When The Heart United With The Dawn

Amidst the noise and pollution, as vehicles puffed and little children squealed with joy as they headed home, I sat at the bus stop with my cousin, awaiting the rest of the team. One.Tribe.India was driving us a couple miles away from this pollution fused mess. Finally the weekend that beckoned peace from the city life was here and I was off to a wonderful start. Slowly more people trickled in and only then it hit that the trip was actually happening and it wasn’t a joke. For the first time in the year I had a light heart and expected nothing. After a brief introduction to our team of about 20 we set off to the Makalidurga Trail for the night. Tents, Sleeping bags, the team and all. The bus ride was definitely fun! Considering most of the team was about the same age as me. We sang, pranced and swayed. The bus jerked, we laughed anyways. The skies grew dark and slowly rainy clouds set in to dampen the mood and put us into a lazy drowse. Around 10:00 PM we pit stopped for some Chai. Some more fruitful socializing and we were off again. After some more rumbling from our Bus, the wheels came to a halt. We stepped into darkness illuminated by the torches from our dear smartphones! Careful of where we stepped, we unloaded the Bus and were briefed by the guide. The excitement screamed in our chests, unable to exert itself into the open. Quietly we walked through the dark trail, steering clear of any crawlies. The drizzle began again but it didn’t stop us from pitching tents and feeling the cool breeze on our cheeks. Soon we were warm and cozy inside our Nylon homes, toes tucked into soft sleeping bags. Hunger pangs stronger than ever at around 12:00AM we gulped down some hot soup and tortillas. With Happy stomachs but a weeping sky, a camp fire was out of question but we let the warm stories of the wild and nature keep us warm. Following the bright of the stars, breathing in the fragrance of the sodden soil a couple of us strayed away counting stars. Under the starry gleam, emotions were exchanged, some more stories and new perspectives and the winds grew crisp. We strolled to our nylon, and tucked into our bedroll. Some more witty chat, too happy to dream with our eyes closed, the chatter continued. Sounds of snoring from neighboring tents sure fueled much mirth.
        It was now time to trek up to the peak from the valley we camped at and truly see what the darkness held from us. The probable ghosts of the dark still did chill our bones but the buzz kept us going. We stomped. Up , up, and up we climbed and the panting for breath grew stronger amidst the chatter of the birds to the rising sun. Slowly, the azure of the sky filled our sleepy eyes.

Determined as ever, we hiked, stronger, faster, and happier, we were almost there. Soon enough, the sun rose, hidden behind the fluff of aerosols. Streaking the skies with yellow and blues, like mango and blueberry cream sifted in swirls. Almost there, we rested for a bit.
The rains from the previous night did slip our feet but stealth kept the team moving.

Finally at the top, the sun nearly out in his entire gleam, we walked along the temple fort.At the highest point of the trail we stopped and sighed! We’d done it. We didn’t give prey to our weakened lungs and pollution. We were up, high, with the clouds, breathing in the view like the eagles.

Wondering how nature could calm the most rough, yet strike hard on the faint.  Strong on empathy, light in the heart we observed and relaxed on this massive fold of land. The sun almost halfway up top we started back down, back down to reality, the grounded reality.

Our hearts united with the Dawn. Heaving every sight, musing at the calls of peacocks and cuckoos, stepping on rolling pebbles we ascended.

Climbing in and out of tiny eon structures, letting our city minds wonder over the beauty of simplicity and wander into the stretches as much as the eye could see.

Could it be lovelier? Could any moment be more perfect? Could nature flaunt herself any furthur?

                                                                            .

Almost ground, we could see our green nylon homes.The dark was gone and the trees shone, the stars disappeared, the conversations hummed in our ears, the moist dimmed, hunger rumbled.

Enlightened and tired we packed camp.
Heavy in our hearts this time, bitter over adieu, we wished to stay longer, but the greed of the vicious belly was stronger than ever. Lugging into the bus, loading in again, we plopped into the seats and were hitting catnaps in no time. Pit stopping to answer our cravings, breakfast never tasted better! Now entering slumber, most of the ride was a dream; a starry sky in the bright of the sun, a warm wind with the chill of the night, the ride back was sweet sleep with flashbacks of the previous evening. Bidding goodbye to the team until next time, feeling droopy, it was time to head home into our comfortable showers, painful traffic and city stress yet again. Missing the branches, leaves, dew, clouds, soil and stars more than ever, heading home with a fresh mind filled with memories to last a lifetime and inspiration, the calm set in.