The Sun and the Moon 2

The next morning began with a horde of voices around me.I was momentarily disoriented but I soon realised why 15 boys were waking me up.Me and Tan were sleeping near the doorway and effectively blocking the exit to freedom from the oxygen starved room(It was heaven compared to the tent though!).

Most of us showered and got ready and were on our merry way back to the campsite.The morning walk was not so nice as the night walk but there was a sense of eager anticipation that words can't possibly describe.The itinerary started with a trek uphill to a falls.

Some were in peak physical condition as they were athletes or some such thing.The uphill inclined trek was a cake walk for those types.Me of course, was not.I huffed and puffed my way as Wats,Tan and Murgi happily kept climbing.I did have some company in the girls who were also slow.So we went up slowly as tales of animals and Veerappan filled the air.

The vista was breathtaking.At some points the path was a sheer cliff with a deep ravine to our right.At others, the view of the Nilgiris was simply stunning.We saw a train track and someone promptly told us that this was the line of Veerappan territory.Now whether this is actually true I do not know but it was still scary nevertheless.Suddenly a bear was not the biggest fear.

At long long long last we reached our destination.The falls were picturesque,more so because of the effort I had put into getting there!We were treated to some needless jokes by the boys as usual...But the Sirs accompanying us sure had a whale of time in the water.

Our return to base camp was uneventful.The lunch as ever ,delicious.Our instructors told us that the electric fence actually had electricity!They said 'DONT TOUCH IT'.What teenage boys do?Of course We touched it.Thankfully it did not affect us too much.Apparently the real shock is in the evening.We then did rapelling or at least some did it.Due to light constraints many of us did not get the turn.More course people who were on it were slower than tortoises on a beach!

There was this episode of Abinay and Ram Prasad.Jus too much drama over nothing.The night was a campfire night with nothing much happening except me making a fool of myself trying to imitate Rajesh,the Hero from Cheerasamudram.

The tent was of course brilliant.Too hot, but 6 guys with their stories means the weather is forgotten.Tales of every topic was flying around.Right from teacher bashing to girl bashing, there was everything.It is safe to say that we all got to know each other very well and the foundation of G8 was being laid!

There was cat calls and jokes from all the other tents and we could have actual conversations with nearby tents.It was without doubt a truly amazing night and they all let us sleep into the morning.

The last day was nothing much,Simulated river crossing was fun enough but you just cannot cross a river that was not there!!After that the boys had a game that began benignly but became decidedly violent.We were split into two teams and had to catch members of the other team and drag them to base.I always remember Me,Tan and Wats wrestling with this huge guy called Arun Subu and bringing him down.Had a few bruises after that game but it was a testosterone fueled version of hide and seek!!

The return journey back by train was of course very eventful.It was 'that' Truth or dare game which nobody would forget or needs reminding.Mandeep wearing a girl's jacket,Keerthi answering the oft asked question,everyone getting their jack ripped out by 'truth' but too scared to try dare!!

The trip was, to put it mildly, a game changer!For me my best memory of the trip will always be Tan and me trekking through the forest and singing Bryan Adams without a care in the world.Wish we hadnt grown up eh?