April 5 2025
It was the first day of my trip to Meghalaya and everything felt like it was going just right. The day began on a peaceful note with visits to a few waterfalls. My initial plan was to stay in Dawki for the night but a few conversations with locals gently nudged me towards a quieter alternative. A place called Shnongpdeng. They said it had stays right on the river and water activities like kayaking and cliff jumping and most importantly it was less crowded and largely underrated which only made me more curious and excited.
I reached Shnongpdeng around five or five thirty in the evening and at the checkpost I managed to get a few contact numbers of people who helped with stays. One quick call and I had a tent waiting for me near the river. The person on the call sounded genuinely excited to host me and once he heard I had come all the way from Kanyakumari he seemed even more thrilled. He said the stay would cost a thousand rupees for the night and I agreed without a second thought.
From the parking spot on top of the river I had to walk down a narrow path to reach the tents. I hesitated for a moment thinking about the safety of my bike but the people there assured me they would be around and that my vehicle would be safe. I trusted their confidence and walked down with them as they showed me the tents. We were halfway across other tents when a group of boys called out to us asking if we remembered them. I paused and realised they were the same group I had met earlier that day at one of the waterfalls. They insisted that the tent guy place me next to theirs so they could keep me company. That gesture felt oddly comforting in a new land.
I settled down and after a while they shared some bread they had brought along and we sat chatting for a while. They were students on a break exploring the region during their vacation. It is always fascinating when strangers choose to be kind. Took a walk and sat next to a dog for a while lost in the sound and the beauty of the place, and then returned to my tent where the boys invited me to join them for dinner. I said yes.
Before heading out I needed to charge my phone and send a message back home just to let them know I was safe. I found a power outlet next to the tent on my right and I saw a man and a woman sitting there. I assumed they were a couple and politely asked the woman if I could plug in my phone. She smiled and said yes. I placed my phone to charge and soon enough a conversation started between us and found out they were friends from Mumbai. I told them where I was from what I did and they shared a few things in return. Then I stepped out for a short walk by the river, to admire the alluring beauty or the river with setting sun. When I came back the phone had charged enough and it was now time to join the boys for dinner.
Before I left I asked the friends if they wanted to join us. They laughed and said they were going to open a beer and relax and asked if I would like to join. I smiled and said No, I had to ride the next day and politely declined. Then I walked off with the boys towards a small shack where food was being served. The meal was simple but fulfilling. A plate of rice some good chicken and a few more dishes that made the evening warm and homely. We ate and spoke and laughed for a while, and then I said goodbye as they planned to go up to the local market to explore a bit more. I decided to head back to my tent instead.
The river was glowing and the lights across the banks flickered as if the night itself was in no hurry to sleep, and I sat there for a while thinking the day had ended in the best way it could with new faces soft conversations and the comfort of water beside me. But just when I thought the day was over, the night turned and so did everything else.
To be continued...
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