The Return Journey

We lost our way, right at the start and to make matters worse, we were split into 3 different groups heading in three different directions. Sanjay went backwards to trace back our steps. Whereas Tiwari and Rajesh decided to go in a circular route to search the proper path. Jhonny and me waited at one spot. For 10 - 15 minutes there was no news from both the groups. I was worried and convinced that, Sanjay was lost. I kept screaming out his name. But cries just got drowned in howling of the winds. The rains and the mist were the worst we had faced so far. Visibility was down to 10 meters. I started praying !!!!! GOD SAVE US. I said to myself, think positive. Well the only positive thing I could think at that moment was, that it was only 7:00 in the morning and Jhonny and I had had nearly 12 hours to trace some human being. But Jhonny was still having problem of cramps. By the grace of God, Sanjay heard my cries faintly and manged to come back to us. In the meantime Tiwari had managed to trace out our actual path. The path we had taken by mistake was actually headed straight towards the jungle. Sanjay told us that whilst he was lost, he was wondering how he would to survive on one packet of biscuits.

As we traced our way back we kept searching for arrow marks which were put on the rocks. We had not noticed them on our way up. Each new arrow would bring out a loud shout of "ARROW" from one of us. It was reassuring to know, we were going in the right direction. We kept close to each other. I had started praying very deeply, because I was not sure if all of us would cross that dangerous cliff alive. As the cliff grew closer, the intensity of my prayers increased. I noticed that all of us had become exceptionally silent. Except for Tiwari, for the rest of us it was our first to Harish Chandra Ghad.

We took a break just before the dangerous path of the treck started.My mind was in a turmoil. I looked back on what I had done in my life and felt that I had enjoyed life fairly well, and if anything should happen to me now there would be no regrets. I though My friends would visit my Home page in my memory. It may seem very funny now, but these were the very thoughts that went through my mind. Having received a lot of pep talks from Tiwari, we started out again.I was continuously praying, and requested tiwari to be within one arms distance from me all the time.

PRAISE THE LORD, thanx to some great work by tiwari (in terms of guidance and encouragement) and the emotional strength shown by the team members, we all got through safe and sound. For most of this risky stretch three of us were crawling on all fours, plus taking the help of our ass wherever possible. (I learnt to respect my ass on this treck). Sanjay and Tiwari were the exceptions. Sanjay was walking on those narrow paths as if he was walking on a 1 meter broad path. Finally after crossing the cliff we screamed out with JOY and Relief. I kissed Tiwari and thanked him for bringing me down safely and promised him a big party. The rest of the journey was cool. Even the paths where we were walking was filled with streams of water gushing down. We were used to the rain/winds and mist by now. A new doubt started nagging me, all this water gushing down would create a problems somewhere for us.

This was to be our last adventure of the treck, again unexpected like everything else on the trip. We had crossed a small stream on our way up which was knee deep and around 4 meters wide. This had now been converted into a raging stream around waist deep and 6-7 meters broad. One step into the water and the current would not let the foot touch the bottom of the stream. WE were STUCK again. But after what we had been through, we were not panicky. Tiwrai went downthe stream to find a narrow point where we could cross. But came back with no luck. Sanjay went upstream and found a spot where the force of the water was marginally less due to a layers of boulders across the stream. He took a big thick stick and hit one end of it into the stream with great force. He managed to touch the bottom. He decided to cross it with its help. Leaving the havesacks behind, we all got into position to support him. With great care and patience, taking one firm step at a time, he got through. I really admire his courage, as one mistake would have meant that would have been carried away by the force of the water. Holding the stick across the stream and taking support from the wild bushes on either side of the stream, all of us got through one bye one along with our bags.

After that there is nothing much to write accept that the paths had become slippery and most of us fell down atleast a couple of times. Another thing was that since morning, the five of us had only 2 packets of Marrie Biscuits between us for food. After reaching the plains, we rushed to the only village on the way and purchased some packets of local biscuits, which were miserable again, but no one complained. The last one hour on plain ground was becoming the worst part of the trip. I could not take the poking of the rains anymore and opened Sanjay's umbrella. I had to hold on to it with both my hands. Atleast it gave some relief from the needles being thrown at me. Another 6 hours journey by bus and train we manged to reach home.

To summarise, the treck was FUN and it was a great adventure too. The only regret being that we could not capture on camera all the beautiful sights which we saw. Thank you very much for the patience u have shown in going through this document.