LESSONS FROM MAGICAL MANALI

To a journey so unforgettable ,

That contributed in bonds  so incredible,

To the start of a new adventure,

An expedition  that will remain in our hearts forever

A story that is yet to be heard .

   - NEHA SINGH 

Introduction 

They say you never know what you are capable of . We might tell ourselves , what's the point of doing this if it's not

a need ? In fact , I believe that it's the want to do something that makes your work even better ;
better than what it would have been if it had been just a need. From the diary of a young girl , a young

girl was inspired . I'm currently in tenth grade , and we have a lesson titled 'From The Diary Of A Young girl ' ,

by Anne Frank .

It's after reading it that I felt , if she hadn't written her diary , she wouldn't have been so famous

today. Her story is one of the most widely  read books in the world and that has inspired me to write my own story ,
an experience that's so unique and seemed to have been extracted from a movie, as all my friends say .  

Well , I can guarantee you that this experience is the most real life scenario I have ever experienced,
and it's my dream to share this story with every reader .  Me and  my sister were fortunate enough to attend an

adventure camp at Manali for a week , organized by Outdoors Beckon .

One week without parents and a group of complete strangers  where we were the only girls .
Sounds quite an adventure ? It was only the beginning.

9th May 2023 ,Day1

                                            ‘ Everyday all I could think of was to be afraid , 

                                            But I won’t do that anymore cause I am very brave . 

                                            From up above the clouds  , I see the light .

                                            From the bottom of my heart , I feel I’m right .’

                                                                                                                          - NEHA SINGH 

Today was the big day. We were expected to reach the airport by 9:00am . My parents were tense ;

they were having second thoughts . Could we manage ourselves for a whole week?

Well in a week we’d all realize that we handled ourselves better than we ever could .

We loaded our luggage on the trolley  and joined the group. 

I saw a beautiful lady and gentleman , Vasavi and Naresh , distributing our ID cards. They were our instructors .

They greeted us with a warm smile , assuring all the parents that their children were in safe hands.

I attended a few last minute calls from all the people who were excited for us . 

I waved a last goodbye to my parents and my grandmother , we would meet them only after a week now .

My sister was now my full time responsibility. After we checked in , we all started

talking to each other . One of them came and asked my name and that’s when we all

realized that we were the only girls in the group . It couldn’t have been so bad ;

I said to myself. We got our boarding passes and Sanjay started recording all of us.

“Camp De Himalayas!” we all said in chorus . I could see excitement in everyone’s eyes

, for most of us were going to have a first time experience.

We boarded the flight and took our seats . It was during the flight I got to talk to Vasavi properly -

or Vasavi Akka as I started addressing her . She is a really warm person . She works with small children and

absolutely loves her job. During holidays , she volunteers to go on adventure camps like these . It has been five

years since she started working with Outdoors Beckon. We got along very well and it felt like we were best buddies!

Samarth (Sam as we called him) and Smayan were switching their seats continuously .While we were on the flight , I preferred reading a book until we had lunch . Well we all know food on flight doesn’t taste really great due to scientific reasons. Luckily , Vasavi akka had a food bag and offered me and my sister some homemade food - and that tasted amazing.

Landing felt like a torture . The plane was landing for the past ten minutes and everyone’s ears felt like

they were going to pop. That’s when I remembered a few tips from a friend , Harsh ,who claims to have a lot of

flying experience . The plane finally landed. 

We reached the Delhi airport. We were waiting after collecting our luggage and some people went shopping .

one of them spent half of his money on imported chocolates !

Well it would have been really late by the time he realized for he was too innocent.

Janu wanted to buy some as well , but I wanted to save just enough to buy a lot of souvenirs by the end of this trip .

I opened my lunchbox which my grandmother had packed some food in .

Vasavi akka said that  it was the last bit of homemade food I’d get and so , me and Janu finished eating it . 

After a long wait , The overnight AC Volvo bus arrived . We’d be travelling in it for the next 14 hours.

Me and Janu took one of the front seats , and I took the window seat . It looked really similar to Bangalore ;

but the exciting part was to see the different kinds of people. 

I observed this guy , he had glasses and seemed to know a lot more for his age . He kept asking GK questions to all the other kids around him . For a while it was fine until we started getting annoyed . His name is Tanish but  we called him ‘ Automobile’ the perfect nickname coined by Vasavi akka , who would later turn out to be one of my best friends at the camp. 

Then there was another guy , Automobile kept complaining about him , he told me that he ate four packets of sugar in the flight . Janu and I felt like laughing every time we saw him. Turns out , he actually  was in the same school as ours . And that was Dheeraj . Behind me was Himadeep , who goes to a boarding school in Coorg . The three of us had become good friends by the end of the camp.

After a few hours of travel , we all started to get bored …But I heard light music from the back . I realized that the guys at the back , who were all around my age had taken Naresh sir’s Bluetooth speaker and were listening to all Hindi songs. The younger kids , now , wanted the speaker too. I decided to help them out . I went to the back and requested the guys for the speaker , and naturally they denied it .

After a long negotiation, we decided to come at the back and the group agreed to play songs of our choice. It was really fun; everyone was really warm and nice , except , I still felt weird being the only girl. 

Later, we stopped at a Dhaba for dinner. The food was good ; the only problem was that it didn’t suit me too well. I felt sick at a point of time but the real challenge was the washrooms. That’s when I realized that you don’t always get what you want all the time , and it is important to get adjusted accordingly. 

