Have you ever made extensive
lists of what to do once all your imminent pending work is over? Or even when
you visit a new city for that matter…?
I have…. And on multiple counts….
Before every set of examinations gets over, I waste at least an hour of
everyday (sometimes embarrassingly even more) day-dreaming about everything
that I plan to do when I am done with the pesky exams. I build mental to-do
checklists, sometimes give it a more tangible form on paper, and spend hours
online trying to iron out the creases in the plans. Similarly, before visiting
a new place, I dig deep into all the available information on the tourist
destinations in and around the place. What I don’t do is go through with all
these plans once I am finally free.
For instance, the final
examinations for the last semester of my under-graduate course got over on the
21st Feb, almost two weeks ago. Before my examinations, a couple of
my friends and I had decided to go for a trip to Darjeeling after our exams,
and let’s just say – that didn’t happen. Add to that all the detailed plans for
relishing the flavors of different cuisines around the world, and we get superb
plans that deserve to be realized. Alas, time and spirits had other less
fulfilling and productive notions!
After the ruthless massacre of these plans,
instead of going home, I decided to visit my cousin in Pune. I hadn’t seen her
for over 4 years and also, I had never been to the city. Quick plans were made,
permissions taken and tickets bought – Thank heavens for non-refundable tickets,
or else who knows, maybe this plan would have gone for a toss too. After
consecutive days of exhausting packing and moving, putting my enormous feet in
my mouth, and consequently cleaning up the mess left behind, I had finally made
it… made it to a beautiful city!
Oh, and what a city it is!!!!!!!!
This vibrant town is the perfect mix of culture, sophistication, culinary
talent and that hum of positive energy that can be sensed from a population of
motivated and efficient workers… the only incident that came close to marring
my pristine impression is also the only indication that I was still in India
(no offense, India!). As I was wheeling my luggage out of the airport, I was
accosted by a queue jumping auto driver who promised me that getting a pre-paid
auto would be grossly more expensive that what he was asking for. My usually
truant brain decided me to guide me otherwise, mercifully!
It has been a couple of days, and
I am having the best time. My cousin sister and brother-in-law are the most
darling couple in the world!!! You can’t help but smile at their easy
bickering, and have moments of déjà-vous as you are transported to a very similar
instance involving your own parents. They are everything that novels and
rom-coms promise married life to be. I feel like Harry Potter visiting the
Weasleys at the Burrow! Even though I pretend to get bothered by their
super-protectiveness and pointless worries over how I will get plastered to the
streets while crossing the roads, I will admit this – I secretly love it!!!
It’s been a long time since I have been pampered so much by someone who is not
my mother.
If you know me at all, then you
must know by now, that all the plans that I had hatched of touring the city and
taking heritage walks and trying out local specials, have been beaten to the
ground by my invincible desire to laze around watching movies all day. So, here
I am, at a Starbucks nearby, trying to update my blog finally (another item on
my “After Exams – To Do” list) and hoping against hope that I wouldn’t bail on
it this time!
Tomorrow we have planned a long
drive to spots like Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani and Wai Village!!! And I am super
excited!!! This is what I had charged my camera for…. So, here I am, raising a
mug of half-drunk coffee to the best laid plans – the spontaneous and flexible
ones! May they always bring us adventures!
P.S. – The super sweet busboys of
this café just asked me to join a free coffee sampling session!!! And offered
to teach me more about brewing coffee!!!
P.P.S – I had written this almost
a week ago, but forgot to post it! FYI, the trip to Mahabaleshwar was one of
the best of my life!!! Here's a photographic proof!!!
