What is that has changed?
I am almost standing on a stage where the fences of my cake already has seen one fourth of hundred years, but there have been many places that I have seen in these years. Few that I had always wanted to and some without any utter desire, and Mount Abu happens to be my choice as always.
Yes back down the lane of this year, I did visit Mount Abu with a bunch of new but really close group of friends. I would say that I don’t have a particular reason in whole to suggest the group for this beauty that lies deep in my heart. Actually if I rest my head back today, I actually haven’t yet seen a place more mesmerizing than Mount Abu.
What did this trip give me?
I don’t have an answer but when I see the best buddies that my contact list has and the ones whom I call down for every traumatic condition has the names that even the hotel registration book had. But when my foot stepped down on the old built station of Mount Abu, I was finding it difficult to remember that almost ten years back was the place small or was it the size of my shoe. I believe it was the size of my shoe. Though finding my way to the taxi stand and hiring a cab for the cooling down road of mount Abu wasn’t a fierce task, but I was amused on the rates, that had grown from Rs 200 (being the costly part back then) to Rs 700 (Today).
On my way, I had imagined it to be a journey of 2 hours, or rather I should say 10 years back the excitement used to be so high that even 45 minutes felt like hours. I did cross many known places, that Sai BABA temple, it still parks itself on the corner of the road. And the moist air that was blowing in my ears that morning was very similar or I should say an air that I had belonged too. That one morning, though eyes being a victim of lack of sleep, I was breathing an air that I had been longing for last ten years.
Yes there came my fairyland, a place that has beautiful mornings and calm evenings, but I felt a lot had changed. But there were few that made me feel the same. The clouds that I could touch, the water of NakkiJheel that morning was pure and untouched, sun took its good time to rise. Yes few things were really same. But I had forgotten, which softy shop used to be my favourite as there were many in lines now. I had also forgotten which restaurant served the best food, and so did I forget the ways. I then felt time is really a very big thing.
Though few texts to a friend who was probably helping me plan the trip from far of country, helped me settle down with fair enough answer to my buddies, who were making me route the place like a guide, but the fact was, this guide has forgotten it all. Though many places that were rough years back have been well-built now, and the amazing bike ride to Gurushikhar, off course with a small accident, probably my buddies can remember it. But all that has beautiful mornings have to face an evening to depart, though with friends it’s a bit different, but with places it is the same. But today after visiting all the same places after 10 years didn’t give me a nostalgic mode but a beautiful memory to cherish for rest of my life.
But some good gestures of known people and off course the amazing stay in the bungalow floor that was helped for us had made the trip amazing one.
P.S. I must say the tea at Ambaji temple was amazing, probably I had forgotten that too because I never had tea 10 years back. But all thanks to some known gestures.
written by
Arpita Rathore, Delhi
