The way to the top - Kothaligarh Peth Fort.

“I’m happy to be alive and that’s all I can say” were probably the only words I could mutter when I got back home. “What was I thinking” was the only thought I could think of.

On the 28th of July I and my colleagues embarked on a trek to Kothaligarh Peth Fort, Maharashtra, India, a good 100 kms away from Bombay; which was promised to be refreshing, peaceful and relaxing. Given that it was a trek we were well aware we would come across waterfalls, butterflies and lots of moments to capture. But what was hidden or rather played a surprise element was the terrain and the way to the top. The estimated time of 1 hour to reach the top was rubbish (it took 3 perspiring and never-ending hours) and the level of the trek “Medium” was the best under-statement I have come across in a long time :). 4 levels of an exhausting stretch of 45 mins each filled with rugged roads, slippery slides and 3 foot steep stairs tested our patience, stamina and the will to go on.

With people continuously slipping, falling, providing for gags and earning medals in the bargain (talk about Olympic fever; we did better than the Indian contingent currently doing in London) the trek wasn’t devoid of any entertainment. From taking the support of trees, bushes and even leaves we scaled the mountain – at times climbing up like the army minus the pace and stealth and at times running down the slopes like rolling stones. This trek was definitely a challenge with the challengers being the terrain, the relief and the rain. On a personal front I had a horrid time but with the Mountain Tamer poem at the back of my mind for inspiration I marched ahead (luckily without winning any medals). Finally, victory was mine and the perspiration, aching legs and thirst were all worth it.

As I look back at my experience I have learnt a few lessons. You may call it enlightenment but I would just term them as learning’s. ‘The best lessons in life are learnt the hardest way’ fits perfectly here.

#1: The green expanse, the fresh air, the open wide spaces are our greatest treasure. At any cost we should never lose it.

#2: Nature is the biggest mystery around us; it’s so clear yet so confusing.

#3: The road to the top is always difficult and seems never ending. The best way to cross is to never measure the distance and to keep walking. Before you will realize it you will be at the TOP.

#4: Life like nature reflects. It shows you who you are, however you are and gives back exactly what you throw at it.

  

#5: No matter whatever the situation, a smile and a few antics can make life and the journey far easier. 

You can see all the pics of my trek at the following link. (Courtesy: Mugdha Ojha) https://plus.google.com/photos/100748466848361135069/albums/5771366089145774353?banner=pwa&authkey=CPj-vejwoY7h1wE

Discomfort

Have you ever lost it completely? Where you do not remember what you said, what you wore, who all were there around you? What all you did?..I can bet most of us have been through a situation like that sometime in our lives. However, the key thought process after reading the above sentence, most of us will genuinely agree would be about a negative experience that we have had in our life, yet there will be a percentage of people who will differ otherwise.

Have you ever loved someone so much that, as if you felt you are smothering the person and yet are unable to do an iota of nothing? Or perused a dream so intensely that you can almost feel living it in reality? These are some high intensity feeling generated in ourselves that make us completely powerless of our very existence for a while or sometimes for moments. The intensity is so high that the body actually becomes a live volcano. With the word ‘Volcano’ used here, most of us will associate it with destruction and death and many negatives, yet sublimely we all know, how earth and all its various magnificent mountains above sea and below sea have formed on earth.

My reference to the word ‘Volcano’ above has a significance of an experience I have had recently. And like the high flames and volumes of molten lava coming out through it, I experienced the same episode on a very personal note. The unfathomable destruction caused, will be felt for a long time. Yet it was a beginning of something new too, dropping the FEAR of abandonment and voicing something that had been bothering inside the heart for far too long it could withhold.

Power display is actually an amazing emotion to watch, specially, men versus women and vice-versa. The music that play in the background has an utmost serenity to be observed; but ‘Only from a distance’. I have experienced recently the sharp pain of becoming the most hated person in a person’s life and have received adjectives that I will prefer never been spoken. Taking a few steps down, I realized it was simmering for a while and the warning signals were displayed several times, yet though they were not really overlooked, but both parties chose to ignore them and continue life as usual.

The experience has made a few learning’s clear to me like bright morning sunlight which I always knew but maybe did not put so much emphasis before; integrity in our acts, honestly in our thoughts and being faithful in our heart is imperative to anything that we do in life. Degrading anyone of these aspects will eventually lead to an eruption of another volcano.

The heart and soul aches to see the bloodshed, if only I had the power to heal and take away all the pain and anger..within myself and then maybe someone else too…