Party And Prejudice

3. Bluepeaks Resort

It was late afternoon when we drove into Bluepeaks resort.

Inspite of the many stopovers, we were all tired out. We leaped out of the car and stretched our limbs enough to challenge Chloe Ting.

I finally looked around.

The place rolled out like a green carpet infront of us. The Western Ghats stretched around all of us like a painting. The mild sound of birds added to the soothing atmosphere. Time seemed to slow down for me. I immediately felt like maybe this trip wasn't such a bad idea. It would just be nicer if we didn't have to work here.

I turned to find that it was only me who was admiring the scenery. Reyansh and Josh were helping Kichu bhaiya take out the suitcases from the car. Maya was talking on the phone, Zoya was tying her shoelace and Riya was fiddling with her iPod.

Before I could open my mouth and ask my friends to show some appreciation for the beautiful setting, Riya had shoved her iPod infront of my face.

The mountain landscape right where we stood was staring at me through the screen,"This 3D feature is the best. Look at this", she said happily "it gives you a feeling like you're actually there!"

I rolled my eyes, "That's because we are actually here, Riya", I said pointing at the view behind us.

"Oh okay..", Riya said looking around for a moment and then turning back again "but I can like zoom and see on this".

"Come on guys", Reyansh said swinging his travelling bag over his shoulder and pulling his suitcase behind him. The guy managed to look like Hrithik Roshan even while dragging luggage. We just needed Mumbai paparazzi to complete the scene.

I pulled out my only pair of Ray Ban and put them on in an effort to look hip.

I caught up with Reyansh. He looked at me.

"Will you remove your shades?", he said gently.

"Why?" I asked taking them off, all the same.

"You don't have to hide your beautiful eyes".

"Oho Reyansh!", Riya yelled from behind me before I could say anything "The vacation hasn't even started and you're already getting into honeymoon mode".

Bluepeaks Resort was a fusion of Indian and contemporary styles. The place was covered in red oxide flooring. Carved pillars stood at the front of the building. The place was designed in a traditional theme. They had even placed a well, which was not used. The villas were designed in traditional style too and they were dotted around  like small cottages. It was like entering a Bhansali film set. That was all I could make out from where I was standing.

As soon as we walked in towards the entrance, a plump middle aged woman in a saree with her hair tied in a bun and lots of jasmine flowers with an ID card swinging around her neck came hurrying down to us. She smiled at us widely showing some not very white teeth.

"Welcome...welcome to the queen of the Western Ghats", she said in a motherly voice.

"Hello", Reyansh said.

"Hi", Riya said more excitedly. The rest of us didn't open our mouths.

"Welcome", she said again "Please come inside....Have you booked cottages or rooms?"

There was a momentary silence.

"Uh..actually we are not guests", I said "We are the volunteers for the...er... children's camp".

The effect was like magic. The woman's entire demeanor changed in a nanosecond. All warmth evaded her face. She raised both her eyebrows coldly and said, "Oh?".

"Uh...yes"

"Volunteers, huh?", she said in a completely different voice. It no longer sounded maternal but more like a hostel warden.

"Yeah...you don't know we were coming?", I asked. I suddenly thought it would be nice if the whole thing was a misunderstanding and there was really no children's camp at all.

"Oh I knew", the lady said immediately "You are from Mumbai right?"

"Yes", Reyansh said, "My friend Joshua here is your owner Mr Neel's nephew", he declared almost defensively.

The lady's confidence seemed to falter slightly but she quickly regained her composure and announced, "I'm Revathi, the head of the management. Take your bags and follow me".

Wow. No offer of eatables. No questions about our journey. No one called to pick our bags. Nothing.

Or maybe it didn't exist for us. Because we were paying some half a lakh to stay in one of those cottages.

The six of us pattered down the hallway dragging our suitcases behind us.

"Revathi ma'am!"

A guy just as old as Kichu bhai came running upto us halfway through the reception

"No need to take their bags Sonu These are not guests. But I saw someone waiting in the reception and they seemed to have luggage. You should go there."

"But these kids could do with some help..."

"Shoo", Revathi said placing a finger on her lips "I know how to treat these volunteers. No one teaches Revathi. You go and see to the guests. And ask Rohini to come and meet me. I don't know what kind of Guest Relations Officer she is. By the way, why is the front desk empty? Ask Naveen to make someone sit there. And tell Veeru that I'm coming to see him. He has to trim the lawns today. If I'm late, he will run away...and also get me a glass of lemon juice. Why are you standing like a cow? Go!". The man scurried away.

Woah. That was some dictatorship.

We kept walking till we reached the staff quarters at the far end of the entire resort. I immediately realised why. The staff house was a building which hardly matched up atleast ten percent to the rest of the resort. It looked like any lower middle class residence with even some walls with peeling plasters. I realised why this was located at the backmost part of the resort. The clients staying in Bluepeaks would never even come across this place. Smart guy....that Neel or whatever his name was.

"Err..are we going to stay here?", Riya asked. I could make out the heartbreak in her face.

"Yes, this is where the volunteers stay every year", was what Revathi said.

I wouldn't have been surprised if Riya had announced that she was leaving. But she did no such thing. In fact she picked up her bag and marched into the building with a determined face.

Looked like our girl was turning a new leaf.

We all followed her.

As soon as I walked in, I felt the place wasn't too bad. There was a huge restaurant on the ground floor, all the staff members dined only there. All the rooms were on the first and second floor. The building also had an attached gym and garden though neither could even be compared to the ones inside the main resort.

But still, this was kinda nice too.

And then suddenly someone screamed from above.