Part 3: Melancholias Return!

After two days of immersing in Kausani’s beauty, it was time to return home. A sudden wave of melancholy swept over me as I contemplated leaving the majestic mountains behind and returning to the urban landscape of concrete. Although our train to Delhi departed in the afternoon, we had to leave early in the morning to allow for the 5–6 hours journey to Kathgodam. Saying goodbye to our enchanting retreat, I carried the cherished memories and the newfound experiences of the past two days with me as we headed to the station in our reserved car.

It was the same car we came in. Our chauffeur, Ankit entertained us again, with the same bunch of native songs we had heard on our way to Kausani. But something was different this morning. The crisp morning air with the scent of dew and the lush green greeted us just like the past two days. However, this time we were wounding down the hilly road at a considerable speed, leaving behind the serene quiet of Kausani towards a more populated place. Sadly, in a few hours, the majestic mountains and their tranquillity were replaced with the busy sounds of daily life.

The familiar chaos of a railway station greeted us casually. Kathgodam station, though a small station, didn’t shy away from matching up to any other bustling stations. Hurried steps moving back and forth, the cries of vendors, the rumbling of trains entering and leaving the platform. There was a certain feeling of movement and progress in the air, tales of hundreds of lives going up the ladder of life.

After bidding adieu to our driver, we still had some waiting time. Despite the chaos around, I was still mentally up in the mountains, feeling the chilly breeze and the surrounding calmness.  Kausani was no longer a mere destination. It had become a respite from the hectic pace of life, a refuge for solace. The splendid peaks, the quiet roads, the towering trees, the clean air – all had cast magic upon me, leaving me yearning for more.

Though I tried to hold on to those memories of Kausani, it was time to return to reality, back to the city. But I was sure that I would hold on to the memories of Kausani, whenever I needed a source of inspiration and relief in the future.

My chain of thoughts was rudely halted, with our train halted at our platform. We boarded the train along with the crowd flocking to get on, finding our seats, and settling in for the journey back home. As the train moved out of the station, a sudden pang of sadness mixed with gratitude came onto me, as my favourite landscape vanished into the infinity.

Our train reached Delhi station an hour before midnight, and there it was – the rush we didn’t miss for the last 3 days. Disembarking the train, I could smell the hustle and bustle of a busy city, and I wasn’t impressed. To say in today’s language – “it was killing the vibe.” It was pouring outside, as we took an auto back home. The rain, the traffic, and the pollution didn’t succeed in hazing the memories I had etched in my mind.

Kausani has been a lovely reminder. A reminder of the importance of taking time to appreciate the wonders of the natural world. It is vital to find moments of peace amid life's chaos, and what a way to do so in the lap of the majestic Himalayas.