The rain had stopped by the afternoon, and the sun came out spreading its golden glow in the valley washed by the rainwater, lighting the peaks of the hills with its soft afternoon light. The wind was still cold, the sunlight was warm, the soil mushy with the rain from the last two days. A…… Continue reading The Hills Beckon Again – 13: A leisurely stroll
Tag: Naukuchiatal
The Hills Beckon Again – 12: Another beautiful morning
It was still dark when I woke up, not because there was no sun, but because the sky was overcast with clouds. It was the third straight day of rains in Naukuchiatal. But it was not raining, not yet at least. Cloudy, cold, and moist, but not rainy. I looked at my watch, it was…… Continue reading The Hills Beckon Again – 12: Another beautiful morning
The Hills Beckon Again – 11: Another night, another song…
And then it was dusk again, and I was sitting once more in my balcony and then, when I got really cold, inside the house near the large window in my bedroom. The mountains stood spread out around the valley which faced the bedroom, making concentric circles around the lake, protecting it, as it were.…… Continue reading The Hills Beckon Again – 11: Another night, another song…
The Hills Beckon Again – 10: Colonel’s Cafe
The road ended in a gate which led to a private property, a serviced homestay spread over several acres of luxuriant forest on the hills. We decided to turn back and retrace our steps to the place where we had parked our car, a stone’s throw away from the cafe where we planned to have…… Continue reading The Hills Beckon Again – 10: Colonel’s Cafe
The Hills Beckon Again – 9: The nine cornered lake
The rain stopped in the afternoon, much to the delight of the children who had got dressed right after breakfast, in the hope of going out, and had sat by the window the whole day looking out longingly….waiting for the precipitation to stop. And when the rain stopped, the sun came out from behind the…… Continue reading The Hills Beckon Again – 9: The nine cornered lake
The Hills Beckon Again – 8: A lazy day
The children are up. They sit in the bed, still snuggled in the soft blankets which cover them, unwilling to venture out even though the room is warm. I fetch another cup of tea for myself, courtesy Vaishali, and stroll over to my bed, my perch besides my favourite window, the one that overlooks the…… Continue reading The Hills Beckon Again – 8: A lazy day
The Hills Beckon Again – 7
We sit out in the balcony, sipping our tea, holding the steaming mugs in our hands for warmth. It is cold outside, cold, and wet; the clouds have not gone yet. It has been raining throughout the night, but they are still here. They still have unfinished business. ‘It is going to rain soon’, I…… Continue reading The Hills Beckon Again – 7
The Hills Beckon Again – 5
I sleep on the couch by the window. It’s a huge window that overlooks the balcony which overlooks the hills and the valley. If you lie on the bed, the glass is close enough for you to touch, for you to be able to frost it with your breath, close enough so that you can…… Continue reading The Hills Beckon Again – 5
The Hills Beckon Again – 4
I am cold, very cold now. My feet are freezing, the cold penetrates my clothes and soaks through the skin, freezing the bones. I am about to lose my patience, to seek the shelter of the house when the song begins. It’s an ancient song in a strange tongue, it’s the song of the mountains.…… Continue reading The Hills Beckon Again – 4
The Hills Beckon Again
Lucknow to Bareilly to Haldwani once more, with a fuel stop and car wash before we reached the foothills. Yes, the mountains had beckoned once more, and I had answered. From Haldwani we could see the hills in the distance, but it was not till we reached Kathgodaam that the crisp mountain air actually hit…… Continue reading The Hills Beckon Again
The House on the Hill – 1
I am sitting on the porch, the balcony which looks out over the valley, and the range of mountains which skirt it. Far to my left, deep down in the valley is the lake, the Naukuchiataal, the lake with nine corners. Its dark green waters gurgle from inside, raising small eddies in the water where…… Continue reading The House on the Hill – 1
‘Raabta’ with Naukuchiataal – IV
‘Spicy Tomato’, the pack of chips read, as I extracted a couple from the bag, put them in my mouth, and closed my eyes, enjoying the spicy crunchiness. The laptop lay open in front of me, the cursor blipped expectantly, the keyboard lighted, waiting…. I warmed my hands with the cup of tea which Vaishali…… Continue reading ‘Raabta’ with Naukuchiataal – IV
Random Musings 