The last couple of weeks that have just gone by have been, in some ways at least, what I can call a crazy period of my life. It’s not often that I do this kind of stuff.

It all started on the day, which we all celebrate in India as the day of victory of good over evil. The journey started from Bareilly, which is my new residential city, and a place which I am beginning to get used to.

Supposedly, the journey was to come to a culmination in Lucknow, where I was supposed to meet my all time good friends and spend some quality time with them, which I, in fact did.

But little did I know, that I would be getting this life time opportunity to get a glimpse of one of the most popular seven Wonders of the World. Yes! I am talking about none other than the Taj Mahal.

It was indeed a fascinating moment to see the structure stand right in front of my eyes with all its glory and history behind the magnificent piece of art, enhancing the beauty and interest that one can have in any such monument.

Though, the waiting cue was long enough to give me thoughts about returning even before seeing the structure and though it was really very crowded and mismanaged, there was something which was keeping me glued to the waiting cue that I happily agreed to be a part of.

Trust me! It was totally worth it, though I wish and I know that the security personnel can do better by behaving in a civilized manner, at the same time, stop treating the people like  a herd of cattle.

After coming out of the premises of the all so famous Taj Mahal, I received a call from one of my best friends to have ever occupied the same space as I did sometime back.

After that call, there was no looking back. It took me another 4 hours to reach Delhi at around 12’o clock at night. After having our self-prepared brunch, we decided to keep on our traveling boots on and head towards the pink city, Jaipur.

Both of us wanted to see the first rays of the sun in the pink city. With this aim in mind and a real good highway to travel, we saw one of the most fascinating of sights as we were about to enter the city.

Two hot air balloons were hovering right up there. How much we wished to become one of the passengers who were happily sailing right above our car! It was in true sense a very good morning.

What followed after was what most would call a tourist activity. We went on to see the famous forts and the mahals. In the evening, we were really amazed to see a place called chauki dhani, which has been able to preserve the culture and essence of Rajasthan with all its traditional folk performances and the delicious food which follows after.

We decided to return back to Delhi the day after. The next couple of days was what I would like to call friendship days. It was really cool to have met colleagues and friends from college days.

After having had the fun of my life, I headed back to my nest, as any other bird would have, in the evening, each day.

There were lot of sweet memories to savour. There were lot of new experiences which would ever remain with me forever and ever.

In many ways this trip included a number of firsts. This was the first time that I had ever driven for around 3000 kms in a single trip. This was the first time that I had driven alone for around 1000 kms.

This was the first time that I have had the luxury of stopping wherever I wanted. This was the first time for me to have interacted with such a different set of people in a single trip.

It was indeed a real value addition for me as an individual. Currently, I am at home where everyone is in a festive mood. Tomorrow we will all be celebrating main day of Diwali.

Everything looks so nice and rosy. But there is something in me which is again motivating and in a way disturbing the calm and peace that has been restored in my life. There is something which is telling me: “What are you doing? You gotta move on. You gotta move ahead in life. You gotta keep traveling. For that is what is life, a journey which when it begins only comes to a halt just once. And before that day, you gotta keep trotting ahead.”

Sometimes I wonder as to what is that ahead that we all are vouching for. My mom always tells me to take care of the present which will in itself take care of the future. Right now, my present is telling me to celebrate this Diwali, which is, in many ways a very special Diwali for me, personally, in as wonderful a manner as possible.

So be it! I am about to listen to my heart for there are times when you must let your heart rule your head, for its not often that you let your heart become a master of self. But isn’t it the very essence of life.

Some might want to portrait life through heart. Some might be tempted to portrait the same through head. But what really matters is that when you look back at life sitting in an arm chair when you are, say, 70 years old, there should be only one statement which you should be making at that point of time in your life and that is:

“I have lived life on my own terms. I never really cared about what people would say, what the the World would think. The only thing that mattered to me was whether I was really living the moments which most people call life in a manner as if that was the last moment of my life.”

With this I would like to take this opportunity to wish each and everyone out there a very Happy and Prosperous Diwali. May you live the way you have always wanted to. Cheers! 🙂

Source for Image: http://www.funonthenet.in/articles/taj-mahal-pictures.html, http://boostquotes.blogspot.in/2010/09/life-quotes_24.html