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It was the middle of December, when our train slowed down on the station in the holy city of Haridwar. Winters are generally very cold in India, but our trip to Bachher, a hill station near Gopeshwar, was considered insane by the most tolerant of people. It was a tiny town about thirteen hundred meters above sea level, tucked behind the clouds and adorned with surprise mini waterfalls. The scent of pines and pure, fresh water seemed to waft perpetually. With chapped lips and frozen limbs, we got off the train and trudged towards the exit. The air was biting, as we stood in the loud taxi parking of the station,looking for a reasonably priced taxi to our destination. With an inordinate amount of haggling later, an elderly man finally felt pity for us and offered to take us to Bachher for a thousand and eight hundred rupees. Six long hours later, we were at the cabin like guest house that we were to stay at. There was no electricity and our blankets were soaked wet because of a surprise waterfall in the middle of the mountain road that had spooked us. We were huddled in one room, trying to share body heat, when the caretaker of the cabin offered to light a fire in the front porch of the house. The fire cast shadows behind us, darker shapes on already dark backgrounds. The warmth of the fire was a beautiful contrast to the bone chilling winds that were blowing across the hill. The sky was cloudless and starry, the moon shining beautifully. After a few hours of talking, soaking in the fresh mountain air and having fun, we decided to retire. It was a couple of hours into our sleep when we heard it-a scraping noise outside the window and low whining sounds. Another voice joined this, but this time it was inside. Before we could react, the caretaker entered the room and announced that there was a tiger outside our cabin. He slid the curtains open and out we saw the beast, pawing at the window. We were astounded, frozen in awe. We had never seen the majestic national animal in person before. We watched it walk and sniff around for a bit, and then it left. It was a random trip, that we had decided to go on at the last moment, but it came with a lot of twists and turns that I'll remember forever. I will especially not forget the surprise visitor we got.