Something we experience for the first time makes every single thing special even a tiny and general feeling feels like a new one and the special ones

For the first time in my whole life I stayed 6 days without my family and that too with the unknown people.

So the trip started on 13 th June 2023,

We didn’t enjoy the moments in Manali only but traveling time needs to be written too .When the sky turned darker the discomfort elevated but that group of people and Avinash Sir ( Trip Organiser ) made it comfortable for me you know how…? They didn’t force things they left it on the time just to let me open up myself but they also didn’t let me sit there in discomfort,we sang ,we danced a little bit and we ate together. We reached Manali in the morning till then I had built a slight bond of friendship with the others .We entered the Manali I could see the mountains not in the movies or pictures but in reality YES…I myself saw the mountains,which was mesmerizing,the moment I saw them I just kept my head out of the window without any fear , looking at the view that darkness but when it wanted to turn into a new day “THE DAWN” We went to the Hotel , checked in and got our rooms allotted.We were given time to take rest and change our outfits but who would want to rest when we knew we have gotten the days to enjoy,to explore,to love ,to feel ,to let the negatives go So I did. We didn’t take rest we changed and just moved to the rooms of other friends.Let me remind you the life which I am living in these 5 to 6 days was totally a fresh and new to me . Every single thing of this trip is just very new.I have never changed clothes in front of the other girls outside but that day we did Kashish, Vanshika and Naina we were deciding it together.See haven’t I built a bond with them that they were trusting me about the outfits and I was trustig them only when we have just travelled with eachother for some hours ..?
The first visiting spot was the temple named ‘Hidimba Devi Temple’ Where we took pictures together in groups and were left alone no it shouldn’t be called alone but INDEPENDENT like wherever we wanted to go we could, it wasn’t so called controlled trip .There I just lived the moments,took pictures,made videos and for a moment set alone just to feel myself. It was the noon now so we were hungry we ate Aalu Paratha there ,everybody has different choices so the order. I didn’t realise when did the noon become the evening because I was so busy in clicking the pictures and making the new bonds with new people and stronger with the known ones . There after we went to the “Mall Road” which is a vibrant promenade so we could talk and walk simultaneously.We did the same there we can find many things to purchase but in higher prices if you wish you can always purchase something for your loved ones but I didn’t because I could find most of the things in Delhi in lower prices and didn’t want my bag to be ponderous. So I ate ice cream only and returned to hotel it was 7 PM the time of Maghrib first time I could see the day ending and night starting from the very top.

Thereafter we saw “Beas River” as I said sir wanted us to enjoy every moment there so we went downwards and this was the first time on the trip that I touched the water of a river it was chilled .So engrossing ,Water+ Mountains + Greenery+ Maghrib+ Friends and Cold outside.I could feel all of them .
Direct from there we entered the hotel and set for dinner we laughed and laughed the whole time while eating while discussing the day .I didn’t want this day to end here so Harshit ,Ashutosh ( Already I was friends with them ), Keshav (as I said making new bonds with new people)and I decided to go out for a night walk and also to talk to our families. But that didn’t happen cause something else needed to happen that day .I wanted to go for walk in sleepwear so went in my room to change with Naina . That moment a man entered the room ( after knocking not forcefully) ,talked for a while and asked for my number.I didn’t give my number and didn’t let him sit the moment I was steeped with discomfort. Shared it with Bhumit whome I met in lift .The way all of the boys on trip and Sir reacted was commendable you know why because they made me identify it as a wrong that nobody can come in your room and can ask for your number so easily they fought for me ,they literally did like I was so close to them,I was their responsibility and I was their friend . That night I was scared, filled with a lot of emotions so I was given a shoulder to cry Kashish hugged me that moment and kept embracing me till I was fine . That day I was shifted in another room with many people,sir talked to me for more than an hour so that I could feel everything was okay and they were here for me .That day I could feel like people around me were not unknown anymore,they are loving and caring and have become my friend.That day though I cried a lot in front of Sir but he set there and listened to me why I wasn’t treating that situation as an ordinary one .That day I missed my family a lot but I wanted to spend some more days with these people who were so concerned for me even when they didn’t know me yet . I had to share it cause going out for a trip with unknown is not harmful it’s worth knowing them gradually and then building a bond.
This day ended here with a lot of emotions….

Next Day 15th June ,2023
Woke up at 6 and I wanted to go out for a walk which we decided on last night .
Yes I still went outside but now I had so much of safety and security like I was armed with a lot of confidence and that confidence was those people (Kashish ,Vanshika ,Bhumit ,Ashutosh ,Aditya,Keshav and Sir ) That day we had to check out and had to departure for Kasol but before that there were lot more things to do. We went to the Atal Tunnel meanwhile everybody kept asking if I was okay.
Took a lot of pictures again there was water , mountains ,cold winds ,loads of laughs but this time it was more than the previous day . But something big ,more inventory and trilling was left specially for me YES “River Rafting “. The moment we entered the water with that helmet and the life jacket I just fell in love with the water I know I am the one who is scared at this moment because I couldn’t breathe for a moment when water entered my mouth .We were instructed so well for this 9 km river rafting and I ain’t going to forget those two instructions ” get down” and ” get back” Those 9 km made me realise that I love water more than anything else in the nature.
Haven’t I explored myself what I love ,what I don’t..?
So you ..?
Rafting did end but that laugh, that amusement didn’t.
The moment we came out of the water we were served tea and warmed our hands and feet by the fire.
What next …? “Kasol” And when we are in bus music ,talks and laughs can never be ignored so we did enjoy the travelling time . We reached “Kasol” In our camp And name is quite discriptive to the place it was located in ,yes it was kind of moh I could stay there for a long time .We had dinner and now it was the time to have fun .Yup we danced there as I already shared I was being comfortable gradually. The more time I spent with them the more I was wanting to be with them .Danced ,sang songs together and finally wanted some rest so we slept and the next day was waiting for something more exciting and exploring….

