Go go go!

All charged up I was, when I heard I would be exploring the town on my own. I left in the morning, in search of something exciting and interesting. I walked to the Ganges, it was beautiful, with people doing weddings, and everything was so loud. There was a man on the street who had a cobra. Well it was rather interesting but then again I didn't want to go near a cobra in a foreign place.
I decided to visit a cafe, pizzeria, a cute open place where they claim to have very good pizza's.
Unfortunately when I arrived they said that they serve pizza's only after 12pm, so I asked them, what can I have, and they suggested the pasta's.

It was real nice as a setting, I could see Ganga flowing right next to me, while I ordered for a ravioli. In mid conversation I mentioned that I was a hotelier, so the owner of the restaurant decided to come join me. He seemed like a great guy, with a vegetarian restaurant. He did not serve alcohol in his restaurant. I did ask him how he managed to make his food taste so fresh, and he mentioned about having his own garden where he gets things from.
It is a beautiful cafe, if you come to Varanasi you must try it.
And the apple pie.... It just melts in your mouth.

After a nice hour long conversation with the gentleman and exchanging food and beverage knowledge, I decided to head to our place, as it was too hot to walk around.

This was an important meeting, and I would know after a few days.

So this trip was supposed to be a cleanser for me. You know Ganga is supposed to wash out everything. The next few days were slow, not because we had nothing to do, but because it was too freaking hot.

I mean my friends were going out in the heat and the sun, and I was chilling inside the house, reading a book, listening to music, watching Big bang theory.

I did go to see a relative of my friends, and see one of the biggest hospitals in Varanasi for her reports. I also got to have mango shake with her! "Nom nom" On our way back she got a sweet lassi (which I was only allowed to taste and not drink, mean people!)

We went to big bazaar one evening, it was nice, going grocery shopping for the month. On our way back, i accidentally had a mouthful of spicy chutney. Fun times.

I also got a chance to teach someone how to cycle for an evening, and a chance to visit one of the biggest hospitals in Varanasi. BHU hospital, ah that was some trip.

So I enter BHU hospital, with hopes of finding someone to enquire about the tests they conduct and timings of the same. I go to the counter along with a friend and I observe there is nobody at the counter, infact the whole place seemed deserted.

It is supposed to be in league with AIIMS, and believe me I have been in both. AIIMS as long as the waitlist may be, does have people you can run to, in case you want to enquire about something.  BHU gets deserted by 6pm. I finally gave up on the thought of finding a doctor for the blood tests for the friend and decided I would find an alternate.
After this trip to the hospital we finally got to go cycling, and man i was scared of the cycle. The breaks were dysfunctional and if someone had to learn cycling in that, they should not be on the road. Which is exactly what we did. We went to the field, roamed around there, hit a few bricks, fell(well atleast she did, and I let her get up on her own).

I remember letting her cycle on the road while her son and I were running behind her (good cardio!)

After a lovely Mango shake, my friend and her son decided to head home, while I went momo hunting. Apparently there was a good momo shop there, which had 'chicken' momos. That was sort of a rarity. On my way back, I was enjoying the silent walk alone. My friend was right, there is something beautiful about doing things on your own.

Next day my friends took me to karkis (I hope i spelt it right). A very chill place, with homemade pasta. Ah... we did a lot of things there. It felt nice, and I felt like I could eat a lot of spicy stuff. I think i did too, because my lips and tongue were burnt the next day.

Next day another friend from Delhi arrived, and it was the four of us.

We went for a wedding that night at Kiran's home town. Saw her mud house, it was rather cute. Tried to play with the cows, but it was too dark, and I think they were scared (or maybe I was).
We did not really attend the wedding, so we ate food and came back to our place in Assi ghaat.

So, this friend of mine was rooming with me, though she does work with my other friends.
Hanging out at karki's, drinking beautiful wine. I must say californian wines have become a sort of favourite.

After a slow night, and difficulty in walking back to home we all sat and chilled out together. I found myself bonding with Kiran over something, but considering how high I was... I would have bonded with her anyway.

The next few days changed a lot of things for me. Tania and I were taken to a school. The school had these beautiful children, all with their own issues. It was rather cute how they did not want us to leave, so we had to literally sneak out.

Kiran took Tania and me to the dera (Again spelling it correct I hope), that... made me feel super priviledged. Knowing the fact that I was sitting under a bridge on a carpet in the blazing sun. I remember how red my ears had become, and it was very hot. Just a few minutes there made my sugar dip. I wonder how those people survive there daily.

We did go for lunch after that, and for some strange reason there was a tension between my friend and I. I think both of us let the heat get to our head. Mostly the mood was not good after what I saw. Ofcourse things were to sort slowly, by themselves. But yeah, it was probably a time when I felt alone. Tania was around, she had missed her train, so ofcourse she was around.

I got a chance to do things by myself, because of the tension between my friends and I. Slowly starting to believe that a person who claims to love me also cant be around me. Maybe Mita was right, maybe... It is difficult to live around me. I did get a chance to reflect on that bit. Oh boy did my anxiety peek. Enough to make me wanna go back home sooner than I expected.

So one evening I just randomly went to the ghaat, sat at pizzaria, had the ravioli, had a conversation with the owner again. Decided to get ganga jal, for my boss. I took a boat to the center of the river, because the ghaat was too dirty. For a river they call holy, they sure do polute it a lot.

I convinced the boatman to let me row the boat, because I could. I witnessed sunset over the old buildings of varanasi. It was majestic. After the boat ride, I went and sat on the ghaat, and decided to wait for the Aarti. This guy gave me some lemon tea. It had its own freshness, it was delicious!

Watching the Aarti gave me a sense of peace. I am not a religious person, yet I found myself enjoying the ambience and the lights and the aura that surrounded the whole thing was so calming.

Finally at 8pm... i went back to the room. I entered and I decided I needed to mend things. I spoke to them about stuff, about what I did, and my friend and I hugged it out. It does not change the fact that I feel different about myself now.

Co-existing with someone for me is not easy, not at this time. Maybe I am a ball of anxiety, and maybe I just dont do well with others.

Next day we went to my hotel, Nadesar palace. Ah, that was some well deserved luxury after the long ass struggle my friends had. We swam, we had a hair cut, we walked around 46 acres, we ordered room service. They left a day before my flight. That night... I slept at 2am, and woke up at 5am, thank god for wake up calls.

The indigo flight itself was very amusing, with their peppy themes and everything.

My trip in varanasi was not supposed to be spiritual, but it ended up being exactly that. The city is majestic, and there actually is magic around. Yes, things do need to change, but I am hoping my friend suceeds in that.

Till then, I will keep on helping them in the little ways I can.

Signing out now.