Travelling solo!

5. Back to Mumbai

We were on the bus, heading back from Ganpatipule. It was evening, and the day's excitement had left us happily drained. The bus was humming along the coastal road in the dark, and I was staring out the window, watching the world pass by in a blur of lights and shadows. Our little adventure was now a bundle of awesome memories, and the usual routine of Mumbai awaited us when we got back.

As the bus navigated the winding ghats, some of us were in dreamland, blissfully unaware of the rollercoaster ride the bus was taking. 

Shubh, ever the enthusiast, was still trying to organize something, his plans now involving an impromptu post-trip review meeting. He whispered to Akshay, who was half-asleep, about creating a WhatsApp group for sharing trip highlights. Akshay mumbled something about discussing it later, clearly more interested in the dreamland scenario than digital plans. 

In the back of the bus, the pretty girls were half-asleep but fully committed to their important task: which photo to take from whom and when to post it over social media with perfect captions. Aditi, in her semi-conscious state, casually dropped the bomb that if her diet worked to give her the zero figure that the influencer promised, on the next trip to the beach she'd don the bikini which never left her travel bag this time around! Shikha, who had a knack for sleep-talking, threw in a random "me too babbyyy" to the mix, although god knows in whose direction.

As I sat here, bumping along these winding roads, I can't help but think about everything that's happened on this trip. 

It's been quite a ride, starting from that phone call with Vaidehi that seemed to flip my world upside down.

From the laughter in Harihareshwar to the chaos in Dapoli, and the spiritual pause in Ganpatipule, each place was a chapter in a story of self-discovery. 

The beaches hold our footprints, and the sea carries the echoes of our shared moments. Nature, in all its glory, painted the canvas of our adventures, teaching me that the journey is as crucial as the destination.

As the bus hummed along, I looked out into the night, grateful for the roads traveled, the friends made, and the person I've become in these few days. 

The journey doesn't end with this bus ride; it's an ongoing exploration. And with each trip, I add new chapters to my personal travelogue, making life a fascinating journey filled with laughter, stories, and the wisdom gained from the road less traveled.

Shri glanced my way, a knowing look in his eyes as if he could decipher the maze of thoughts running through my mind.

Shri: (smirking) Still thinking about Vaidehi, eh?

Me: (grinning) Vaidehi who? 

Shri: (laughing) Smooth bhaisahab smooth! Congratulations!

Me: (playfully) The trip has been quite helpful, thanks for this bhai

Shri: (nodding) Bros before hoes, always brother. Oh and, since the trip seems to have taken shitty thoughts off your mind too well, I was thinking about our previous conversation... Once we're back, we should definitely start planning a trip for our division.

Me: (enthusiastically) Absolutely! The bus jolted to a stop around 8, announcing our dinner break. It was as if a spell lifted, and the sleepyheads in the bus woke up to the prospect of food.

Shikha: (rubbing her eyes) Did someone say dinner? I'm starving!

Aditi: (stretching) Can we make it quick? I'm so ready to devour whatever they have.

We stumbled out of the bus, a bit groggy from the sudden halt. The aroma of grilled food hit us, and the twinkling lights of the highway dhaba welcomed our hungry souls.