While scrolling through Instagram reels, I saw a reel about ‘Things to do in Mussoorie’ and the OC mentioned this village. I knew I had to go to this village. I found out, it is a small village 3kms away from Kempty Falls, known for its corn fields. Instantly I made plans in my head that we will pack sandwiches from our hotel, take a sheet and have a picnic there. I love the whole concept of sitting in the middle of a field, surrounded by birds and buzzing bees, green grass and tall trees and eating food.
So when Harsh asked me where are we going this Saturday, I had my answer ready. But when I woke up in the morning, I realized we don’t have any bedsheet (we were staying in a hotel) and cold sandwiches won’t taste any good. Thus we improvised and carried two towels (I hope the hotel guys will forgive us) and parathas in our picnic bag. I opened directions in the Google map and we started our journey around 10.30 am. The village was about 16kms from our Hotel in Happy Valley and took us about one hour to reach.
It was a steep journey and fortunately we reached there in one-piece. We saw a cafe near the village which offers village tours as well. We enquired and found out that our young tour guide is preparing for his 7th grade exams and thus busy. The cafe lady told us that the village is very small and it would not be difficult for us to find our own way through the village.
We entered through the main gate and passed the village and then entered the field. Some villagers asked us for money, it scared me. I thought if they will find us sitting in their fields, they will ask us for fine or penalty. I told Harsh we can roam around the fields and then go back and eat in the cafe. But Harsh had made up his mind, we went back to bring our picnic bag. And by that time our young tour guide was ready too. He gave us a quick tour with other tourists present there. I had dropped the idea of picnic. But Harsh took me to the fields, found a spot in shade where nothing was growing and laid down the towels.
A cool breeze was blowing through the fields. The young crops were dancing to its tunes. At a distance, birds were chirping and cooing in the same rhythm. The yellow and white butterflies were hovering over the crops while the fruit flies were hovering over the mold on the waste food . In front of us were the picturesque lower ranges of the Himalayas and above us the clear blue sky. I opened the parathas we had brought from the hotel. It was cold and was not properly cooked. It felt like we are eating dough but it was fine. After eating , I laid down in his lap and tried to take in all the beauty of the surrounding. But the roads were steep and the fear of falling off the road and dying prevented me from sitting there too long. Ruining the moment, that we were experiencing, we got up , dusted off the towels and headed to the cafe!
I sat in the middle of a green field,
the same green of a parrot’s wings,
the same green of my favorite top,
and my paintings in the color book.
But its not the green of monotony,
for the occasional flower breaks it,
And it sprinkled the carpet of green
for I had orange, pink, violet & blue.
And the flowers looked at the mountains,
mocked it for being so tall but barren,
The mountain cackled & showed its sprinkle
of orange, pink, violet and blue villages.
