A hectic work life almost kills ones social life. It wasn't a really bad Tuesday for me but yet I was too tired of making any plans rather than crash landing on my bed. I wanted to stay up to watch a football match but i knew it was gonna take me a a lot of effort to keep those eye lids open. I decided to stay up as much as I can and then finally retire for the day. So, I was in my pyjamas, ready to doze off, when a message beeped on my cell phone.
"Bhai, I am in Pune!"
I was shocked. It was my niece from Delhi. She and her sister.. apparently my other niece... had come to Pune for a visit. It was clearly evident that she wanted me to come there for the weekend. I couldn't think of anything.
I didn't know what to do. I had loads of pending assignments at work. I had planned a quiet and lazy weekend but now it didn't look like I was gonna have one. I didn't wanna miss seeing them and on the other hand I didn't have the stamina to travel over the weekend.
I called up my niece the other day to verify if she was actually in Pune.
"Oii Babu !!! You really in Pune ?? When did you come ?? And why did you inform me so late ?"
"Actually my trip was not planned. I informed you as soon as I landed in Pune."
"Okay! So for how many days are you here ?"
"I guess I will leave by next Monday. I am feeling so bored here !"
"Okay! Let me do something. I'll call you up later. Bye!"
She knows it, that I would do whatever I can to make it to Pune for the weekend. I came up with a plan. I decided to reach Pune early Sunday morning and come back to Mumbai that same evening. In this way I could get some rest on Saturday and enjoy the entire Sunday with my nieces.
I was talking to my friend Avneet about my trip to Pune on Sunday when she suddenly sprang up and said.
"Hey.. Even I am going to Pune on the weekend. Lets go together. I am going to drop Sanjukta. We can go and come back together!"
"But... Where will I stay. What will we do?"
"You can stay with us. And we can go to Hard Rock Cafe` on Saturday night. It would be fun!"
"Okay great! Its Spain Vs France also on that day. We can watch the match at HRC. I'll get my nieces along too. Looks like a great plan. And yea... How about Sunday we head off to Lonavla."
"Sure. We can do that too"
"Great. I'll inform my niece that I would be coming on Saturday. I'll catch you later then. See ya!"
The plan changed. Now I had to make preparations for the changes in the weekend plan. I called up my niece and informed her that I would be coming there on Saturday instead of Sunday but I didn't tell her what the actual plan was.
"Bhai.. Tell me whats the plan"
"Naah !!! You shall come to know when I come there! See you."
Got up early on a Saturday morning after a long time. The girls coming along with me had booked a cab from Mumbai to Pune. All we had to do was reach the pick up point and head off. The only way to reach the pickup point was by getting into a locomotive. On our way Mohit messged in the group chat.
"Hey guys! Whats the plan for tonight ??? What about VLounge > Euros > France. "
VLounge was a good lounge near our house in Mumbai. He was planning that we could go to that place to watch the Semi Finals of Euro (Spain Vs France). I, however was on the move and could not be there with them. I informed them about my plan.
"Gays me HRC > Euros > Spain ! "
Mohit somehow felt that watching that match at HRC would be a better option. He asked me about it and I started forcing him to accompany me to Pune. I also tried many tricks to lure him to Pune. It is always nice to go out for a trip with the gang. He finally agreed but as always he had his conditions. He didn't wanna travel alone so he also involved Karan. Also, he was working that day, so he would come late evening. Finally Mohit, Karan, Avneet, Sanjukta, my nieces and me were gonna have a blast at HRC. I was very excited. Why wouldn't I be. A plan that was planned for a few hours on Sunday transformed into a cool plan with many friends.
I was loading the bags in the cab when Mohit called. I was hoping he didn't call to tell me that he wasn't coming.
"Hey Buddy. Why are you not replying to texts ?"
"Why ? What happened ??"
"Actually, the thing is ... It's not just Karan and me.. 8 of us are coming from here."
It was a shocker. The entire gang was coming to Pune and I had to arrange accommodation for them. So now the party just got bigger. We reached Pune late afternoon. I left for my niece's place and Avneet and Sanjukta left for Symbiosis. We decided to meet in the evening.