16th June 2023 “The trekking day”
I woke up early. Ashutosh,Amit sir and I talked for a while while sipping the tea,sorrouned with greenery and mountains and this time it was the “Dawn”. I never left the opportunity so while everybody was sleeping I went out with Amit sir, Ashutosh, Harshit and Keshav to do something adventurous.
And this is how the bond became stronger . I already shared that it wasn’t controlled trip we could do whatever we wanted to but with some boundaries ofcourse we couldn’t do something illegal.
We reached wildlife sanctuary I am unable to recall its name but yes we did that too . There was a waterfall inside that but as I said just living that moment seemed more important than thinking about the consequences. It was adventurous because we were alone there ,The boord on the entrance already warned us that there are some animal such as leopard..etc.
Morning bath like this would be always adventurous in waterfalls after a lot of endeavour finally we reached to the top of the waterfall. It was first full fledged bathe in the waterfall with our friends.
Splattering water on each other and just enjoying the moment with the vlogger Keshav jii.
Reached late in the camp, everybody was waiting for us cause the real adventure was left which had to be enjoyed on this day . Everybody was waiting for us ,so we changed and departured for Kheerganga trekking with them. We were provided a guide who would be showing us the right way because yes there was possibility that we could lost . We were given Rain Coats ,That trekking stick and some basic things which needed to be carried for the trekking. When it started everybody was so tired at first just , couldn’t breathe and wanting breaks in every 10 to 5 minutes. And we had to cover 16 km this was,we were already late . But it was only for some hours that we were wanting rest,the moment our body adapted the environment and the activities we were doing,we didn’t need many more breaks . While trekking you will find small stay point,where we could take tea ,eat Maggy and could rest for some time . How does it feel living in the mountains , trying to reach its pinnacle and wanting to achieve that targetted destination. So we did Heavy bags , chocolates , water bottles were carried so that this trekking could be easier. Our Guide was really supportive who could reach the destined place just in an hour but waited for us every time whenever we required rest . It’s obvious otherwise too because it’s his work . Those hours of trekking made me realise how concerned we are for each other , the moment anybody’s foot slips or somebody took unusual breath ,others encouraged and said ” Araaam se ” Everytime sir was concerned. I had a lot of support a lot of hands to hold whenever I had to go upwards. And finally we reached the destined point.
The camp where we stayed was ” Hill Top” We were served tea the moment we reached the camp , people were already sitting and warming themselves by the fire . A lot of stars ,the nearest I could ever be to the sky , seeing it from the most beautiful feeling. That instilled the wish to live more and more and to love this nature more than ever . That dinner on the top was commendable because how can we have all the facilities which were out of reach there on mountain it felt like there wasn’t any abatement. After dinner that DJ party with bonfire and that cold winds. This was the time when the temperature was the lowest,we were already tired after trekking but that didn’t stop any of us to enjoy and to live that moment. That ecstasy of being on top and being tired but still wanting to enjoy each and every moment will be always alive whenever we will be watching our videos and those pictures we have clicked . That night stars were so close to me that I wanted to just touch them I know it wasn’t possible but why I won’t want to touch them knowing I am very close to them . We slept in our camps and then next morning we had to return.
We were served the breakfast isn’t it ironical that we can’t get basic amenities on mountains but eating Bhatoore in breakfast . We started to go downward but first we went to the Shiva Temple . There was hot water ,most of the people go there for that hot water bath . So we did . On this whole trip I have taken bath many times as I said I explored it that I love water more than anything in the nature. After that our downward trekking started .This time I felt this shouldn’t end I don’t want to leave it here now and going backwards seems we had to go again there from where we have come . It made me feel it was this only again the things will be same like usual. And this time I didn’t stop myself from taking bath in another waterfall though I didn’t have clothes no plans ahead but I knew I want this . So without thinking more I just entered the water and for the first time I stopped my breath and let myself feel water. The whole trekking system is really good on the top it was too cold I was wet but the more I was coming downward nature was soothing me it didn’t let me fall sick you know how . Sun wrapped me with its shine and for me it was the higher chances to fall sick because the day we started trekking the same day I got my periods. But I am always grateful to the nature I have been in that it caressed me fully . When we reached back to the destination I felt like it’s end of the trip but no sir made some more plans for us . Direct from there we went to the Manikaran Gurudwara Had langar there ,and this too was first time that I was visiting a religious place at night. And the. We started coming back to the home. But things didn’t end here whenever we were in bus we always had music system, talkings , laughs, safety and that comfort with each other. We could always switch the seats with others could sleep ,dance and sing together.

There after on 18th June 2023

We reached Delhi . But first we had lunch in Mannat Haveli . There I realised that I was wrong when I thought that I am no more making new friends and whatever happens here will be left here only but now while writing all of this I can feel that I have just made many new friends and that too with pure emotions. I am thankful to the people on this trip who gave me time to unwrap myself without any sudden force. They accepted me this way and I accepted all of them the way they are . I will always wish to go out for the trip with people like you and even if I meet some unknowns I would always remember this trip that you cannot decide whom to be friends and when to be friends.

You can always open the gates and welcome new people who will always give some new experiences….

Thankful to all,
Specially the trip organiser Mr Avinash.
Alisha Idrisi
( Law student at Delhi University)