Sadly, when no plan could materialize, we friends decided to do nothing this time on New Year eve. Though I don’t attach any importance to a new year eve, we all wanted to do something memorable this year since this would be the last year when we all buddies are together on a New Year eve. We spent most of the evening doing nothing remarkable. Later, Channu, RJ, and I went to McDonald’s to have McVeggie with extra-cheese, Paneer Salsa Wrap, and Fries with Coke. Early in the morning we had chalked out an unusual plan to welcome the year 09. It sounded exotic and unusually interesting! Channu, RJ, and I were all game for it. At least I was determined to work that out. I had thought of going all alone if no one comes along. We made a list of the items that we will have to carry for the plan to successfully materialize some of which Dev had already bought.
• 7 sachets of Coffee
• A pack of Maggie
• One small packet of dairy whitener
• A pot (eventually borrowed from the college cafeteria)
• A bunch of old newspapers
• Some dry woods
• Matchbox
• Sugar
• 4 glasses
• Paper plates
• Three bottles of water
Other items will include: My camera, a borrowed tripod, a spare battery, a macro lens, warm clothes, and a skull cap.
I ensured that everything was in place before I went to bed. The most important item was the heating pot. Fortunately, I could convince college canteen people into lending me it for a night. Everything was in place except for a torch. I tried hard but could not arrange for it. But luckily, in the morning I came to know Rohit had got one arranged from Nidhi who would also joined us in the trek.
I had set alarm for 4:30 in the morning. It had gotten late before I could sleep in the night. I remember I spent around an hours tossing and turning on my bed. Had it not been for Rohit’s call, I would have never woken up since I don’t remember when I switched the alarm off and went back to slumber. Thankfully, I woke up and got ready. I woke Dev up. He started giving crap excuses to avoid waking up. But, at last, I could get him up and ready. We all got down by 5:25 and were good to go.
It was still pitch dark and comfortably cold outside. As we moved farther from the main gate of the campus the lights got dimmer and it started to get even darker and more difficult to see. There the torch came handy. But as we entered the village in dark, the dogs got suspicious and started barking up like anything. I wish I could speak Dog. I would said, “Happy New Year, You filthy Doggie!” I had picked up a piece of rock for any contingency. Fortunately, it did not come to any use.
After some time we passed by a small hut. The owner was busy firing a kiln outside. We inquired about the way to the hills. We also picked up a bunch of dry woods from his stock with his permission.
After walking a mile we could see a faint silhouette of the hills in very dimly lit sky. This confirmed that we were headed in the right direction. Before we could reach to the bottom of the hills the sky had already started to set on dawn. A deep dark mix of maroon and black was spilled over the horizon.
The trek to the top was not all that easy. The small gravels made it a little difficult. But it was manageable. We all set relax facing east after reaching the top.
The first thing I did was mount my camera on tripod and take a couple of shots of the valley below before the dawn breaks out fully and strips it of the early morning foggy feel.
When I was busy taking shots my folks strolled here and there little bit and then set out to look for couple of stones for improvising a small kiln.
They made the kiln and set it on fire. I was busy taking shots. By the time I got involved, the coffee was almost ready but let it be on the kiln till it started boiling and gave out froths. It felt really good and we all merrily started screaming, “It’s boiling! It’s boiling!”
This coffee tasted way better than what we would have got in a restaurant. I think it was simply because of the fact that it was at an unusual place and made by “us”. We took victorious shots with the glasses and cheered for 2009.
As we all were engrossed in making coffee we had completely forgotten that the prime objective was to see the sun of 2009 rise at the horizon. I was primarily there to capture that moment. Suddenly we heard Nidhi screaming, “Oye, Sunrise already ho gaya hai”. We all truned and basked in the aweinspiring glory of the rising sun. It was BEAUTIFUL. The foggy horizon appeared like a soft cushion on which the sun rested calm and smiling. We all gazed at it for without speaking for a couple of minutes. I took some shots. The picture with Nidhi’s hand give an impression that the an all new, glowing, glorious, orange-red pearl-like seed of life is being gently placed at the horizon by god.
Then we began with Maggie. It did not take much time. We had no plates and cutlery to have it with. So we decided to have it in glasses itself. It was fun! (although, I burned my nose and my lips in that)
I also tried my newly acquired Raynox Super Macro Lens over some small flowers there. The results were very encouraging. It was sheer fun.
I cannot think of any other better way I could have welcomed a New Year. My ineptitude in language restricts me from describing this whole experience cent percent. But all those who can appreciate the very exotic idea of this way of welcoming a New Year, can also understand how it would have felt. I am not sure if anyone of us will be able to do this for the coming new years in life but I am sure that this would top the chart anytime ever.
Happy New Year to you all!
Accomplices in Crime (Left to right: I, Dev, Nidhi, RJ, Channu)
On our way back I saw this vibrant rangoli outside a small shop.
May it brings the freshness of the morning and glory of sunrise we saw to your lives. Amen!
