Not-So-Girly-Girlfriends #MissionDesi #YourStoryIndia

Day 6

#Manali
#Zara
We trekked for around 2 hours. Two freaking hours to reach the base camp. And it was hell tiring. We reached at the camp and the dogs welcomed us. Arjun's batch also came along but they weren't leaving the base camp until three more days. We were leaving tonight at around 11:30 pm.
I liked one thing about the base camp. That we no more needed our jackets. We were so used to the snow surrounding us all the time and the chilled weather that the air here was comparatively warm. In fact we even deposited our jackets and sleeping bags and the back pack that they had issued us.
After taking a hot shower we changed into the clothes we had given for washing on the first day. We then headed outside to roam.
#Myra
We went to the right side of the hostel. We stopped in front of the small waterfall and watched it. It was so quiet. Just the sound of the water gushing against the rocks. "Do you play," asked Arjun standing on the basket ball court right behind us.
"You play basketball?" I asked him.
"Duh! I'm really good," he said.
"Not better than me," Zara said as she prepped to play.
A few guys from the other side of the small river came over. I wondered who they were.
"They are basketball nationalists," he whispered.
"But their house..." I said looking at the small house he lived in. I also saw him filling a bucket after another of water and taking it to his home.
"Well, cricket is the only well paid sport in India. So much for equality and shit."
"True that," I said. "So we are playing with the nationalist?"
"Ya bet," he said.
#Alisha
I'm getting tired of watching the 8 of them play. I do play basketball but not as good as them. And Vicky doesn't really play basketball. Like, she shoots properly and even gets a basket but that's during practice. Put her in actual match and she is gonna be like, "I don't run behind something the world wants, I want things which only belong to me" -_- .
And then she will stand in a place, if the ball comes to her, well and good, otherwise she doesn't give a damn about it.
So instead of getting bugged while watching them play, we borrowed the deck of cards from his friend and started to play. That itself was enough to make them end their game and join us. The rest of the afternoon was spent playing random card games.
Later that evening we changed into a good pair of clothes. I wore a blue cotton dress topped with a shrug which actually focuses on keeping me warm. I wore my combat boots, I realised that they have been just laying in my bag so today I'll put them into use.
Vicky wore a denim and a tank top topped by a huge crochet top. It kinda looked pretty. Myra wore a peach dress and Zara went for the leather jacket look.
We then hit the road with Arjun. "Do you want to try one of the best momos and thukpa," he asked.
"Yes please," we said.
"He led us through random streets in the market and took many turns until we finally reached the place. We ordered a veg momo and a veg thukpa and decided to share since we all want to eat so much more. Momos were great, really good. I loved it. And thukpa was a soup with boiled noodles but it again tasted wonderful. Ever find yourself in Manali, do not leave without eating it.
We then headed outside and shopped for a while. Souvenirs and other stuff. I was instantly attracted to this one particular shop where they sold these grey hoodies with different design on each one of them. We decided to buy a common design since we all wanted a same clothing since a long time and these guys seemed to have it. And the price was so low!! Try buying the same piece and the same quality in a mall, it would be nothing less than 1500 bucks each. We got one at 400 bucks, that's not even the half of 1500, it's less than half!
#Zara
We then went to a restaurant and climbed up the stairs where the things were less chaotic and we could sit in peace and have our dinner while watching the happenings on the street. I spared them to have non-veg food.
"Drinks for all?" He asked.
"Well one drink won't hurt, plus it's getting chilly as its getting darker. So we ordered our drinks and our food. I ordered a paneer delicacy while they ordered something as American chopsuey. A fried noodles dish which Vicky swore was one of the best Chinese food she has had. And for a change Alisha agreed as well. I then ordered a tofu dish while they ordered more of chicken. It sucks to have non vegetarian best friends but it's okay as long as it's them :)
#vicky
After having our dinner we went back to the camp. We started packing again. I bought my mom a saree and dad an ethnic Kurti. I have never really shopped for my dad, never got a chance to. Hope he likes this. I'm making efforts from my side here.
But knowing my dad, he will never say that he disliked it even if deep down he did. That's how every dad is, I guess. He will accept it anyway it is and for our happiness, even wear it to occasions and tell proudly that his daughter brought him the Kurti.
After packing our stuff we got back in the bunks. And just sat for a moment. We knew we didn't want to leave. This might be a tiring experience but this was also the best part of the trip. The mountains had a magic within them which had cast a spell on us. We wanted to stay a few more days at Solang. We wanted to wake up to see ice piled up outside our window. To wake up and eat those yummy Parathas. To hop on those skis and slide through ice, our thrill expanding with every time we get on top of the slope. To watch the night sky and the stars when the sky was clear. A picture perfect view. And call me greedy but I wanted it some more and I guess all of them too. Manali was a great experience. And in no way am I going to forget it. Not just the part that I can ski. But I'm also going to remember the countless time I fell right on my face before I learnt it. How in every 10-15 minutes we broke into a snow fight. How we built an odd shaped snowman on our last day and how we realised that the TV had fooled us while showing us how easy it is to build a snowman. I want more of it. I wish I could extend this trip. Cause I'm learning so much more about me and my friends.
We've seen each other's vulnerable states. We've seen each other cry. We have been there for each other in person. And though I thought in the beginning that we had been drifted apart a little, but this trip has brought us even closer. And I'm glad that though we rushed everything, we decided to do this cause, as, Myra said, it's a now or never thing and had we not done this I would've missed the best part of my life.