Moving to the hills in summer

Moving to the hills in summer

The popular adage ‘Nothing comes out of nothing’ comes full circle for me around this time of the year. Running away from the sweltering heat of the plains becomes a necessity especially if you have a small place you can call your own, some where in the hills. Fortunately I have one in the lap of hills at Kumarhatti in Himachal Pradesh. The transition from your permanent home to the temporary one in the mountains is a herculean task, and the exercise is worth mentioning to validate the wisdom which lies at the core of the above quip.

I had to work round the clock for a few days before embarking on the intended journey. You can well imagine the toil and travails of winding up a fully operational household. Every conceivable issue has to be dealt with. Starting from the payment of utility bills to lawn care, security, mail delivery and much more has to be taken care of. After that the momentous date for moving up is fixed. It is here that the toughest task starts. Arranging provisions and other stuff in the car, including water bottles and some food stuff… require the skill of a master craftsman. Finally you reach your destination after overcoming traffic jams, traffic snarls, raging tempers and racing hearts. Great relief it is to be in one piece after the twists and turns of the eventful journey.

.
. In the process of settling down you have to pass through unavoidable drudgery and experience muscle pulls and pains in the body because of over exertion and stair climbing. In the real world one has to bake the cake to eat it too. Likewise to enjoy the sweet coolness one has to set the things right in the summer home before one reaps the fruits of one’s labour. It is an exercise involving many days before there is a semblance of a feeling of home sweet home.

But you can’t help noticing the sweat less activity and the cool breeze fanning you. Even the overstrained back tries to straighten up, already nourished by the whiff of clean and fresh mountain air.

The teething troubles, major and minor hic-cups are all forgotten after a few days. Long walks in balmy air and the sight of lanky pines swinging in the breeze; transport you to a dreamlike world. Sharpened appetite makes you feel stronger and fitter. Lethargic feelings of the plains produced by whirling fans, deafening coolers and ACs are bidden farewell to. You feel energized and take on life with a positive orientation.

It is however at night that the surreal aspect of hills is revealed. You step into the balcony and behold the oasis of twinkling lights stretching up to the horizon and brightly blinking stars in the cloudless sky over head. The fantastic spectacle gets etched in your mind. It is such exotic sights which leave indelible images in the reservoir of your memory.

You deserve it all, after going through the stresses and strains of a sort of domestic upheaval.
.