The moment I entered my niece's place, both of them sprang and gave me a huge hug. It was clearly visible that they missed me as much as I did. The elder niece Ayesha is that she treats me as her friend. She would never accept whatever I say. She always has her own thing so say. It's okay I dont mind, I know she loves me too much. It's just that she doesn't show it. The younger, one on the other hand is very expressive. She held my hand all along and kept saying how much she missed me.
They were very curios about the plan but I was adamant to keep it a secret. I love giving surprises.
"Tell me .. tell me ... tell me ... I want to know the plan !!!"
"Ayishu ... relax .. I'll tell you the plan soon. Just enjoy the attention for now. Also, I have spoken to your mum. She gave me permission to spoil you. So just sit back and enjoy the weekend. I am here!!!"
I relaxed for some time but the girls were restless. They wanted to know the plan. They wanted to just get out of the house and have some fun. I was too lazy to get out of the house. Anyways the plan would start late evening. After a lot of forcing, I got my lazy body off the bed and took them out for coffee in Barista. We ususally come there whenever they come to Pune.
We had to leave behind the younger one before going to HRC. So we got home, got dressed and headed off. Ayesha was wearing a sexy white dress. Damn, she looked amazing. I tried telling her that but she turned deaf ears on me. As soon as we came out of the house, I realized there were people staring at her. I am too protective for her. I could even kill anyone even if they even tried to get all cheaky with her. She noticed this and told me to relax.
We reached HRC. Looked like a cool place. Nice rock music in the background. A big bar counter in the center. This place had a very good ambiance. We got ourselves some good seats. Mohit called up to inform that they were late and they were going to Lonavla directly and would see me the other day. We started dancing to the DJs tunes. Soon, we realized that it was almost midnight and I had to drop my niece back home. Her mom had called me from Delhi asking me where we were. Everyone was worried as to where we two were.
Her mom was cool when I assured her that we were on our way back home. Both of us didn't want to leave. I was anyways coming back but Ayesha wanted to enjoy a little more. It's very rare that she gets to go to places like these and this was her first time with her cool friend, me ! As soon as we entered her house, we had a lecture to listen to. And as the youngster rule says, when you are being lectured, you just look down and wait for it to end. I didn't like that I had to drop her home so soon. Well yea, it was soon for us, if not for them. Spain's victory over France put that smile back on my face. I hurried into the bed as we had to leave for Lonavla early next morning.
Next morning I went to pick my nieces up. We didn't properly tell her uncle where were headed but informed him that we would be home by evening as I had to leave for Mumbai. I spoke to her mum and assured her that we wont be late today. We left for Lonavla where the entire gang was waiting for us to come.
We reached the Lonavla guest house where the guys were waiting for us. There were still traces of all the fun and mess they created the previous night. We tried directing the girls to the non messy places. It started raining. The perfect climate to visit Lonavla.
We set off to enjoy the weather on tiger hills. It is one of the most beautiful places during the rains. We reached the top of the hills all drenched. There were strong winds blowing from all directions. Most of us started shivering but few cups of tea added a lot of heat.
The entire hill was lush green with cloud cover on all sides. Many people had come to enjoy the weather. Corn, the winter snack was being sold all around. This place felt like heaven. We clicked loads of pictures. Even the cliffs seemed beautiful and terrifying at the same time. Before we knew it, time flew by. No one really wanted to leave the place but all of us had to report back to work on Monday.
The entire hill was lush green with cloud cover on all sides. Many people had come to enjoy the weather. Corn, the winter snack was being sold all around. This place felt like heaven.
We clicked loads of pictures. Even the cliffs seemed beautiful and terrifying at the same time.
The entire gang left form Lonavla. Avneet, Sanjukta, my nieces and me left for Pune. Avneet had to pick up her bags from Sanjukta's place where as I had to drop my nieces safely back to their uncles place. All the jobs done by 6, we were set to head back to Mumbai. Avneet and I even made friends on our way back.
We reached Mumbai around midnight. Called everyone and ensured everyone reached home safely. Even called my sister in Delhi and finally crash landed on my bed... Yes the Super Lonavla was over even though none of us wanted us wanted it to !
