Back to my writing desk almost after a year, but this one is
worth of it.
Last few weeks or probably couple of months had been pushing
my extremes at work. I badly needed a break and almost at the same time this
“Team Event” word popped up. Being a relative newer (older) member to the team, I thought it would be a good chance to mingle
into the herd (aur paise bhi bach jayenge).
So, I was IN.
Date Set (a day but
Valentine, for sanskari’s Vasnt Panchmi), Place Set (Mandangadh, Konkan) and we were rolling. Yah Yah, late by just an
hour to our schedule (but isn’t that our
desi snaskar too). I was probably driving for the first time into Konkan outside
Monsoon or post Monsoon season. And that brought up another face of Konkan on
me, a dry au naturel barren landscape, unlike the green heaven it becomes in
rains.
The name of resort we were supposed to disembark did
actually gave me all those wired thoughts. What does this name “Blue Green
Exotica” sounds like to you. J
The resort actually proved me wrong, happily though. It was
a peacefully situated den, just at the mouth of a steep but not deep valley
where river Savitri originates from.
We were welcomed by few guest trying their hand on gun (Only a few minutes before was checked out, it broke to me that the gun
was from resort only and I too could had tried it. damm..). Few “Bhajiya” and fewer minutes down the
line, we all were escorted downhill for a small trek and it ended by a small
pond over the stream. It was 5 in the evening already, and the jungle was
closing itself for its night. A peaceful and tranquil moment accompanied by
returning birds. I’m sure we all enjoyed.
The flowing water (and
few cheers by others) became too tempting for me to resist to not to jump
into it. Only later did I realized that I did it with my wallet. J
The barbeque and the dinner was simple yet tasteful, special
mention to “Lasun Daal”. Soon after
the dinner, the idea for watching the sunrise from Mandangadh was tossed and
almost everyone nodded is affirmation. It was only at 6 in the AM when almost
all but for girls dropped (“Hashtag wala
respect you ladies”). And yes, before it slips out, a mention of the night
in my tent alone (“mein aur meri tanhai’)
with all kind of jungle sounds around. A wee hours drive to Mandangadh Fort,
and we were standing on the highest hillock within the eyesight. It was clam,
breezy and chilling up there and the forest looked gently smoked with fog. We
spend a good hour or so up there.
Next in the itinerary was to trek down to river Savitri and honing your swimming skill. Jumping
into river from the bank made me revisit all those childhood memory. After
almost a good 2 hours into water, all you can think for a nice lunch, which was
already waiting for us up in the resort. Few more minutes there, and we all
were back to jungle where we all belong from.
The best of the trip came just few min before when our Antakshri which started with “Om Jai
Jagdish Hare” ended with “Oh Boy! You My Soft Toy” (“#RIPSanskar”) :D
