Harshil Means Happiness - 10th Dec'21

 

Harshil Means Happiness

My ever inquisitive kid – Harshil asked “ What does Harshil mean ?”

Harshil means happiness or one who makes others happy. He newly learnt how to browse google with voice. He searched for Harshil. Pictures of mountain and sceneries popped up. Does Harshil mean this?

We found out that there is a valley by that name in Uttarkhand (UK). After that it was his only wish to go to Harshil valley whenever we asked what gift he wants or where we should plan to go for a trip.

Recently, we got transferred to Delhi. Harshil was the happiest one. He waited for > 2 years to get nearer to the place of his dreams.

Finally, we made up our mind to go there.

We booked a train ticket to go to Dehradun. Then, planned to take up a car for a trip to Harshil and Gangotri. To board the train, we went to Old Delhi station and learnt that the particular train departures from New Delhi. There was a market surrounding old Delhi station where exactly at that point in time, merchants were loading and unloading. We reached the New Delhi station just 15 mins later than the departure time. Still, we had hope against hope. 2 coolies were waiting for such hopeful people to show up.

As soon as we kept our foot on the station and started to enquire, the coolies took the luggage and ran to the platform saying we’ll just get there. Just now, the train was here. Alas! no train was to be seen.

Coolie: No problem Ma’am, we can get you on the next bus or train immediately. Let’s go to the booking office.

 I was so tired. I wanted to stay back for some time and then, think about next.

Coolie: No no Ma’am, how can we leave you here. We will all go together.

Somehow, I gathered myself and came out.

As soon as we came out, a cabbie ran towards us and said I’ll help you to get a sleeper bus immediately. It will only cost you Rs. 100.

Coolie: Give us our money. Let us go.

We: How much we have to pay?

Coolie: Just Rs. 500

I: You took 2 small bags from my hand. My husband carried a suitcase. It was just the first platform and you are asking this much.

Coolie: Yes, we tried to help you on time. Would you be saying this if you got aboard? That’s why you missed the train.

I: We’ll give you only Rs. 200. That’s itself more.

They simply took the money and left cursing us and we cursed them.

In the meantime, the cabbie took the luggage and ran. We ran behind him. He took us to a travel agency.

There they asked for huge sum for a night’s journey thinking that we don’t understand the language and have no experience in travelling. We agreed for a sum. But, decided to pay only after getting seated in the bus.

Just then, a bus past by. 2 travel agency guys ran behind it and asked us to follow after paying. We got up to follow and reiterated to pay only after getting seated. They came back saying it was the wrong bus. They did few such gimmicks of running behind the buses.

After so much of toil, they stopped one for us which looked decent. It was heading to Rishikesh. We were going to Dehradun.

Travel Agency: So what if it goes to Rishikesh. You can see Rishikesh and then go to Dehradun. Give us our money. We are not sure if you’ll get the right bus immediately.

Me: I want to go home.

We booked a cab to go back to home. On the way, the cab driver fondly informed us regarding a reliable person who has got permit to travel interstate and can certainly take us to the places of our interest.

We spoke with that guy and it didn’t work for us. He asked for an exorbitant price for driving alone plus on actuals for food, accommodation, permit and toll charges.

I couldn’t have more for the day after managing office, cooking, kid, packing, getting ready and then all the hustle bustles. I dozed off.

As soon as I woke up.

Husband: Get ready. We’ll leave in an hours’ time.

I took some time to understand what happened overnight. Still, felt good that somehow we are going as per our plan.

Whatever I cooked, that was sufficient for the day. We shared our food with the driver as well and paid for the food he ordered.

We reached Dehradun almost by evening. That’s when the driver brought up the payment. He once again disagreed and asked us to pay half of the entire trip sum. We didn’t agree. But, seeing his plight, agreed to pay more.

We booked a hotel room for night stay at Mussoorie. He was given the room meant for drivers.

At midnight, I heard my husband shouting on top of his voice. The driver ran away leaving us in the hotel. My generous husband has given him more than half of the total trip sum on the pretext of driver’s pending EMI.

All of a sudden, the driver had problem in his piles, the car got repaired and what not. He didn’t come back.

A second night in a row with an unfinished sleep in a nightmare.

I woke up dizzy in the morning. We quickly started it all over. Booked a cab.

Lo and behold, we reached Harshil. A beautiful place with Apple orchards all the way. We rested in peace.

All the way I vomited, felt dizzy and had splitting headache. There was nothing in my stomach by the time we reached there. I even vomited water. It was all washed away when I got to eat the apples plucked from the trees. It just felt so good.

This time the driver was pestering us for seeing more places and making more bucks. We stuck with our plans. He was not at all interested in exploring the place we were in.

Went to Gangotri in the morning and saw places nearby Harshil. Had a night stay at Uttarkashi.

We met a guy from Delhi on our way to Gangotri. He was happy to get us tagged along from Mussoorie. Promised to call us as soon as he was to make a return.

We called him on our way to Mussoorie. He was already on the way to Delhi.

Had he not promised, we might have stayed in Uttarkahi for some more time.

We reached Dehradun by afternoon. Harshil wished to see the zoo. The driver was angry on us that we didn’t see more places and he couldn’t make more money. So, he denied reasoning that it was not in the plan.

Instead, he directly took us to the bus depot. We booked the sleeper bus.

For boarding the bus, we had to wait at another bus stop for 2 hour. From there a cab took us to another stop at the outskirts. On the way, there was so much of traffic that we reached the stop by late evening. I dozed off as soon as I got into the bus.

At 9:00 pm, the bus stooped at a eatery. I didn’t get down. After an hour, everyone got in. The bus didn’t start. The bus had a break-down. I got down.

Had Tea and Masala Pappad. Both Harshil and my husband lied on my lap and slept off. I had chit-chat with other tourists. Closed eyes and plugged earphone. Someone tapped on the table loudly. Our bus was leaving. We gathered ourselves and rushed. It was almost midnight by then.

Finally, we reached Delhi early morning.

I could finally have a good sleep and eat well. Sometimes that’s all needed for an incredible happiness 😊

 

-          Saranya