Tinkering with fate

by Anubhav Negi (India)

A leap into the unknown India

It was 3pm in the afternoon and I was standing beside the National Highway No 4 waiting for the bus to come from a nearby town which was routed for my destination Dharamshala. A beautiful place nestled in the hills of Himalayas and a popular destination where tourists come from all over the world. It was not just the shame that my friends made me go through of not having travelled to such a wonderful place given the fact that we share the same state but more than that there was frustration of not letting myself travel more frequently. The bus arrived at the bus station 15 minutes later and I was already on a journey of finding myself and an important lesson to learn that bumpy rides can mess you up. I began my journey from Shongthong near village Barang in a state transport Bus and even though the bus was half it's capacity I sat in the extreme back. It was a momentous thoughtless decision which costed me later as the journey was full of potholes and the traditional snaky ways as they are in the mountains, the periodic thrust one feels towards either sides and occasional sudden upward thrusts which impacts the most to the ones sitting at the extremes. As we progressed I peered out of the windows to see how the jagged, rocky , steep slopes gradually transformed into smooth curvy mountains with increasing vegetation while undergoing those frequent bumps. I could feel air becoming warmer and dense indicating a dip in the altitude and the change in the people’s accent as we crossed through bustling small towns. 15 hours had passed and we were just halfway through our journey, the driver stopped the bus at a small inn where everyone had their refreshments. Just the next minute as I finished my coffee I witnessed the break of dawn with the most spectacular sunrise I had seen in my life. Suddenly a call from conductor signalled the bus was about to leave. After around 30 hrs of travel we were crossing the beautiful tea gardens of palampur, mist acted as a deterrent in seeing it all over up and down the valley but the atmosphere it created was mystifying. Soon I reached Dharamshala bus station and before I decided to head for mcleodganj I took a stroll along the downtown’s narrow streets, moving along the illuminated stores where life was simply brimming and pouring itself out on streets. I boarded a bus for mcleodganj and having been in motion for several hours without rest I checked in a hotel and freshened myself up. My refuge was a beautiful state tourism hotel where I took a power nap that alleviated my exhaustion and transitioned me to a relaxed state. A quick shower provided much needed relief and within a couple of minutes I quickly left the hotel premises and wandered on foot to experience the authentic local culture and sheer enthusiasm that transformed the place into a heavenly abode. I came across a small store which was renting out bi-cycles and for a moment I thought that it would allow me to cover greater lengths in shorter period of time but the slower pace could allow for better observation and thus make room for thoughts too so without taking much time I moved forward. The aura gave the place a new dimension and I thought that was responsible for the kindness the most important of all attributes that I found to be in abundance there. It is only through the acts of people that manifestation of the whole natural energy can be comprehended but only by those who are willing to take on the journey. Beginning my journey with just a rough idea and not really planning each step in advance allowed for the surprise element to manifold itself. I completed a 32 hr bus ride which for me is an achievement and what makes me feel proud is the fact that I did it all by myself without seeking help from anyone. The will to get out of your comfort zone and leap into the unknown is what I want to carry on in life.