Day ∞: Epilogue

Disclaimer: I have tried to recreate the events, locales, and conversations from my memories of them. The below-expressed views, opinions or analogies are personal and may not be in line with the widespread conceptions. Please go to Motorcycle Diaries -> India: Ocean to Mountains (or Click here) to check out the previous events.

Intended Route: To infinity and beyond

 

“The end is in the beginning and lies far ahead.”

They say that traveling changes you. I rode through mountain passes, swamp, desert, woods, and streams; I had borne heat, cold, rain, and storm but I can’t say that those 30 days transformed me as a different person altogether but something was different, some things had changed, I could feel it. Those few days made me feel that I could bear pain, I could live in solitude, and I was ready to face any challenge in my life.

I was lying on my bed that night, and I knew that it was over. My journey from Ocean to Mountains has come to an end. And all of a sudden, my life took a U-Turn. After 30 days, which went like a blink, I would wake up tomorrow and instead of wearing the riding jacket and denim, I would be wearing a formal shirt and pant; instead of thump in my ears, I will be hearing clicks of keyboards, instead of the wind in my face, I will be sitting in an air-conditioned cubicle. Endings are always messy. You know, it was not the fall that killed people; it was the sudden stop in the end. But everything that begins has an end!

I reached the office that day and my friends asked me, “Why did you go on such a long ride? Didn’t you get bored? How did you manage your leaves? What was the budget? Did you book the accommodation in advance? Show us the pictures” and ‘N’ number of questions which I can’t remember. People were wondering how I managed it!

Was I ready for such a trip? No! I don’t even know how I managed. But I did it! It was my dream. Maybe, it’s my love or passion for riding. The 3 keywords – dream, love, and passion, are commonly used clichés but I believe that they are the root of anything you want to achieve in life, and everything begins with it. I would just say there is no right time to do the right thing. If you wanna do something, trust me, you just have to start, and all the shuffled pieces will fall in its place.

In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take. If you have a dream, you gotta protect it, people will always ask questions, they will doubt you, they will challenge you but don’t worry there will be those who will back you, support you, and help you when you really need it. The only thing you gotta do is to protect your dream!

 

P.S. Is it the end? No, there is no real ending to it. It’s just the place where I decided to stop the story. After a couple of days, I took an extended leave and rode till Kanyakumari (Southern-most tip of India). From July 30th to September 5th, in those 38 days, I crossed 14 States; had 12,000 Kilometers under my belt and a ton of memories. As the saying goes, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Thanks a lot for sticking with me till the final post of India: Ocean to Mountain series (click here to view the photographs). I hope you enjoyed it. And please feel free to reach out in case if you need any help to plan such road trips, it would be my pleasure!

Now, it’s time for Layla 😀