We all talked for a long time until everyone fell asleep , but me . I looked out of the window , the night sky and the roads which were really narrow . I felt a little uncomfortable as there was not much space , but I just simply closed my eyes even though I didn’t actually sleep. There was a long night ahead of me.

10 May 2023 ,Day 2 

‘The rising sun cast a rosy hue across the morning sky ,
The birds sang merrily and spread their wings to fly .
The mist surrounded the beautiful houses just to make it freeze , 
While the tall trees danced in the gentle breeze.’

                                                                                                         -  NEHA SINGH

I woke up earlier than everyone else as I slept light . I heard the Hanuman Chalisa being played on the radio  by the driver of the bus . It reminded me so much of my late paternal grandfather, for he was a devotee of Hanuman . Coincidentally , it was the same version which he listened to . It brought a smile to my face , for I felt his presence. I opened the curtains to see the beautiful view outside . It looked amazing , but it was terribly cold. The bus finally came to a halt. We got down and were welcomed with a flock of giant sheep ! Some people didn’t have their warm wear on and were freezing. 

There were a few local people who were selling some winter equipment and warm clothes. I politely denied them as we already had our supplies , while a few others bought some of their products . We all got into different vehicles with our luggage. Me , Janu and Vasavi Akka were in the same car , of course. While me and Vasavi Akka were having a nice conversation , Janu didn’t feel so well due to her motion sickness , but she dealt with it. 

The campsite was further than we expected . The car stopped at a point and after that , we had to trek with our heavy bags till we reached the campsite! It was one long workout ,as I'd say . 

We were assigned our tents and then we discovered the washrooms . They were tents put up with toilets in it but there were no spray guns . I was worried about how I'd manage because there were no bathing facilities exactly, but it was a totally different idea of fun in reality.  

“ Yo !Yo !Yo!”, yelled the instructors . “Yo ! what’s up !”, we replied in chorus , as we were taught . We had breakfast after that . That day we just started training our bodies to hike for a longer time.  We started with basic trek , we trekked for a while , around the boundaries of the camp , and went to the top of a hill . We crossed the river which was fun .

 We learnt about the endemic flora and fauna like the rhododendron , which is a flower which is usually red or pink in colour. I also climbed a boulder !

After returning back to the camp , We had lunch and were divided into two groups . We learnt how to build tents . All guys of my age group were in one group , while me , Janu , automobile , Hima , Sanjay ,  and all the small kids were in the other . We got to choose names for our groups. The other group didn’t choose any ,but our group decided to go with snow leopards .

Neither of the groups wanted to go first . So , we decided to make Naresh sir the referee . Unfortunately , we were made to build the tent first , which didn’t go too well in our first attempt because we lost most of our time trying to unite the knot . 

The other group , on the other hand, was trying to undermine us , after which they built a perfect tent . Most of the people in our group had given up , but then we were offered a second chance . 

Half of us just stayed where they were , while the rest of us stood up , not to win , but to have fun and learn . Me , Sam and all the small kids were ready to make use of the opportunity. While I tried encouraging the others to join us , I managed to get Automobile back into the team . The rest of them just sat and observed all of it carefully . This time , we were more coordinated and it took us 5 minutes less than our original timing !

It felt like we were at the top of the world , though we didn’t win . It was about putting in that team effort and learning a new skill that boosts our confidence level . That’s when I started to talk more with all my newly made friends . We played Dog and the bone in the evening , and it was really fun ! It gets darker sooner than you expect it to be .

While it’s 4 pm in  Manali , it looks like it’s 6pm . We had dinner , which was something unique every day. It was  a beautiful night ,though it was quite cold , more than I’d expected. Well , I guess nature can be pretty unpredictable at times . I guess I was just getting used to a change in environment . 

All my comforts were taken away from me , especially my bathroom which I could spend hours in , enjoying a nice hot water bath . Yet, I felt as though I belonged here for I had made so many friends already , while Janu felt a little left out as she was the youngest at the camp. 

Everyone was really nice to us , except the same fact that stumped me every time I thought about it . ‘ Twenty boys and two girls ’.  After yet another long and interesting conversation with Vasavi Akka , I finally managed to get some sleep . 

11 May 2023 ,  Day 3 

                          ‘ Words to express , 

                                        Words to impress ,

                                        Words to backfire 

                                      And words to inspire .

                                      Language is to admire , 

            But if there’s a language you needn’t always understand , 

             Music is something from which you can not abstand .’

                                                                          - NEHA SINGH

I woke up quite early , but I realized that I wasn’t the only one up when I went outside . I had Automobile to keep me company and slowly the numbers increased . It was 6 a.m . Me ,

Mr .Smarty pants (Automobile , I have too many nicknames for him), older Yashas and Dheeraj walked around the campus , enjoying some fresh air . We got to start our day with a glass of warm milk . For a second , that felt like an advertisement . 

After an  hour or so , everyone was awake.  It was terribly cold , especially the water to brush our teeth!  I was personally amazed by the fact that all the guys were going to take a bath in that water ! I mean , c’mon that water literally numbs your entire body ! Well , I guess boys will be boys … Unpredictably capable of some things . 

