Epilogue

The story about trek never come to an end unless you’ve known the smell of mud, sprained your back and left with haunted imageries. The weekend trek to Torna has all elements to take through roller-coaster of emotions yet, ended in a disaster. Well…I don’t blame the ‘king’ for that. The trek was outstanding and a memory that I would have restored to myself for the lifetime.

But, the journey to and fro… (ugh!)

Give me any other day minus the Puneite and local transport. Having traveled across the country with good, bad, and moderate transportation facilities but none matched to Poona—the city of Peshwas. In fact, the time still hasn’t changed and is periodically slow. First, it’s inconvenient to communicate with a ONE who speak a regional language and if the other one ‘stutter’. Buses don’t ply on the route as scheduled but often delayed.

Journey to Torna from Pune takes approximately 3½ hours as you sway in rickety wooden buses, tucked into jeeps like a pack of sardines, walk the directionless signs, and communicate to a local only to realize that he, in fact arguing and not intent to answer questions. To be a Puneite, I feel you need to be directionless. For simple reasons, yet unknown when asked the distance they raised a finger and say ‘5-minute’. After having walked for a mile, you realize the destination is another ‘5-minute’ far away.

So, next time you asked me about Torna lift the index finger and say to yourself ‘5-minute’ and a box of sardines would be blessed.