A bunk to remember

It was the usual kind of day when I boarded the bus for college. As I got up at the very first stoppage, I had plenty of seats to choose from and I went straight to my favourite seat, at the very end of our college bus, near the window. It had rained the previous day and the seats were still a bit soggy but I didn’t mind. Soon, the seats began to be taken and as a general rule, we seniors occupied the last seats and I always kept the seats for two of my best buddies who got up on the bus much later than I did. But today was different… I realized with horror that there were no seats left for them. Now, as Nilufer and Maitrayee got up on the bus, I just couldn’t bear to be seated with them standing. I also stood up alongside them and Thank God I did, because it was the start to a very fabulous day ahead. As we three musketeers or 3 idiots (whatever you prefer!) dangled along the entire journey, we couldn’t hold back our tears of laughter and then suddenly I had a brain wave… (maybe, standing on a jerking bus for such a long time does that to you).

It didn’t take much to convince my equally mad friends to bunk college that day. Though I must tell you that we never ever bunk classes (maybe a couple or two… but that never hurts anyone does it!). We reached the college premises and instantly got out of the big gate (which, once shut, never lets anyone out). Hailing the first vehicle we saw we backtracked to Jalukbari.

Now the problem was that even though we did arrive here, we hadn’t planned on what we were going to do next. And there we were standing on a busy street under the merciless sun (which shows up the day after a rainstorm and never seems to dim) debating on our destination. Finally, we agreed to go to Hajo, a very beautiful and holy place in Assam. It took us a mere half an hour and we set foot on the pious soils of the land and stared in awe at the grandeur and majesty of the Hajo Mandir. The turtles deserve a special mention too, as they attract tourists as much as the temple does and feeding them biscuits made this trip more worthwhile.

After we had our fair share of stay at Hajo, we thought of paying a visit to Nilufer’s grandparents, who lived in the nearby village of Gandmow. We had such a heartfelt welcome there and we even went to see a nearby ranch, which held the most stunning view ever. Clicking pictures with our cell phones, posing on a lonely rocking boat held to the dock with thin strands of rope (which almost gave way), wanting to make friends with a over excited dog, who had showed us his fangs (well, most of us tried to be friends anyway!), eating a fantastic lunch there (mind you, we were as hungry as horses). All these memories will forever be etched in our minds for years to come.

This trip was never planned and I doubt that if it had been, we wouldn’t have enjoyed ourselves as much as we did then. The entire experience felt so soothing and relaxing, we didn’t mind getting back to the hum-drum of everyday life after that day. Here’s hoping for more of such unexpected expeditions from life, which does surprise us often. Ciao!