Trip down the memory lane

2009, Chennai

It was doom and gloom all around. Recession had hit hard across the world and India was no exception to it. We had been into job for around 3 years now and had been working tirelessly without any break all these years.

Staying in Chennai all away from home in extreme conditions had already taken toll on all of us. Add to it came the new tension of job insecurity. The best part of our stay in Chennai was that we had  a  small group of  friends who had now become our lifeline.

Every day when we stepped out of our homes for office, we were unsure if it was our last working day.

It was during one such day when I returned from office late night and Sunny said “Rajput kuch karte hain yaar…We cannot live in this frustration any more !!! “

“Kya karein bhai ?? any suggestions ?”

“Kahin chalein ghoomne ?”

“Haan chalo…”

Parth said “Yaar chennai ke pass ek hill station hai Yarcaud..lets go there !!!” In an excited tone.

In moments like these one never gives a second thought for any suggestions. Soon calls were made to all the friends in Chennai that we have to move out in 30 minutes for Yarcaud.

There was no planning and no preparation. If a friend in a group says we are going to XYZ place, all would follow just like the mouse following the Pied piper. It was the “fun” being and enjoying together than the place we were at.

A friend who was still in office spoke to taxi driver who got ready to drive us. Rest of the friends took out our bikes. Few of the friends were still in office. We packed our bags, picked them from their offices and started for our road trip.

Yarcaud is  about 360 Kilometers from Chennai. We all would be singing on the way. Stopping the vehicles wherever we felt like. Danced to tunes of “Pokkiri Pongal….epdi pode pode…crazy kiya re…” and all the musical hits of that time. The dhabas on which we stopped were blessed to have us, since we ate like dragons. Sound of Pulsars, royal Enfield and bolero was musical to us, and it appeared that some royal procession was going on. As I turn the pages of my life It indeed was a royal procession for me.

 

We hit Yarcaud in about 7 hours, after all the fun and masti all the way. And believe me we were not at all tired , in fact were feeling rejuvenated. We continued the same way in the hill station too. Due to last minute planning, we had no hotel room. Somehow we managed to get a dormitory. My God !! 12 naughty souls under one roof? What a ruckus we had created there. I still thank my stars we were not thrown out from there.

On the streets, local bhajji walas, vendors, juice wallas were jealous and awed to see us doing so much fun. As if roads and streets were not enough, we didn’t even spare the boats in the lake. We were enjoying chasing and pushing each other in boats. We ate, sang, dance and enjoyed in Yarcaud to our hearts contentment.

After all the fun and frolic we all returned back the same way we had gone. This time we were feeling more refreshed, more energetic and a realization that we were having the most invaluable gifts with us – “FRIENDS” which can never be taken away from us.

It was due to such outings and fun time together that we could sail through the tough times and enjoyed recession the most. As I look back today I miss those wonderful times.

 

 

 
This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda