16/07/2025
Inquiry Counter - A Travel Story by
"This was the last jeep to Dharamshala," said the driver.
I gave him the money and started walking toward the bus depot, praying to find a bus.
It was 11:45 PM, and I was standing at an empty bus depot.
There’s something eerie about places that are usually overcrowded.
Without the crowd, they feel haunted.
A little nervous about my prized possessions,
I placed my hands over the section of my bag
where I had kept my cameras
and started walking toward the only taxi visible in a far corner.
"Hellooooooo," I shouted.
"Come here," replied a voice.
I walked a little closer and saw a table set just behind the taxi.
"When is the next bus to Pathankot?" I asked.
"At 4:00 AM," the man replied. "You can sit here and wait.
Where are you from?" he added.
"Gujarat," I replied, placing my rucksack on the table and settling into an empty chair.
Seeing my hesitation, he said, "It’s okay, I’m here only.
Do you drink?"
I noticed he was holding two beer bottles!
"Drinking with a stranger?" I thought.
"I have a little rum left in my bottle," I said,
pulling out a quarter bottle of Old Monk with a smile.
Two glasses clinked, and a cheerful "Cheers!"
echoed into the quiet night.
Four hours, endless Himachali folk songs,
and a long, heartfelt conversation later,
a distant bus engine broke the silence.
I hopped on, and a voice called out from behind:
"Jai Ramji Ki, Pardesi! Phir milenge kabhi!" (Farewell, traveler! Someday, we’ll meet again!)
That night, I felt like the traveler had become the journey...
( travelwriting, travelstories, traveltelling, travelwriter, adventure, travelgram, instatravel, travelblogger, travelphotography, wanderlust, traveltheworld, traveldiaries, ExploreMore, TravelInspiration, ecofriendlytravel )
