Last month I went to
Rishikesh with my office colleagues. I thought it’s going to be a great trip,
as I love Mountains and water, and Rishikesh is a perfect combo of both. We
booked a Volvo bus of Uttarakhand roadways and left on the Friday night from
Delhi.
On the way to bus
station we met some friends who were also coming with us on this trip. I didn’t
know them as they were indirect friend.
I would like to
mention that I don’t booze and don’t smoke and every time I feel uneasiness
while there is a party going on at out flat. Party means Booze and cigarette
not to mention.
So my first encounter
with uneasiness was waiting to be happed on Delhi bus stand itself. One of
those indirect friend came up with an Old monk bottle in hand. He was looking
for space in my bag to put it as everyone had their baggage full. Once I
thought to refuse as I felt very uncomfortable about having it in my bag, but
then restrained myself from saying no and took the bottle.
We were about to
enter bus station and there was a scanner machine and some security staff
personals at front gate of entrance of terminal, I was screwed totally, I
thought now I am going to be in big trouble. I told this to my friends and they
said it should not be a problem, and I put that bag into scanner machine’s
roller platform, it was rolling and my bag was about to get scanned anytime,
and then I didn’t know what came into my mind and I run towards that bag and
took it off from the platform and felt a bit relieved.
We had some girls in
our group and there were two scanners, one for boys and one for girls.
I handed that bag to
a female friend, and she took it with her and put that in their scanner, it
took 5-6 seconds in the rolling platform, I was standing on other side and
praying to god. It came off in to other
side, and I was a relieved man. We were very lucky that no one noticed it. So
with this heart beat raising incident we started our journey.
We reached Rishikesh in
the morning and tour operator arranged a pickup truck and we reached to the
riverside camps. That camp was our home for next 3 days.
We did breakfast and
headed for River rafting. It was a great experience, we were more in the water
then the raft in the whole duration of the rafting. Only when there was a rapid
(High flow of water due to rocks) about to begin, we switched from water to
boat.
After this thrilling
adventure, we returned to camp and had some rest. In evening I woke up and I
saw a lot of tables and chairs were put in the middle of the camp with a camp
fire in the middle. I was informed by friends that snack and tea will be served
here, so I sat down on one chair.
After some time I
could see that all chairs were full and there were many groups of boys and
girls landed from different parts of India for vacation. I was shocked to see
that, all the people were drinking and smoking and eating chicken. Even some
boys where smoking joint. Not to mention that all girls and boys from my group
were also doing the same.
I was just thinking
one thing, what has happened to young generation of India? Drinking and smoking
is the only way to have fun for them. They have come here in this holy place
for adventures and doing all this. Even my friend insisted to me to have at
least a beer. I politely refused.
This thing continued
for remaining days, Even some people did nothing there expect boozing and
smoking all the time. They should have chosen some pub or bar in some city
rather than this holy place, if that’s all they care about. Ganga doesn’t
deserve these people near its bank.
By the way, I wished
to visit the famous temple of Rishikesh, but no one seemed interested.
I was feeling very
sad from inside, I had some question in my mind. Are these people really future
of India? How drinking has become the part of youth’s life? Why nothing else
matters to them? These people laugh at me when I tell them that I don’t drink
and smoke.
God please give some
sense to these people.
Be Happy Always
