Open air: Alternate home to home

7 people 1 roofless truck approx. 300 kms of journey from College of Technology, Pantnagar to Dehradun.

A diaspora was in existence in Pantnagar, and the place getting empty with each passing day. The time for leaving the alternate home was inevitable and this feeling was as if something is being pulled out of me and I was extending out my hand trying to grab everything possible from this place to store in my memory tank, the complete four years were flashing in front of my eyes each and every memory getting sweeter with time. The nostalgia led my heart to protrude to such an extent that it was ready to leave my body and stay in the college itself.

All doonites decided to leave the college in a truck as the luggage was impossible to take in a car or a train. The idea at first seemed crazy but later it became a necessity. Finally the time came and the truck arrived at the gate of Vishveshwarya Bhawan my batchmates and friends gathered around the truck to see us off. The luggage was continuously loaded into the truck and the holdalls were spread on the floor. It was time to bid adieu to the place hugs and handshakes were in harmony with the continuous buzzing of the engine. With the honking of the truck all were aboard and rest of friends were waving us good bye cell phones clicking photographs and continuous shouting of “good bye” and “stay in touch” was there. While waving at the rest we all fell on the truck’s floor shouting and laughing. We all grabbed our locations on the holdall spread on the floor and made ourselves comfortable.

A long night was ahead of us, we kept staring at the umpteen stars spread in the vast stretch of the sky which lay above us thinking who will be able to reach another galaxy or solar system in such an unfathomable universe. The stray flecks of light from the stars were twinkling and reflecting from the surface of my glasses. There was lull and the truck seemed to offer a haven of peace and serenity. The view of the sky as if a natural planetarium was very enchanting. In due course of time I entered into the world of my dreams (P.S. Lately I have been having the same dream over and over again a dream to conquer what I desire.)

After an infinitesimal nap I felt that i will be able to touch the moon because the road was very bumpy, we were surprised that the highway to Rudrapur (the fastest growing city in this region no pun involved.) was a smooth road and this doesn’t seem the right route. Everyone was looking here and there to recognize the surrounding region to track our location. After a few minutes the brouhaha vanished and all started to discuss the movie “Wrong Turn” actually the turn was wrong for us but not for the driver, in INDIA there is always a second route. The detour actually proved to be fruitful it was actually a shortcut and we had traversed a long distance in a short period. The croaking noises in the forest beside the highway, the buzzing of the engine, the grinning of my friends along with “My immortal” in my ear plugs all were trying to prioritize themselves, later came into harmony.

The masses on the road started to lessen in number, the air became cooler and cooler as we were approaching the valley. There are a few moments in life which leave an everlasting imprint this night-out was one such moment as it was the last journey of its own kind. Romantic numbers continued to play along with intermediating naps and chit chats. Soon we reached Haridwar and one by one everyone woke up to bid good bye to one or the other. Dehradun was not far and in an hour or so we all started to leave the peaceful haven at our corresponding abodes and hence another educative and fruitful (In a few senses only) chapter of my life came to an end.

I wanted it to be a never ending journey but everything has to come to an end, and so is the blog.