DAY 0 - 6th Dec,2014 - Just drive
The day started with a lot of
enthuse, about the overnight journey. We
were planning for this offsite for a month but confirmed it only a week
back. Fortunately, there were no last minute drop outs and we set off according
to the plan.
The most excited of us all was
Ms.Saba. She shopped, also visited the beauty salon to look her best in the
photographs. The journey started with Deepak’s favorite song Baby doll played
on a repeat mode in his car. Subin, who is most heard of but less acquainted,
travelled all the way from Bombay to join this trip.
We set off in three cars, the
fastest being Deepak’s followed by Murali and then Hari, whose car was the
safest since it consisted senior citizens Hari, Anvitha, Aswath and Sree.
Senior citizens dozed off ,Baby doll in the highest volume was played in the
racing car, while weird stories from childhood to teenage to adulthood were
forcefully narrated in Murali’s car
during the drive.
The hot tea served in the pit
stops, biting cold weather added to the list of best moments. Every toll gate
where we stood in the line to pay the toll, the air force car speedily passes
through, and waited the other side to mock. Guys in Murali’s car started off
narrating weird moments in life, love stories to music. After driving for eight fun filled, sleep
deprived hours we reached the destination, Ghatikallu Home stay.
DAY 1 - 7th Dec, 2014 - Trek and Daaru party
Some thought they could rest but
the others dragged everybody for a small trek to explore the home stay. Of
course, our senior citizens joined us for
few minutes and then gave up. We came back had breakfast. We got into a
jeep, and set off for a thrill filled journey through the valley to reach a
scenic beauty spot and posed for pictures. The dread started for some, when we
came to know that we had a 3Km long stretch to trek. The beginning was better,
but started getting worser, panting got common, and girls were afraid of skin
tan. With a lot of each others motivation we reached the pinnacle. The feeling
that we succeeded was as if we reached the Mt.Everest peak. Deepak trekked down with bare foot sacrificing his shoes for our princess Subha whose shoes were worn out during the trek.He cited a perfect example of a lead.
Fortunately, we got back to the
jeep in good shape and started for the waterfalls nearby. This time, the valley
was much deeper, it was like a roller coaster ride on the jeep. We fell on each other , tamped foot, gave
support and reached the waterfalls. We put on life jackets and got into water.
The water was chilling cold in the afternoon, but it was so soothing that we
got rid of our tiresomeness. It was as if the water pulled away all the
physical pain we took for trek. We splashed water and enjoyed like kids.While the senior citizens including Murali were relaxing on the banks.
We got back, had lunch, did a bit
of bird watching and relaxed for a while where time just passed by and the most
awaited time of the offsite, Daru time started. There was campfire, Daaru and
spicy food. What more could anyone ask for? A dozen bottles of colorful alcohol
were all poured into one can and served. The evening started with a great news
that Subha would shortly be converted as an FTE ensued by Swayamvar programme
for girls, all the eligible bachelors had a say where the light, action and cut
were managed by Murali. Followed by a
truth and dare game, which lead to confessions. Then, the “Murali Gyan” time
started. He was high, but was talking about the togetherness and the bonding of
the team he built and molded so carefully. He expressed his gratitude to all
the team members. Lot of group hugs happened since morning but the most
significant one was after Murali put in his two cents to the team.This was
followed by the after effects of Daaru. Murali throwed up and went to bed but
Shameen started banging her head to the wall, threw up and then started “Abhi
toh party shuru hui hai”.
Tired and tucked up in bed, I am
sure everybody in their senses would have thought what a wonderful day it was!
Day 2 - 8th Dec,2014 - Temple and set back
Murali and Shameen had a complete
black out of previous night. We spent time narrating drunken tales of the
preceding night. Got ready, checked out and set back home. On the way, we
visited an ancient temple and revisited the history of Chollas.
Post that, palmistry
sessions were taken by Murali, where he predicted Subha would have twin babies, Shameen would marry twice and TJ would have a complicated life ahead.
Post lunch, guys in Murali’s car had a Q & A session on leadership. The
fun and thrill filled trip ended with the evening, but a lot of amazing moments
and memories are struck with us for lifetime.
Kya faraq padta Hai - "The bonds are stronger, the
feeling of connectivity is larger, and the oneness as a team is beyond the horizon"
