Mind Frame

Have you ever, Had the sun flashing down at you through a row of trees like paparazzi and you squinted your eyes, Stared the moon chase you down, while the train you sat in whistled past ravines, Seen lights of passing cars on the walls of your room and made stories about them, Been deafened by the wind while you lilted against its force - nearly floating, Seen grass sway atop a hill like the waves of the sea and imagined it to be like your hair, Stood on a cliff & felt swayed by the minority of your existence looking at the plains ahead, Run your finger on rock and gravel thinking who else before you would have done that, Stood dead still under a barrage of water in a waterfall thinking you have attained eternal peace, Seen swallows dive in the dusk sky and compared them to planes in a dog fight, Imagined floating dandelions to be ideas not yet thought of, Have you ever?

Casual mornings can have active afternoons like how the weather can sans notice. Last weekend we realized that the monsoons had finally come in full stead and as a family who treks religiously during this season decided to inaugurate it with a short hike. Taking off at half past one we headed towards Talegaon. An hour’s drive from Pune on the old Mumbai-Pune highway. At the Kamshet exit we pulled over towards the road that leads to Pawna and took the following route towards the village – Bedse. At the base of this village begins the small hike of a few hundred steps to third century Buddhist caves named after the village. Our visit began with the rain tearing into our faces soaking us to the bone, just the way it is supposed to be. The village known for the caves along with its dense population of snakes was also peppered with mango trees at the initial stages of the climb. The rain knocking on our heads and giant fresh water crabs making a dash for the nearest exit were th...