I just decided to wash my face with that ice cold , yet refreshing mug of water and changed my clothes .  We all had breakfast and then we assembled for the day’s events .Today’s activity was bouldering , rock climbing  and rappelling . 

It was an amazing start ; we did a few warmups , and Gulshan Sir  taught us about the types of grappling hooks , we used the auto-lock one . We also learnt about the difference between bouldering and rock climbing , which we were going to perform.

We engaged in a game where we were interconnected by holding each other's hands , creating a chain and then attempted to free ourselves while maintaining our hand connections without letting go .

Before we got into those activities , we were taught how to sport , and the importance of a sporter , who is literally a friend who's got your back . Yes , and that’s in case we slip while climbing. 

Then , we got into bouldering , which is to simply climb a rock without any special equipment. It needn’t be of a high altitude . I bouldered two rocks , and that was quite fun . After everyone had their turn , we moved on to rock climbing , which is climbing a rock that is at a higher altitude with the special equipment. Gulshan Sir climbed up the rock and then lowered down the rope , which was attached to our harnesses through the grappling hook and fastened . 

I got to speak to all the guys during the long wait . I got to know a lot more about them . Everyone had a different story to tell and I listened to each one of them , with a lot of interest. My friends started overreacting to a small bruise , trying to make fun of me . To be honest , guys are really weird when it comes to being friends . Their idea of spending time with friends is to annoy them in order to enjoy . 

We returned to the campsite to have lunch . During lunch each one of us acted out a funny scene , be it an advertisement , TV serial or even our favourite movies . Some of them went to extremes and we all had a hearty laugh . 

After lunch , we had a little time to do whatever we wanted . Janu grabbed her so-called favourite story book , which is clearly a sign that she was feeling left out , because my sister and reading when the atmosphere is so good do not go hand in hand , no matter how intriguing the book may be . The only problem was that she would usually just disappear before I could even go talk to her ! Dheeraj usually would spot her for me , as though she was a quiet bird with sharp senses , who’d end up flying away even for the slightest sound . 

It was after a long discussion and consoling that she  learnt how to be a Roman in Rome ! Finally , it was time to do rappelling . It was really simple , just being lowered down from  the top of a boulder with the help of a mountaineer’s very same , favourite equipment . The rope , grappling hook and the harness .

It might have looked difficult at first , especially for a person who is afraid of heights , who in this case , was Jeevan. His fears had been amplified because of bouldering and rock climbing , and he wasn’t sure whether he would be able to handle rappelling , as he told me during rock climbing . Well , he did rappelling alright , with a lot of confidence and was probably more successful in doing it correctly than most of the others . 

We had to answer Boney Sir's questions before we got our turn . One wrong answer , and you’d be the last one .From our flight details and basic GK to our new campsite and its new members  , he had questions about them all. The one hilarious moment I would say was when he asked us , “What’s the name of the river which is flowing here ?” Sam replied with a lot of confidence , “Kaptin Nali”, as Gulshan sir had told us about . 

To his disappointment , it was apparently the wrong answer . Even the very person who asked the question clarified the answer with Gulshan sir . He replied, “ Ahilya ”. Sam was taken aback , for he was asked to take a seat with all those who answered the questions incorrectly and tried to explain , “ Sir , but you said it's Kaptin Nali ! Sir Please !” I couldn’t stop laughing and still do , every time I remember this incident . Sorry Sam , but you weren’t entirely wrong . It is the local name of Ahilya , but I guess you can take this incident as a joke.

We climbed a hill , which was a little long hike , and reached the spot where Gulshan sir was . 

One thing that I really admired was Gulshan Sir’s patience . There were twenty two of us , and each time every person went up the boulder , he had to teach the same technique twenty two times . It’s not easy being so calm and patient , at least for me .

 After a fun session , we returned to our campsite . We took a small break and that’s when we all executed a unanimous idea without which it couldn’t be called camping , a bonfire . We all collected sticks , as many as possible . We also found this huge bark of wood , which looked really unique , more of a tree trunk and it was super heavy . It was the collective effort of the seven of us that we were able to  lift that heavy log ! 

It was slowly setting into the early evening , and we got into our warm wear . We lit the bonfire and sang a few songs . I was the first one to sing , and I sang Dandelions , which was the only song which struck my mind at that time . Then , we had a series of group songs and that was something that lights me up with positivity every time I think about it . Everyone’s favourite was ‘The Nights’ , without which our bonfire wouldn’t be complete .

After a long time with the bonfire , we had to have dinner , after which most of us returned to the same spot as the bonfire , which was only a couple of metres from the kitchen. 

 I enjoyed the warmth , from the fire and everyone around me till it was time to go to bed . To be honest , going to bed successfully was quite a task for the three of us . Our tent was so messy that me and Janu had to dump all our clothes into one corner of the bed so that we could make room for Vasavi Akka . It was a really fun , yet really tiring day .

12 May 2023 , Day 4

   'It's time I believe

                                                           in myself 

                                                      Cause we’ll go miles 

                                                       With our smiles'

- NEHA SINGH

Today was incredible. The sun was shining brightly at 7.am. Everyone had gone to take a bath while me and Vasavi Akka roamed around the campus , deciding whether to go have a bath in the river or not. While we looked at everyone else , most of whom were pretty cool with it , enjoying a nice icy cold bath.

