The Salvation Trip

9:31 PM 3/21/2005



It all started with a mantra. Work hard, play harder,
party hardest. Working nightouts throughout the week,
our souls yearned for a break from this world. And
with a genuine selfish interest, seven people came
together to leave this land into the ocean. We were
to realise that the end was only a three hour drive.
In short, a trip to Digha was planned.

As with every noble cause, all the dark forces
turned against us. The means to attain nirvana was
unfortunately unavailable. While we were sitting
in Vegies pondering about some very important things
over cups and cups of tea, Sachin was trying to
arrange for a taxi. Who knew he was going to be
elected president next day? Thank you President.
And there he was. The smile said it all. We had a
taxi and we needed money and people to go.

In this act of faith, many sacrifices were to be
made. Shakie left his Hall GC, Nari and Hasita
left their sleep behind, I, Aashish, Immu and Sachin
left our rooms behind. Suddenly in an hour, we
left on a Salvation trip. As with everything we do,
there was food to start with. We ate chatting light talk.
And then a very old game started.

Although having no points, it was a game where one
thinks thrice before saying anything. And all that
is told is truth. No one wins, everybody loses.
But its for the greater good. One by one everybody
was asked questions which they had to answer in
religious truthfulness. Sachin was thinking, 'Kya
bakwaas hai. Let me sleep.'

There were confessions, fights, appraisals. But
there was one commonity. Almost everybody knew
what anyone was going to speak although he spoke
it for the first time. The details of the round
has been secretly withheld for privacy. Even not
quenched by this game, another round started.
People started inviting suggestions for
improvisation in themselves. And this got into a
mudfight with people not in the conversation
also being churned into. Sachin was still thinking.

We reached Digha just at sunrise and drank cups
of tea to get into the mood. After a few photographs,
we ran to the beach. The waves rolled at us and we
played till our bodies repelled in agony. The water
seemed to drain energy out of our souls and then left
for the sun to fill warmth. All of us lost our energy.
Shakie lost his spectacles and Nari somehow lost his
slippers. We cleaned and bathed in fresh water.
Vacuum. Nothing to do, we did what we always do.
Eating.

After eating, we headed for a dreaded beach in
sultry salt laden winds. Braving the winds we
headed towards a woodland. My passion for
photography brought me and Shakie back to the
van for getting the cameras. We strenuously
came back a mile and then went a mile clicking
several pics. Not finding anyone else and anything
else to do, we stayed in van chatting light talk.
After about half an hour, we felt first signs of
recognizable life coming towards the van. Aashish
was coming and along with him came a story.
The great search.

While they were resting in the woodlands, Sachin
and Hasita braved their way to the beach only
to realize that no one would recognize their bravery.
When the rest stood up to return, they were startled
to find themselves alone in the fearful jungle.
The brave ones were gone. Thus the great search began.
After Kilometres of googling aimlessly, they were angry
only to find that the brave ones were infact much behind.
Anger and relief fought with each other to maintain its
emotional identity. And this brought back memoirs of
Adventures of the Brave Ones in Bangalore. As everyone
returned to the van, we headed back to Kgp with talks
of the Brave ones. Sachin was thinking, 'Kya Bakwaas hai,
Why dont you people sleep?'.

And we slept. The salvation trip was over.