It had been a year of our marriage and almost four years since am staying in this city till I finally got the time and chance to go for a vacation (all these years vacation for me meant heading to Kolkata, home)! Just a day before my first anniversary we sneaked out of the hustle-bustle of our lives and went for a two-day trip to Mahabaleshwar.
We reached on the eve of our anniversary and I felt we are amidst celebration, already. Every corner of the town exuberated with a pompous show! A grandness of nature was waiting beyond us with the perfect royal welcome treat. We were welcomed on a lush green carpet of grasses, with small conspicuous white, yellow and purple flowers swaying with the breeze, the trees stooped to bow before us, the wind danced among the leaves and flowers, the rippling water of the lake made the most wonderful and soothing music that gave the finesse to the ambience for us.
The moment I stepped down the vehicle I took a deep breath (as rarely, we city-dwellers get the chance to breathe in oxygen!).
The coolness in the climate gave us the perfect chance to feel relaxed, an almost forgotten feeling!
The cottage where we stayed for two days had a beautiful lake with a perfectly placed swing. I sat on the swing and felt like a child being cradled by Mother Nature.
During afternoon, we decided to explore the place! So, we headed to a historically important site, Pratapgarh. We saw the fort of Shivaji, and truly its engineering and architectural intelligence made me awestruck! When I stood at the side of a cliff and looked around I felt the warmth, cuddle and love-filled embracing of nature. I felt a strange shiver run through my blood streams, realizing that I was standing in a place that had been a seat of protection for the town Pratapgarh , and thousands of soldiers had once stayed in it. The dark tunnels and the whooping 450stairs were actually leading me closer to history. I could feel within me the excitement and curiosity about the place. I wanted to explore more and be there for some more time but, we had a time constraint and hence, headed back to our cottage.
After returning, I never imagined that there was some more excitement awaiting me in the form of fresh ripped strawberries and a delicacy ”Strawberry with cream”. The cool climate actually made my ’hot sweet corn on the cob’ hotter and tastier as well.
The following day was our anniversary and also the second day of our trip so, we went to capture some more ‘moments of life’ and perhaps, steal some ‘beautiful moments of nature’ and lock it up deep inside our heart, so that, in times of sadness and stress they would act as our ‘Stress relievers’.
Our second day’s visit was at Panchgani. It was truly a place where I would prefer to spend the rest of my life. The tall trees, encircled by the mountains and fog blurring out the horizon making it look unending, truly helped my excitement level break all boundaries of limit. We went for horse-riding, ate the most delicious ‘chana’, visited an interesting cave and also on our way back shopped all the special delicious items also.
In the evening, things were different! Since, it was our anniversary, so we decided to celebrate it in a special way with some very important friends”Trees, Mountains, Lake and the cool swaying breeze”. I felt the evening was perfectly scripted with the elements of Cake, music, dance and solitude amidst the beautiful nature.
Finally, the beautiful moments came to an end but it truly engraved a special place within our hearts which is impossible to erase throughout our life!
Now, when I try reliving those two days, the soothing and happy smile on my face speaks it all for others to know, how was my trip!!
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