After some convincing , I agreed to accompany Vasavi Akka after the guys returned . I walked down the hill , with all my clothes tied into a single towel. I didn’t take a proper bath , for it’s a really open area ,  but I gotta wash my arms and legs with soap . After we both were done , we got into the tent to change . I wore my new  yellow shirt , which is actually a men’s T-shirt . I mean , it's just so comfortable ! 

We then had breakfast . There was bread , and a wide variety of spreads . Unfortunately , by the time I got there , everyone had completed an entire bottle of Nutella ! I guess it's everyone’s favourite . 

“Okay”, said our instructor, “Alright”, we replied. “Alright”, he said. “Okay”, we replied. 

He said that today’s activity was something interesting. Everyone’s eyes gleamed with excitement. It was then revealed that we had to trek for two hours and upon reaching the top, we had to cook a meal collectively .

We were given a couple of minutes to make a unanimous decision. We shuffled between sandwiches , dal rice , pulao and  frankies  before ending up with fried rice .

Our next task was to divide ourselves into three groups ; the cooking team , firewood collecting team and water collecting team . 

I was separated from my friends and sister who were now a part of the other two teams . In a way it taught me to not stick with the same group the entire time , and I began to speak to those who I hadn’t spoken much with . I was placed in the cooking team , and Neell said that I was the official taste tester . I was happy with the job I was assigned , cause I do love food . 

Along with me were Neell , Adithya , Yashas , Aadesh , Tanishk , Smayan and Siddharth . 

We were asked to make a list of the required ingredients , after which we set off for the two hour long trek . My friends were disappointed with what groups that they were put into . Surprisingly , most of them were into cooking and wanted to be a part of the cooking team from the very beginning. I just told them that without their efforts , it wouldn’t be possible for the cooking team to cook .

On the way , we noticed the skulls of various animals , and Vasavi Akka also kept one with her because she is fond of collecting such items.

 We crossed the river , while my friends collected firewood on the way .

Sanjay had hung one giant bucket at the back of his bag , which in my opinion looked a little funny. I was advised to maintain a sufficient amount of distance for I walked right behind him in the line . 

We also learnt about the thumb rule , which is basically how much water will be sufficient to survive until one fills their bottle at the next water source . After we finally reached the spot , we began to wash the vegetables and chop them. Surprisingly , the guys were professionals in chopping vegetables , especially Aadesh and Tanishk , much better than I’ll ever do .

Meanwhile , Mr. Smarty pants and Dheeraj  were having a fight with Jr. Yashas using the sticks which they found. 

Me , Neell  and some others who had completed their chores from the other teams , chopped the beans and peeled the onions .  Plus , none of us had any specialised tools to chop them either , we only had a knife , which was being used to chop the other veggies .  It taught us how to improvise with the simplest of tools , just like many others who must have passed the same way as us . 

Finally , after an hour or so , the dish was finally ready and it tasted amazing . It was possible only due to all our collective efforts that resulted in a good lunch . 

After lunch , we got some time to relax and I sat with my friends . Automobile was annoying me , by pretending that I was an internet celeb and claiming that he  was the host of the show , ‘The Elusive Neha’ , but I decided to play along. Who knew that it would become a part of a major idea  in the near future? I also threw a stick , which unintentionally landed on Dheeraj ’s head , and I had to run for my safety .  

We also played truth or dare , and I surprisingly was challenged with hard questions . I was asked many questions which I found really hard to answer , like if everyone at this camp asked you out for coffee … whom would you go with ? I felt the best answer to the question was to not answer it at all , whether I knew or didn’t know an answer to such a question . 

It was a fun , nice experience and everyone also got a few solo pictures taken by Sanjay . Before we left , we were made to clear all the garbage and also pick up other waste that may have been disposed of by the other tourists . It was something really thoughtful to do , as we were giving back nature its true form. 

In the evening , after collecting wood for the bonfire , we saw a lady balancing seven heavy rocks on her thighs , while doing wall sitting. That was something that caught everyone’s eye and Vasavi Akka pulled me along with her , to go and talk to the wonder woman , the gang's new inspiration . 

It was none other than Sufiya Sufi , the runner who is the holder of four world records . She is known for running extremely far distances , and we were all inspired by listening to her story . All of us tried balancing rocks on ourselves as well , and some people like Adithya and Kavish were able to balance three rocks !

I couldn’t hold the rock for more than a minute , but me , Hima , Automobile and Janu had a wall sitting contest . All of us had gone into our competitive mode ; each one of us wanted to hold our pose longer than the other .

 Hima held it for 210 seconds , followed by Janu who held it for 256 seconds  and then me , proud holding it for 300 seconds and Automobile , who held it longer than me and was willing to go longer , but stopped a few seconds after me, since he’d already won . Dheeraj  was the one who was counting and motivating all of us to go longer . 

We got a few pictures and lit our bonfire . Once again , our concert resumed . This time , we were accompanied by soup and popcorn , which is not what I personally prefer , But I did like seeing everyone enjoying themselves . As usual , we had a messy tent while going to bed . 

We also got a few hints of what our future activities will be , and all of us looked forward to each one of them .

   

13 May 2023 , Day 5

'It's a sunny day

                                                           it's a Saturday

                                                      It's time for a new adventure  

                                                       And stress's departure '

- NEHA SINGH 

We started our day with exercises with Sufia . We had a short session , where we did a few stretches and then came the planks. I'm good with exercises that deal with flexibility , but I’m not that great when it comes to power based exercises .

