Learnt something in mountains which are not in our text books these days……..
Me and my two friends reached Bedni Bugyal, had lunch and took rest for an hour. We wanted to cover as much as possible so we started our trekking towards Bhagwabasa, as we had only 3 days for Roopkund trek. We started from Bedni Bugyal around 3 pm same day and thought would reach Bhagwabasa by 6 pm. We crossed the mountain around 5.30 pm and afterwards looking at each turn use to think that behind it would be Bhagwabasa, but dissapointed every time. Watch was showing 7.30, our shadows left us alone in the dark, water bottles were empty and we were tired and hungry. We thought of setting up our tents there but we needed food and water so we kept walking. Suddenly, my friend noticed some tents down the ground almost half a km away. That sight injected energy into our body. We rushed towards that direction, jumping and running towards those tents. After crossing small water stream we reached to the place in 15 to 20 minutes. After reaching there we realized, that was some private setup. We asked one of the people who were working there that is it the place Bhagwabasa where we can get food. He told us that it is a trekking organizer’s camp (IndiaHikes). He pointed his finger in other direction towards the edge of the mountain at a height and said that there we should go for food and stay. We looked at each other and felt like a dead man. We requested him if we can get food, we can pay for it and we have our own tents to stay which we can setup there at some distance. He said he has to check. He came back in 5 minutes; asked us to take dinner first and assured that then he will help us in setting up the tent. He and his mates served us the delicious food and forced us to have full diet. We washed our utensils and moved to setup our tent. He and his friend helped us in setting up the tent, knowing that we were too tired. When we shared that we forgot to bring mattress and as the tent has slight leakage from the bottom, how our sleeping bag got wet last night, they brought us 3 mattresses. We wished each other good night and slept. It again rained that night but due to mattresses we were safe. Next day morning we wished each other, they forced us to have breakfast before leaving. We had breakfast and decided to leave our tent there and will collect while returning. We started to walk towards Roopkund, discussing and thanking those people who helped us so much. When we came back, we saw that our tent was clean and dry. The sleeping bag which was wet was also dry. They cleaned our tent, kept our sleeping bag under the sun to get dry, so that we don’t face problem in the night. All this they did without being asked and without any expectation. They did not take a single rupee. I was so touched and moved. I thought for a while that how I would be able to return this favor and then I realized that it can only be by helping someone when he/she needed the most. I learnt what goodness is, for me it was a big deal but for them it just the way they are. They insisted us to have tea before leaving from there, we had tea, hugged each other , said good bye and moved towards Bedni Bugyal.
26th June'16 at Bedni Bugyal