Surprise Surprising us !!!

"Dehradun Surprise" - Surprised US !! It was almost afternoon when we took a bus from Delhi Bus Terminus, to Reach Dehradun !! I was told that we would be in Dehradun by around 7hrs (I dont remember the exact duration). It was Me and Arindom rottening in the bus, almost the last seat. He told me that we could have boarded a better bus that could have been more comfortable - which made me presume that the journey will not be as good as I expected it to be. We had a plan - a prank(the Mission) We had not informed any thing about our arrival to Arindom's family(to give them a Surprise!!!).

On the way - there were fields, fields and more fields... I guess they were all Wheat or sugarcane or.. who knows - I am not that good in farming.. - well then, the main thing is that it was cold.. terribly cold.. I had never ever in my life of 20 years experienced such a harsh climate..(no wonder why North Indians are fair)..even the hottest summer is bearable - not such nerve breaking cold !!!

The site of most villages enrouting Dehradun appeared difficult, they differ a lot from a typical village in the south. There were quite a number of small towns that we had to cross, a thought of how my life would have been if I were to be a citizen of such a town/village, made me realise that I am blessed and gifted to what I really am.

We managed hearing a few hindi tracks on the radio channels of Delhi for around 1 or 2 hours. I was getting bored - couldn't sleep, I think I over slept before the journey. I passed my time exploring the unfamiliar engine that runs on Natural gas(ofcourse not literally - was experiencing vibration less journey of the clean fuel) - believe me people all the Autos(rikshaws) and buses run on natural gas in the capital (which came as a surprise to me), gazing at all people who got in and out of the bus regularly.

At one point of the journey, (a drama) - The Ticket checking inspector boarded the Bus and started checking the tickets from all the passengers - he caught around 5-6 people without tickets(ofcourse we had purchased our tickets) , who claimed that they had paid the money to the conductor and it was the conductor who didn't give them the tickets. The Bus was stranded for around 30 mins, all the passengers demanded the bus be not stoped any more. The Inspector had no choise but to let the bus go, He took the Details of conductor and reprimanded him.

It was mostly plains and a little of ghat road in the end(which I didn't like - I love mountains but not travelling in a bus on the curves). We had to cross few(around 1 or 2) tunnels as well. I had felt that the destination would be atleast 1 hour away, to my surprise the bus ceased and I got releaved of tiring bus journey, Arindom reacted late and recognised the bus stand. I was at shock, I had a feeling that I was in some Hilly tourist place. I was smoking frosty air (fumes in my breath - ha).

[For those who want to get to fact directly- READ HERE]

It was quite late, around may be 10:00 PM (not sure of time, but late at night). We were thinking of what to do for dinner, Arindom invited me to dine at home, but I insisted that his parents didn't know of our arrival and it would become difficult for his mother to cook at night and at such a harsh climate. We then searched for a toilet, for which one had to walk a few hundred meters in to the bus stand shed, the freezing temperature was so harsh that I felt It(censored) will turn to ice, the bus journey kept us warm all the way(the engine heat) - while travelling I even had the feeling of sitting on the engine to warm myself up - ha ha.

After refreshing ourselves, we heeded to a Tandoor shop, near the bus stand, we had hot roti's and some dal (Arindom should know the name) - already I was hungry, and the good hot food was the cure. We were now prepared to make the march. I asked Arindom to call his parents and tell them that we would reach their home the next day afternoon, he spoke to his brother (who seemed to laugh). Arindom predicted that his brother has come to know about the plan. We then called Sunil to know more, he told us that he has revealed every thing to Arindoms parents - err.... er... all the plan that we had made was in vein. We hired a Share Auto (they call it - "some crazy name i dont remember-- yeah yeah.. VIKRAM - (not tamil actor anyway)"), to reach a bus stop, and from there we took a bus to reach the mighty FRI (Forest Research Institute) campus. There Arindom's brother was waiting with his machine, we were two in number, he took all the luggage with him (I have faint rememberence of what happened then) and we ran behind- to reach the home (I think I was in the scooter.. what ever...), Arindom's parents received us.. it was such a happy moment for Arindom and me too, to get into home and save myself from frosting my fingers due to scooter ride (most daring thing is to ride a scooter in winter at dehradun). There was fire place were there were coal (charcoal). It warmed us, I had a sigh of relief and enjoyed the hot glass of milk that Arindom's mother made. And retired that day under lots of rugs and sheets over me on the bed(forgot to mention the water bag).