Everyone was made to hold a plank , as long as they could . I held it for a minute , which is quite an achievement for me , while others mostly did it for 1.5-2 minutes while , a few of them held for five minutes , Sam broke Sufiya’s record by 20 seconds , though it wasn’t a world record , It still isn’t easy to hold a plank for 10 minutes and 20 seconds . We all were proud of him.

After the session , we got the opportunity to talk to Sufiya and hear all her fascinating stories. Some of us even managed to get an autograph ! We had breakfast and then , we left the campus for today’s activity , visiting Gulshan sir’s village . 

We followed an interesting trail , observing the unique construction of all the houses , and also interacted with all the cute kids. It's surprising how much they talked ! We climbed a flight of stairs , which included a lot of climbing . We also saw a temple from the outside , which no one was allowed to enter , due to some local beliefs . 

We got to visit Gulshan sir’s house , and saw his four cows , Kali, Gowri, Parvati and Durga . 

Janu also petted them .Soon, it was lunchtime and all of us were Hungry , but it would be more than an hour before we’d reach the campsite. That’s when we went to a shop to buy some snacks. I opened my envelope in which all our cash was kept , for the first time on this trip . We purchased a few  candies , chocolates , biscuits and chips. It was after this that we all got to know that the old lady working in the shop was actually Gulshan sir’s mother .

We also met a few dogs , which were really friendly with me. I would have petted them, but some of the guys suggested that I do not , and I preferred to listen to them . Some of them yet again purchased a number of snacks , in spite of already spending the majority of their money. The main reason why we all tried saving our money was so that we’d have enough money to spend on our lunch while returning , and at Manali market for all our souvenirs .

On the way , there was a super muddy and slippery trail. I found an alternate way to cross it , by climbing up the adjacent slope with the help of the thin blades of grass . Unfortunately Older Yashas ended up falling into the mud and dirtying his clothes to an extent .

 He said that when he reaches the village , he’ll purchase a dhoti and wear it to make his ancestors proud, while some of the others made fun of him saying that he’ll dirty that as well and he’d have to purchase many other clothes.

While coming back , I was stung by a nettle as I held it when I almost slipped , which of course secreted methanoic acid , causing a lot of pain and burning sensation . I wasn’t aware of this before , but now since I’ve learnt the concept , I can finally apply it . Gulshan sir rubbed a dock leaf on the affected area , which is a plant that grows near nettles and is also a cure for the same . 

We played a few games in the afternoon , from the cliche truth or dare , we were asked a few riddles and played a few games . Not all of them were easy to answer , but Kavish seemed to have got the trick .

There was also a new instructor , who had joined us on the trek . He was BK Katoch , but he preferred being called BK sir . He made us play some fun games too , but the one which caught everyone’s attention was the energising exercises. The phrases in his poem were so catchy that everyone kept repeating the same line , “Arre Lambi Daadi Wale Baba… Aisi kheer banayenge … Ke chat chat kar khayenge ! ” It seemed like everyone was addicted to it , which is understandable. 

When we went to collect the firewood , Dheeraj  kept annoying us with the same line which Gulshan Sir sang , while we went on the trek , “Apdi Pode Pode Pode… ” It was like an entry for him , with his own twist , which only the members of MMF are aware of , the name MMF aka Manali Made Friends was coined by Hima , which everyone found catchy. 

We were requested to have plenty of rest and wake up early the next day , because we were going to have a 4 hour trek to the snow point . Everyone was really excited that we couldn’t sleep. 

During the bonfire , as usual , Automobile sat next to me , but he observed some lights flashing at a distance . He knew how to communicate in morse code and he understood what they were saying . It was a warning about a pack of snow leopards , which were there near Rohtang Pass , where this family of three were camping . 

 We replied , by asking if they were okay , and it was something unusual , I would say . I have never seen people communicating with morse code live , and so it was interesting to watch . 

We were served soup , and Pakoras , which were in high demand .

We played Chinese whisper , and each sentence turned out to be twisted completely . It was really funny . As usual , we had our tiny concert and then had dinner . But tonight , we weren't allowed to stay up for too long as we needed to wake up early tomorrow. 

I kept all our things ready for tomorrow , as we were expected to leave by 8:30 a.m. I was looking forward to the big day , when I would finally get to experience real snow , and play in it . We all discussed how we would have a snow fight and slide in the snow . All I could do was to imagine what real snow would be like ? But for that , I’d have to wait until tomorrow .

14 May 2023 , Day 6

 ‘When the night just began to settle in , 

  With pearl like stars a moon with a grin,

 We lay on the ground with a fixed gaze , 

  For the beauty of nature is one to amaze.’

                                                                                                           -NEHA SINGH

Today was the big day . I woke up a little late , but Janu wasn’t feeling well . She was constantly puking , and everyone doubted whether she’d be able to trek till the snow . I got ready , but my first priority was the health of my sister. We had our breakfast. 

Vasavi Akka gave her medicine , and told her that I will be going to the snow point , but she will have to stay back along with Janu to take care of her . At some point of time , we thought about sending her back home . But Janu isn’t the kind of girl who’d give up so easily , especially if it was to go to dream location. She knew that it was not under her control , but her will to go to the snowpoint helped her gain the courage to go on a trek for 4 hours . 

We were the last ones to leave the campsite , and we were given a roll ,a chocolate and a banana to carry along with us , for we were going to have our lunch at the very top . 
It was just the very beginning , and we started by crossing the river . Many of the others complained that Janu was given special service because she was carried across the river , especially Dheeraj  , who requested the instructor to do the same for him . They jokingly replied that if he wanted that , he’d have to carry everyone else across the river and finally , the instructor will carry him. All of us had a hearty laugh . 

Janu was recovering really fast , though she was puking occasionally on the way. The view was just so picturesque.

I was at the back of the line , with older Yashas , Dheeraj  and Mr. Smarty Pants . Behind us were Hima and Jr. Yashas . I started to get tired after every few steps , and that’s when my cramps kicked in . I was prepared for it , cause I knew it was nearing , but the pain was a little hard to bear . My friends got to know about it , noticing the change in my pace. 

I’m really grateful to have made such considerate friends ; Automobile was continuously suggesting a few meds he had got in his backpack and Dheeraj  was helping me climb . During the next break , we all ate our snacks , and then continued to trek . At one point of time , I was moving at such a slow pace that Yashas and Automobile had already moved on , and were a little ahead of us . 

The one person who actually stuck with me the entire time without complaining , was Dheeraj  , and I’m extremely grateful to him for that . Luckily , we weren’t the last ones , for Arun sir , Hima and Jr . Yashas were there too . 

We noticed a small stream , and Dheeraj  filled my bottle for me.  I almost felt like giving up , for everyone was so much ahead , and I was falling behind , But Dheeraj  kept motivating me , and helped me all the way till we reached the top . It wouldn’t have been possible without his help , and I thanked him for it . 

Nevertheless , we reached the snow point . I was welcomed by all my friends with a lot of snowball attacks , they made them so hard that they hit me as hard as rocks ! I also involved myself in this snow fight , trying to aim my snowballs perfectly , but in vain . 

It took a while , but my aims began to show some improvement . It landed on Hima’s arm , Automobile’s hair and also unintentionally Neell’s ear , sorry Neell. We also observed a few footprints !

 

 After a long snow fight , Me and Vasavi Akka planned to slide together down the slope of snow . Unfortunately , We ended up getting separated on the way down and Jr. Yashas crashed into me and he fell right on my nose . 

I looked into the pocket sized mirror I had with me . It was after this , that everyone noticed that my nose had gone red , and made fun of me , calling me Rudolph the red nosed reindeer . As I admitted in the very beginning , when you have friends who are guys , their idea of having fun is  by annoying their friends . Most of them wanted to have a look in the mirror as well , and took turns . It took them a while , but I successfully managed to get the mirror back .

We had our lunch , and then I opened the packet of chocolate chip  cookies I had purchased at Gulshan sir’s mother’s shop. Until everyone fought for the last cookie and I didn’t get any for myself . Finally , before we left , we took a group picture and left for the campsite . 

While coming back ,  “Happy Birthday Adi !” , I heard someone say . I turned back to see that Aditya was right behind me , and I asked him if it was his birthday . He said , “Yes”, and then I wished him . It was after I shook his hand he admitted that it was a lie and it was just a joke. I did not see that coming , but it was actually Aadesh’s birthday . 

On the way down , Automobile and Dheeraj  cracked so many jokes that Hima and I couldn’t stop laughing . Poor Sam , for everyone was making fun of him , teasing him about his non - existent girlfriend Supriya ,and Dheeraj  and I were deciding the names of his future ones . 

We finally came to the part where we had to cross the river once again , which was a little harder this time as some of us , including me, had to do it by ourselves half way . The flow of the water was a little faster , and a few of my friends had already crossed the river .

When it was my turn , I had crossed most of the river , except for the last part . I had a little help. While Neell caught my shoes  which were thrown by the other two , Arnav helped me cross the rest of the river. Thanks for that, all of you . 

Finally  I got on the rock to wear my shoes, followed by Janu who was now as healthy as a horse  .

We returned to the campsite , each of us soaking wet . We changed into a fresh pair of clothes , and gathered for the evening games , organised by BK sir .

Everyone made him repeat the same energising exercise , which everyone was very well performing throughout the trek . We played zip and zap , which was really fun , though I came third or fourth . Another fun game we played was ‘chuha billi’ , which translates to ‘mouse and cat’ . We had to form a group with the number he announced while running in a circle .  We formed groups of two ,three ,four and five . 

There was once a time when we had to form a group of five , and we ran short of a member . but someone pulled my hand , but I ended up getting out along with the rest , for the group which pulled me in had already got another member . I know , it was quite a bummer , but the game was still fun. 

After the games , We all wished Aadesh . They also ordered two pizzas , which was everyone's favourite , except mine , of course . But yes , it feels good to see people around you happy , because it eventually makes you feel happy .  

It was hard to believe that the camp was about to come to an end soon , in just  two days . 
For the last time , we collected firwood for the bonfire . Everyone went in different directions , so did I. While I collected the wood , Dheeraj  took it till the bonfire . 

I sat with Jeevan and Automobile , and we spoke about all our favourite shows and movies we watched on TV . After dinner ,we also went to Saksham’s and Automobile’s tent , along with Dheeraj  and Hima , where we spoke about how we’d keep in touch after the camp. 

