interaction and the list goes on? What's the point being garrulous about this. We'll check every day in our calendar waiting for all this to end and be thankful for another beautiful day.

(Beautiful day... my foot!)

My phone gallery always helped me hark back to some great many days I had, and I'm thankful for the people who made those memories for me. I am now all nostalgic about our one day trek and hence here goes.

A group of 5 insane people ("girls " from a societal perspective ") made plans to go trekking and decided to leave around 9 pm. We rented a car and were all set to go. A mixture of fear and excitement wrapped in doubt of whether we should be heading out somewhere so late at night befell upon us just before we were about to start the journey. Sreejitha was our master planner and our sole source of energy and stupidity, we soon forgot what we were actually worried about and was vibing to the upbeat music in no time.  Anjali ("Noddy" as I call her ), is a movie blogger and was so into setting up her blog while the rest of us were already on cloud nine by this time. Well, she managed to sink in no time.

As per our plan, we were supposed to reach our destination "The Kurishumala "

(Litreal meaning-Mount of the Cross) around 6:00 am, which means we had seven hours in hand, and what to do in this time is a plan up in the air. We headed straight to the movie theater if I remember it right the show began at 10:30 pm.
 Well, folks! Vlogging is not everyone's cup of tea, but Sreeju was so good in it that the rest of us including her sister stood dumbfounded by her magical talent. She vlogged all the way.

 Ps: She's not annoying at all.

We watched the movie "Thappad", I did zone out for a bit, but that nap kept me awake for the rest of the time. The movie finished around 1 am, and the question popped.

Now what?

Anjana gushed about one thing or another, the movie critic I believe might have got her new topic for the blog. We then decided to head out to Trivandrum Airport and watch the plane land on the runway. Thanks to Sreeju's sister Sreelaksmi (AKA "Chech") who was always ready for anything and the airport part did make our day. We checked the flight schedule and waited there for quite some time, but then found that the flight got delayed. So we decided to spend some time at the Shankumukham beach and come back by the time the next flight arrived. I didn't really understand why the whole flight thing was so exciting to these guys and I'm particularly cranky after 11. So I decided to go with the flow and decided to zone out again for a few minutes.

The beach, I realized always gave a different kind of vibe when it was past midnight, but we were surprised and relieved to find a few families enjoying their time there. We were there for time pass as well, got an airport mission to finish in 45 minutes precisely. Sreeju and Chech took off their shoes, I was reluctant to walk barefoot, Noddy, and Pyaari (Anjana) gave me company. We played lock and key in the sand, danced around and took a video, had the best 45 minutes at the shore, and when we left the beach, I'm sure the laughter and joy died out and it was just the sway of winds and muffled roaring of waves.

We were all chatty through the drive when the bemusement in the air brought some serious vibe and I realized that we kind of lost our way. I decided not to update my mom about this until we figured our way out. Sreeju was sitting there puzzled by Google maps and Chech was trying to remember which turn we took so that we could reach back to the airport again.

The craziest shit happened this time. The road was all silent, nothing but shades of yellow and black everywhere. We took a turn and entered a different route for the first time and as we were driving suddenly Sreeju screeched in her highest note and the rest of us were almost killed to death by that. Aahhh!!!!
 A stray dog barged onto her side of the window and started chasing us all the way. We all yelled having no clue about what just happened. Chech freaked out too but managed to drive off at maximum speed. The loop didn't break. We got lost again two more times and somehow ended in this very same road and the vicious thing chased us both times. I don't understand...what's their problem?

After all the screaming and yelling we finally managed to make it to our destination and waited there for the next flight. We were so scared to death, none of us wanted to get out to take some air, we just pulled down the window a bit and sat there eagerly. In no time, a yellow light was visible at a distance. Now did you see that star there before? Or am I just zoned out?
The light got brighter and was getting more close to our perimeter of sky and what happened in the next few seconds was total flabbergast. I've flown before but never saw what it was like to see the plane land in such proximity. I'm so short of words. Now when I write this, I have a very bright picture of this super huge plane fly just above my head, the whole place lit up with sparkling light and the sudden burst of a gale that swept through us and added to the joy of the moment. We yelled in amazement and I still feel the fragment of joy an airplane gave us.

It was around 3 am now, and yes we were starving. We drove to this restaurant that was open 24*7 and sat down like a pup waiting for his bone. I could understand the puzzled faces of the people present at the restaurant. A group of girls roaming around at this hour of the day. Strange. A family of six sat by the table next to us and I naturally assumed they came by the flight that landed a couple of hours back. This old lady was constantly staring at us and when I stared back, she mumbled something to her son which I'm pretty sure was about us. I'm relieved to have a family in this restaurant is all I got to say. Others were working men and yes groups of middle-aged men. I'm pleased to see you here old lady. We finished our breakfast in this strange hour and yes headed for the "Final Destination".

 Now, this was supposed to be the fun part of travel but me, Noddy and Pyaari zoned out in no time even though I managed to stay awake. Sreeju was vibing to the song every time I opened my eyes. Noddy was sleeping so peacefully leaning on me I felt like giving a "Thappad" on her head. You get the pun, don't you? Ah, my humor. It's inherited.

We had two routes to reach the mountain top an easy one and a high risk one. Fun fact. Our friends who visited the place before were not able to differentiate between the two, they ended up saying if luck favors, we'll find the easy route. Ah well, we'd like to consider ourselves pretty lucky. The natives of the place guided us the right way.
I'm taking a minute to appreciate the driving skills of Chech because the road was pretty treacherous at some points. We reached the combe around 6 but it was pitch-black all around so we decided to wait again for a while.

 The sole purpose of this trek was to watch the rising sun, and from what we've heard, the sight was a beautiful treat awaiting us. We vlogged throughout the trek but not long after our energy dropped and the air was filled with the noise of heavy breathing and f-curses. Sreeju and Chech, I don't know how they managed to be all perky throughout the trip. They never got tired. At some point, I thought I'd faint and worried about how they were gonna get me down. Not a single person was around, it was all rock steep slopes, sweat, and greenery. We stopped a couple of times to catch our breath, Sreeju hu-ha 'd all along the way. Noddy was the last one climbing, she gave me the picture of a kid who was forced to go to school but with no backpack.  We were almost there when the sun started rising so we decided to hold up and get the complete view. It was really beautiful, the rising sun and not to miss the valley beneath resembled a lady's face... I got distracted by that. Sreeju captured the sunrise in time-lapse on her phone and we set out for the top.

Up the hill was the best part, a forest-like place I'd say. Huge trees and the whole city beneath us, the morning dew and the brisk cool wind that took away our fatigue in no time. It was so relishing, we spend quite some time there, a wide smile on all our faces, yelling out "we made it peeps",
living the moment.

The sun was almost out when we learned there's a steep coming right up, so we decided not to leave until we reach the topmost point of the place. That was the difficult part, I got muscle cramps because it was a really steep climb. We finally reached atop, none hurt, and no bruises.

Touchwood.

We then clicked pictures of our triumph and managed to pull out good ones to post online. Found the great Cross atop and stood in silence for the rituals performed, said our little prayers, and finally kissed goodbye to this beautiful adventure and I literally don't remember anything from our way back. All of us slept like a baby except Chech. She drove us back.

It doesn't matter where you're going, It's who you have beside you.  These people made this travel everything about love and laughter and that's what rings my mind every time I look back.

Au revoir ❤️