26th Dec2020: Nayata to Raithal
“My only competitor is the person I was yesterday” - Abhi Alimilla.
Today was the final day of the trek. So, on ‘Boxing Day’, I literally hopped, skipped, jumped & slid my way to the basecamp at Raithal. I slipped on a patch of ice & experienced Skiing for a few feet! Not wanting another ‘Michael Schumacher’ case in my family, I caught a tree to stop my free spin and my team-mates rushed to help me.
Dispersal of the team started at the basecamp… Some moved on to Shimla to continue their vacation & some onto another trek by IndiaHikes. My flight back home was on 27th, hence, I decided to stay the night and go back to Dehradun directly. I bid adieu to all my gear that had served me faithfully & relaxed in the warm confines of the hotel. While taking my 1st warm bath after almost a week, I vowed not to take the luxuries provided to me in my life for granted! I went to sleep that night in a warm comfy bed, both excited to go back but sad to be leaving this adventure, with a grateful heart.
I took a 6AM cab to the airport with my teammates, and boarded the flight to Delhi. This flight landed late due to poor weather conditions & set me up for another adventure. By the time I got my baggage, went up the two floors in the swanky T3 terminal of the largest airport in India to reach the gate for Bangalore flight, the authorities told me it was too late & refused to let me board!
I was worried & floundering. I called my dad in a panic- he calmed me down & told me to convince the gatekeepers. After pleading my case & requesting them, they rushed me through the security check in the business class line & helped me board the flight. Without wearing my boots or jacket & holding a million odds & ends in my hand, I flew through the airport - cut scene to the ending of a Bollywood movie… Hehe :D
All my exhaustion caught up with me & I crashed in the uneventful flight back to Bangalore.
As I got out of the airport, I found my support system waiting for me! As I hugged them, I realised why ‘home’ was the best place on earth!
It dawned on me that
‘A life worth living might be measured in many ways, but the one that stands above all the others is living a life that counts!’
Thank you for coming on this journey with me! I hope you enjoyed reading this just as much as I enjoyed recounting my experiences :D