I was so exhausted that I decided to go to bed , and told the others that we’d talk tomorrow , when we’d go to the Manali Market for shopping. I went to bed , but it was colder than all the other nights . It took a while for me to doze off , But I slept light . 

15 May 2023 , Day 7

 ‘Let’s break the ice and build strong bonds ,

                                              Focus on  pros and ignore the cons .

                                              Such are bonds whom we share our lives with,

                                              For each one is special and not just a myth.’

                                                                                                           -NEHA SINGH

Though I slept light , I woke up a little late. We had to pack all our bags soon , and I had already done most of it the previous night . We had our breakfast , and for the last time we assembled for a small activity . 

We were asked to clean all the litter we could find at the campsite and near it , which we did in groups . I personally found a stack of bent cans of beer in between the bushes . It was something shocking , but I managed to remove all of them with the help of my friends , of course. 

Then came the hard part , saying goodbye to the campsite , and all the mountaineers . We got another group picture . What was even harder was to carry those extremely heavy bags. My bags felt even heavier than what they were at the beginning of the camp.

 

We walked on the trail to reach the river . This time , we were made to zipline across it as it would be really hard and time consuming for all of us to do it with our heavy bags . We waited in line for our turn , but I ended up getting moved up the list , and did it earlier than all the others who were in front of me .

Many of them were upset about this , but I guess it's not something to be let down by ! I didn’t get wet , though some guys did , mostly because of the extra weight. After ziplining across the river , I waited for my friends to join me and then we again had a conversation. 

We walked till the pass , carrying our bags until we reached the car where all our bags were loaded . I carried my day bag which had cash, while my night bag was dumped into the vehicle , along with another 20 bags. After wearing our IDs , we went to the nearby restaurant , in case we wanted to buy any beverages.

I didn’t purchase anything in that place , because I wanted to save more for later. Then , we got into a car where me , Janu , Arun sir and Automobile sat till we reached the Manali Market. All of us were really excited . 

Though I expected it to be really fancy , the place had its own charm . We were instructed to be back within two hours and each one of us had Naresh sir’s and Vasavi Akka’s phone numbers written behind it . They told us our boundary , where we were allowed to shop . We were also advised to not go too far , and stick to our groups . 

I first walked into a shop that totally caught my eye. It was titled ,’Himalayan  Handicrafts’, which I found a little expensive but later  ended up purchasing handmade soaps  after Sam’s suggestion. 

We found many people selling paintings on which they wrote names . Though I didn’t buy that , A lot of my friends bought them and they also noticed a painting of which they wrote ‘Neha and Kapil’ and teased me for it , asking who Kapil was . I just made a face and laughed. 

I went to this shop , where I bought a  few necklaces and fridge magnets , A Thor’s hammer keychain for my Maama , for it was his birthday the next day and he’s into avengers .
 My friends also purchased a few items , and started blackmailing me that they would leave me alone there , if I didn’t hurry with the shopping. 

We also walked into a clothing store , where I purchased a beautiful shawl for my grandmother. The owner of the shop also suggested that I help my friends out  to buy good shawls for their mothers. 

After that , we went to an accessory shop where Janu bought a matching chain for her best  friend, Sannidhi. I helped Automobile and Hima pick out sunglasses of their choice , for some reason they really liked my thin framed sunglasses and wanted to have a similar pair . 
It was finally lunch time , and we all were really hungry. We roamed around , looking for a good place to eat. 

We ran into our other friends , who were shopping for clothes . We showed each other what we'd shopped for , and then stopped at an ice cream shop , where we had various options.
 All of us  had 8 in 1 flavour ice-cream , which tasted amazing , except Automobile who felt that it wasn't hygienic.

I paid for a plate of spicy momos , but ended up not eating it . It was my friends who finished them for various reasons. Firstly, they liked it and secondly, they were too spicy for my tastebuds who usually prefer something sweet.

I also walked into yet  another shop , which looked quite interesting. It had a variety of 'tarboosh' , unique and innovative designs . Mr. Smarty pants helped me decide , and he asked me to give him the credit of helping me choose it , every time anyone gave me a compliment. 

All we were left with was to explore the place. We sat in a circle , observing all the unique people who roamed around the streets. While some looked creepy , the rest seemed friendly.

 I also ordered a hazelnut smoothie , except I got a vanilla one instead . Later , I switched my order after a few sips upon everyone's suggestion. 

It was after I used the washroom that I realised that I had a bad sunburn on my back .  

Our time was almost up and all of us sat on the benches , waiting for our instructors. They had a nice time shopping as well. They returned with two big boxes , containing fruits and juice for everyone. 

After a while , the Volvo bus arrived. On our way , Dheeraj  carried the box with the fruits in it , while Automobile pretended that he was selling them . 

He came up with a funny accent of a typical vendor in Bangalore, yelling out the prices in Kannada. In fact , some of them also looked at all of us with a stare . All I could do was laugh at whatever was going on .

Then , we finally loaded our luggage onto the bus . Vasavi Akka gave me a few tips to get rid of the sunburn while the others were impatiently waiting to start a fun conversation. 

I was so tired that I wanted to sleep . But every time I dozed off , Dheeraj  would wake me up and keep me talking. We spoke about what was the best part of the camp , and we described each person at the camp in three words. 

Mostly , I described them as caring , humourous and annoying .The others described me as friendly , funny and pretty. Before I'd realised, I had slept off and so did many others . We woke up when the bus had just stopped for dinner . 

