It often happens that some of life’s best experiences come from unplanned detours and venturing into uncharted territories. This once happened to us.

I have fond memories of a picnic that took us on a thrilling mountain trip. During one of our childhood vacations in India, one day, my cousins and I planned to go on a picnic. I don’t remember clearly how it happened, but during the journey, we spotted a mountain near Birla College, Kalyan, Dist. Thane (Mumbai suburbs). All of us got so fascinated with it that we decided to climb the mountain, even though it was not part of our original plan.

None of us had prepared for this unexpected adventure. We were not geared or well-equipped to trek the mountain – no track shoes, pants, or any other climbing aid.

However, we managed to reach the top of the mountain without any difficulties. It was very windy on top, but the view was great. The force of the wind was so strong that all the food that we had carried with us started flying in the air the moment we took them out of our picnic boxes. 

It was hilarious to see foodstuffs like vadams (rice wafers), kurmura, and potato chips levitating above the ground and doing a Tandav Nritya dance performance in the air.  

While some of us managed to save some picnic food, most of it was blown away by the power of the wind. Luckily, the chutney sandwiches survived and we didn’t have to starve.  

We had also carried tea in a flask, which, surprisingly, remained steaming hot. Following this, we all got into a sing-song session and cracked jokes until our stomachs hurt. But a while later it started getting a bit uncomfortable. The afternoon sun can get really hot during May.

We then decided to end our picnic and climb down the mountain. The descent was scary. The slope was steep and there were just a few rocks that we could hold on to during our downward trek.  

However, all of us managed to reach safely and return home in one piece. It was one of my most memorable childhood picnics.

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This piece was written by The Trumpet Contributor, Indu Sundaram. A Reiki practitioner ( healer), a pet lover having had three cats at one point, and an art enthusiast with a penchant for music, writing, cooking, painting, and traveling. Born & raised in Mumbai, Indu Sundaram worked in areas of education, HR, and healthcare. Upon getting married, she moved to Dubai where she lived for seven years. Currently, she is settled in Muscat.