We ate at another dhaba , and this time I got to sit with the people I  now knew , unlike the first time where I felt left out . 

After that , me and Automobile had a long round of arm wrestling , with a twist of our own. The small kids were our judges and it felt like they were pretending it was a video game . 

We thought of staying up all night talking like how we'd decided earlier , but ended up sleeping . This time , the ride was much more comfortable and I got the amount of rest I hadn't for an entire week.  

16 May 2023 , Day 8

‘The golden memories we shared are something which I will always treasure ,

                    Because a single thought about you will bring me immense pleasure .

                    Hopefully fate will bring us back together sometime in the future , 

                    Till then enjoy your present and keep in touch through the computer.’

                                                                                                           -NEHA SINGH

Before any of us had realised , a week had passed . We were now only a few kilo metres away from the Delhi airport , when we stopped for breakfast . It was a well decorated dhaba . We had aloo parathas for breakfast . 

The washrooms were incredibly clean , and I also began to notice that the skin was peeling off my nose . Luckily , I wasn’t the only one facing this problem . We had an entire crew facing united struggles ; except these struggles were against our own skin .

My school was going to reopen in less than a week and I wondered how I’d show up to school in this condition . I felt sort of insecure , but I knew it could be the perfect excuse to be able to share my intriguing stories . 

I felt sorry that I wasn’t able to talk to my friends the previous night as I’d promised , so we made a deal to have a good time at the airport , for there was a long wait for our flight . After an hour or so , we finally arrived at the airport . 

We loaded our luggage to our trolleys , and gathered to collect our boarding passes . We all bid a goodbye to Kavish , as he was on his way to West Bengal . He definitely proved that age has no limit ! Be it older , or younger . 

While everyone else went to the washroom , we looked at our funny Adhar Card pictures , which we carried as age proof .We gave each other rides on trolleys , but then stopped after witnessing the consequences of going too fast .  After collecting our boarding passes and checking in our bags , We were allowed to go to any place of our choice , within the airport of course .

We purchased beverages. Then , we all made our way to Subway , to have lunch . I know it sounds weird , but I had never been to Subway before . Well , now I understand why many people prefer eating there . I bought a veggie delight , my personal favourite , at least after I tried it for the first time .

I was in the mood for dessert as usual , so I asked the others’ opinion on any specific dessert . A few of them suggested that I go with a sundae from McD’s. My sister didn’t want to have the one I bought her , so I had the older Yashas volunteer to eat her share .

I bought a book that I’d been waiting for , Sudha Murty’s third edition of ‘Gopi Diaries’. To my dismay , Automobile kept giving me spoilers , just to annoy me , as usual . They went through some books as well , which I’d prefer not to mention . 

Finally , we all sat in the waiting area , where we were offered fruits  and juices which had been purchased at the Manali market , as I’d mentioned earlier . I had a mango , except it got really messy when I was trying to eat  it  . Till date , my friends keep reminding me how funny I  looked , but I take it lightly . 

While I managed to finally dispose of the messy partially eaten mango , which I did get a mouthful for , Dheeraj  claimed to have lost his boarding pass . While I was trying to help him look for it , he grabbed mine and wasn’t willing to return it . It was a pretty late realisation , but I got to know that he was just kidding all along . Though we all knew the story now , they wouldn’t quit bugging me . I guess some things could be permanent , at least when it comes to this.

For the last time , we assembled for a group picture . All of us , who initially wore awkward expressions in the first photo , now displayed our faces with broad smiles of satisfaction.

I entertained myself by reading the new book I’d bought , until there was a little commotion in the front. Some of us were changing places and Adithya came and sat next to me . “If they ask , I was here all this while , Alright ?”, he said . “Okay ,”I replied . We had a conversation about our schools and we also spoke to the flight attendant , and got to know a little about him . 

The flight finally arrived at the Bangalore airport , and all of us exchanged numbers .
We all collected our bags and walked out of the airports , to meet an excited group of parents , all of them had been worried sick about their kids for a week  . We hugged each other and waved goodbye to our instructors , and our MMF group . We all promised to keep in touch with each other , which can be quite a challenge . Each one of us had a ton of stories to tell , and everyone was willing to lend us their ears .

In short , it was a life changing experience and the best trip I have ever taken in my life till date. To be honest , this experience was much more than just a few pages . Sometimes feelings are just beyond a thousand words. It is important to live every moment to its fullest and enjoy it as long as it lasts . 

There is more to life in nature , than in busy cities like Bangalore . I know that the trip has come to an end , but I will cherish all these wonderful memories throughout my life . 

I’ll miss all my caring friends , who helped me every time  I faced any problem , my amazing instructors , who taught me all kinds of life lessons and finally a place which has now been engraved in a part of me , because now , my life story cannot be completed without mentioning the magical Manali . 

Every good story should have a happy ending to make it beautiful , in my opinion ,  and I will do my best to continue creating happy endings for all the stories I'll write on the pages of my life . But It's not  the end just yet , it's the beginning of the next chapter . It took a few months to recreate the exact moments in words , but it's the will and passion towards it that has helped me finish it ,and of course with the generous help of Tanish B Chetan in editing .

I totally recommend Outdoors Beckon to all nature and adventure lovers out there , and look forward to be a part of more such trips , that enlighten within you the spirit of learning and admiration towards nature .

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